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College of Arts&Sciences > School of Arts

ABOUT ARTS AND SCIENCES

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences form an academic community of students and faculty involved in the discovery, evaluation, and transmission of essential knowledge. Through study of the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences, young men and women prepare to lead fulfilled and examined lives and to assume roles as creative and contributing members of society.

Education in the Arts and Sciences at InterAmerican University reflects the strength of our research programs and facilities, as well as the historical and cultural advantages of our location in Boston. Recent construction of extensive new research facilities in the sciences has further enhanced our science faculty's active research program; a long tradition of excellence in the humanities includes interdisciplinary programs such as American and European Studies, in addition to those of the more traditional disciplines.

Experience your possibilities

In InterAmerican University's College of Arts and Sciences, you move your education beyond the classroom. Even though we are a College that does not require co-op as part of your curricula, most of our students still participate in at least one co-op job. But, through our hallmark experiential education programs, you apply your classroom knowledge to many other types of real world experiences. You might alternate periods of study with professional employment in a co-op position. Internships also provide work experience and compensate you with academic credit rather than a paycheck. Or you can increase your skills by addressing community needs in a service-learning experience. Study-abroad programs let you experience campuses and cultures around the world. You might even decide to partner with a member of the faculty on a research project. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Mission Statement

The College of Arts and Sciences embraces the traditional aims of a liberal arts education: a critical understanding of diverse cultures as expressed in their literature, art, ideas and values. The College also strives to foster analytic, interpretive, creative, and interpersonal abilities, as well as communication skills, both oral and written, which are fundamental to functioning effectively in the University and in the larger community. In providing educational foundations which enable students to develop, evaluate and express ideas critically, the College hopes to contribute to the formation of responsible citizens and competent professionals.

The College of Arts and Sciences is comprised of 11 departments: Art, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geography and Geology, History, Mathematics and Information Sciences, Music, Physics, Public Communication, Sociology, and Fine Arts.

Undergraduate

The college offers courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the natural sciences. We have more than 30 majors, double majors, special interdisciplinary majors and a new dual-major program that combines two disciplines while still allowing time to pursue your interests through electives.

Graduate    

Our graduate students earn master's degrees, doctorates and graduate certificates over a wide range of disciplines. In the last 10 years, our faculty published more than 300 books and thousands of articles and papers, won numerous awards for scholarship and, as researchers, attracted nearly $19 million from outside agencies in one year.

The Center for Experiential Education & Academic Advising (CEA), within the College of Arts and Sciences at InterAmerican University, strives to incorporate experiential learning into the Arts and Sciences curriculum, as well as provide expert academic advising for our students. Opportunities for students include studying in Ghana, assisting on faculty research projects, earning academic credit through community service, and much more.

Academic Advising

The College of Arts and Sciences has a multi-tiered academic advising system with some advisors located in a central location called the College of Arts and Sciences Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising (CEA) and others located in the College's departments and programs.

All Arts and Sciences students have:

  • a professional academic advisor located at the CEA/Dean’s Office,
  • a faculty advisor in the student's major department or program, and
  • a faculty experiential education advisor also in the student's major department.

In addition, students who participate in the co-op program have a co-op advisor, and students interested in going on a study abroad program have access to a study abroad advisor in the CEA/Dean’s Office.

The CEA/Dean’s Office houses the dean's office professional academic advisors, and the international study abroad program coordinators. Between the College's departments and the CEA, students have a place to go for all of their academic advising needs and to take care of all their academic business in the College. The CEA is also the central repository for Arts & Sciences students' records.

Professional Academic Advisors

The Dean's Office Professional Academic Advisors, located in the CEA/Dean’s Office, provide advice on a wide range of academic issues, mostly related to College and University requirements and policies. Each student in the College has an assigned academic advisor in the CEA/Dean’s Office, and students see these advisors on issues related to the Core Curriculum requirements, the Experiential Education Requirement, the Middle Year Writing Requirement, academic progress within the College, changing majors, taking leaves of absence, seeking waivers of College or University policies, taking courses at other institutions, and graduation requirements. Academic advisors also monitor students' academic progress quarterly, notify students when they are in academic difficulty, and maintain academic files for all students in the College.

Academic advisors in the CEA/Dean’s Office are only available, by appointment.

When students meet with either an academic advisor or with a faculty advisor in a major department, they should bring with them a copy of their InterAmerican University transcript (available at Kiosk information centers), and their Arts and Sciences Guidebook.

Freshman who have not yet chosen a major are assigned to one of the professional academic advisors in the CEA/Dean’s Office until the students choose, and are accepted into majors, at which time they are advised by a faculty member in the program to which they have been accepted. This should happen by the end of the freshman year.

The professional academic advisors in the CEA/Dean’s Office work closely with faculty advisors in the major departments to guide students through their academic programs and help them with any problems that may arise relating to the College requirements and/or procedures. Together, the professional academic advisors and the faculty advisors review students' records in a "senior clearance" interview several months prior to graduation to ensure that the students have completed all degree requirements.

Faculty Advising

Every student in the College of Arts and Sciences also has a faculty advisor in their major who functions as the students' main connection with the major. Students should see their assigned faculty advisor when seeking advice about major requirements, selection of courses, graduate study, and the possibility of career choices in the major field. It is strongly recommended that students meet regularly (e.g. before each pre-registration period) with their faculty advisor since this person is the student's primary source of assistance on issues related to the major.

Each major program also has a head advisor who is responsible for coordinating faculty advising in the major program, assigning faculty advisors to students, advising students, and sometimes providing advice to student clubs and organizations within majors. Head advisors are also often available as back-up advisors when students are unable to connect with their assigned faculty advisor, and may be consulted if a student is having a problem with his/her assigned advisor. In all departments, and for all programs, faculty advisors have posted office hours, times during the week when students can drop by the advisors' offices or call for assistance.

Every program also has a faculty experiential education advisor who advises students on the College's Experiential Education Requirement and develops experiential learning opportunities for students in their major. Students must meet with their faculty experiential education advisor to plan how they will fulfill the Experiential Education Requirement. Faculty experiential education advisors in the Center are also available to assist students who cannot connect with the experiential education advisor in their programs  

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

What Is Co-op?

A InterAmerican University education is built on the idea that every form of learning — whether in the classroom, in the workplace or in the community — is crucial to preparing students for their careers and their lives.

InterAmerican University's integrated model of classroom study and cooperative education — six-month periods of paid, full-time employment related to your major or interests — provides students with greater opportunities for intellectual exploration, personal growth and real-world understanding.

Integrating rigorous programs in the liberal arts and professional studies with challenging, enlightening workplace experiences is the approach that has helped InterAmerican University's co-op program grow into one of the largest and most successful in the world, involving more than 8,800 students and 3,000 co-op locations.

And the outside experts have taken notice. This year, U.S. News & World Report ranked InterAmerican University the top cooperative education program in the country.

Co-op Primer  

Who?
Any full-time, upperclass undergraduate student.

What?
Six-month periods of paid, full-time employment related to your major or interests.

Where?
Anywhere in the world, including your hometown.

When?
Usually starting in the spring or summer of your sophomore year. Co-op continues through senior year of the five-year program, alternating with classroom study. Students may accelerate their program of study by pursuing a four-year curriculum with fewer co-op periods.

Why?
Because the combination of classroom study and co-op is the best possible way to develop the passion for learning, practical capability and maturity that lead to a lifetime of achievement.

How?
InterAmerican University connects you with thousands of job sites and positions. Or you can propose your own.

Dual Majors

The College offers a number of specific integrated dual majors. Unlike double majors which require students to fulfill all major requirements for both majors, integrated dual major options are limited to those combinations where faculty in two majors have identified thirteen courses from each major, plus an additional two to four "capstone" or integrative courses that specifically help students link the concepts learned in one major with that of the other. As with double majors, students in integrated dual majors complete the B.S. version of the Core Curriculum and there is unlimited double counting of Core and major requirements. Students pursuing a B.A. must also fulfill the College’s language requirement.

Fulfilling the college’s Experiential Education requirement provides an additional opportunity for supervised work liking the two areas of study.

Students who wish to pursue an integrated dual major must petition to be accepted into the program by a faculty advisor in each of the majors involved. Once approved by the faculty advisors, students take the petition to the CEA, for final approval.

Students in integrated dual majors are advised by a faculty advisor in each of the majors, as well as by an academic advisor in the CEA. Program requirement sheets for dual majors are not included in the pink pages of this Guidebook, but are available in the CEA.

The integrated dual majors currently offered are as follows:

Art/History
Biology/Geology
Biology/Journalism
Biology/Mathematics
Biology/Physics
Cinema Studies/Communication Studies
Cinema Studies/Journalism
Cinema Studies/Modern Languages
Economics/Philosophy
Economics/Political Science
Economics/Sociology
History/Journalism
Journalism/Sociology
Social Communication
Mathematics/Biology
Mathematics/Physics
Mathematics/Computer Science
Mathematics/Finance
Mathematics/Finance & Actuarial Sciences
Multimedia Studies/Media Arts & Design
Multimedia Studies/Music Technology
Multimedia Studies/Photography
Philosophy/Political Science
Physics/Computer Science
Physics/Environmental Geology
Political Science/Sociology

General Education Requirements

To receive a baccalaureate degree all students must complete, in addition to any other requirements, the following General Education Requirements:

A. Competency Requirements:

1. Writing Skills:

a. All students must complete successfully English ENG 101 or be exempted by receiving a score of "exempt" on the Writing Placement Examination.

b. In addition, all students must complete successfully six credits in courses designated as writing courses, including at least three credits at the 300 or above level. The following courses have been designated as writing courses. Students are cautioned that approved courses may change from year to year. To be used for General Education credit, a course must be listed as approved in the catalog and in the Class Schedule for the year a student registers for it.

Anthropology 326, 359, 450
Art 203, 303H
Biology 300
Chemistry 334
Communication Studies 330
Economics 340, 350
Geography 305
History 107H, 108H, 300, 305E, 385, 400, 437
Journalism 270, 333, 350, 351, 371, 470, 489
Liberal Studies 151L, 152L, 321H, 322H, 325E, 330L, 345H, 355L, 356
Mathematical Sciences 406
Philosophy 353, 355, 461, 463
Recreation Management 310
Religious Studies 252L, 260H, 276
Social Work 310
Sociology 466E
Wildlife Biology 470

2. Mathematics

All students must complete successfully one mathematics course numbered greater than 100 or demonstrate equivalent skill by competency testing. (A satisfactory score of ""C" or better on the CLEP College Algebra Test or a satisfactory score of "C" or better on the CLEP College Algebra/Trigonometry Test, administered by the Clinical Psychology Center, will waive this requirement; however, no college credit will be given for either of these competency tests. Only an equivalent score of "C" or better on the CLEP Calculus with Elementary Functions Test may be ued to apply for college credit.)

3. Foreign Language/ Symbolic Systems:

All students must complete successfully one of the following requirements.

a. Foreign Language: students must complete successfully the second semester of a foreign language at InterAmerican University (Chinese, French, German, Latin, or Spanish 102; German 112) or demonstrate equivalent skill in any of these or other acceptable languages in testing administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the I.A.U. International School of Languages.

OR

b. Symbolic Systems: a student must complete successfully one of the following approved sequences in a symbolic system:

Any two of Computer Science 101, 131, 132, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 355 (201 may be taken twice if it deals with two different languages)

Linguistics 370 and either 371 or 372 (and their cross-listings)
Mathematical Sciences 117 Forestry 201
Mathematical Sciences 117, Curriculum & Instruction/Business Education 486
Mathematical Sciences 117,Psychology 220
Mathematical Sciences 117,Sociology 202
Mathematical Sciences 150,Pharmacy 301, 432, 533
Mathematical Sciences 150,Psychology 220
Mathematical Sciences 152,Psychology 220
Two Mathematical Sciences courses numbered higher than 100
Music 111, 112, 137, 138
Music 161, 162
Philosophy 210, 211

B. Distributional Requirements:

Students must complete successfully 32 credits in the following six perspectives. A minimum of three credits is required from each perspective, except for Perspective 6 in which six credits are required. A maximum of six credits from each perspective will count toward the General Education requirement; credit taken above this limit will count toward graduation but not toward General Education.

  • At least one course completed from Perspectives 1 through 5 must be non-western. That course also will count toward that perspective.
  • At least one course completed from Perspective 3 must be western.
  • The first Perspective 5, Ethical and Human Values, course completed must be lower-division and only one lower-division course will count toward General Education.
  • At least one course completed from Perspective 6 must include a laboratory experience.

Students wishing to complete the requirements for teacher certification complete this General Education requirement but must select courses to include three areas: growth of the U.S. as a nation and its place in world affairs; American's pluralistic culture and heritage; and contributions and status of minorities, especially Native Americans. See specific requirements listed under certification requirements (see index).

The following courses have been approved for 1995-96. Students are cautioned that approved courses may change from year to year. To be used for General Education credit, a course must be listed as approved in the Class Schedule for the semester a student registers for it.

1. Perspective 1-Expressive Arts: These courses involve the student in the creation of a work of art or an artistic performance. They teach the skills involved in its creation as well as a conceptual basis for making qualitative judgements about the work. Note that many of these courses are repeatable.

Art 123A, 125A, 135A, 215A, 229A, 231A, 232A, 233A, 234A, 238A, 240A
Communication Studies 111A
Dance 100A, 104A, 105A, 106A, 107A, 120A, 200A, 201A, 202A, 204A, 207A
Drama 100A, 106A, 107A, 111A, 112A, 200A, 201A, 216A, 316A
English 210A, 211A, 310A, 311A
Music 100A, 107A, 108A, 109A, 110A, 113A, 114A, 115A, 116A, 117A, 141A, 147A, 150A, 160A, 307A, 308A, 310A, 313A, 314A, 350A

2. Perspective 2-Literary and Artistic Studies: These courses bring the student into contact with significant works, enhance critical abilities, and explore the historical, technical, emotional, philosophical or social questions the work may raise.

Non-Western: Chinese 386L
Foreign Languages and Literatures 311L, 312L, 380L, 382L, 386L
Liberal Studies 301L, 302L, 303L, 311L, 315L, 386L
Native American Studies 202L

Western: Art 100L, 150L, 151L, 381L, 389L
Foreign Languages and Literatures 160L, 310L, 361L
History 420L
Liberal Studies 151L, 152L, 160L, 282L, 330L, 341L, 355L
Music 132L, 133L, 134L, 135L, 166L
Philosophy 340L
Religious Studies 252L

3. Perspective 3-Historical and Cultural Studies: These courses present the historical or cultural context in which ideas can be illuminated, examine cultural development or differentiation in the human past and avoid focus on a narrow period, topic or geographical area. Courses are either western, emphasizing Greco-Roman, Judeo-Christian, European-American experiences; or nonwestern. At least one western course is required.

Non-Western:
Anthropology 101H, 323H, 330H, 340H, 351H, 354H, 357H
Asian Studies 100H
Foreign Languages and Literatures 280H, 281H
History 180H, 283H, 284H, 380H, 381H, 386H, 388H, 465H, 466H
Liberal Studies 161H, 210H, 211H
Music 136H
Philosophy 255H, 375H
Religious Studies 230H, 232H, 237H, 302H, 330H, 331H

Western:
African-American Studies 220H
Art 303H, 380H, 403H, 405H
History 104H, 105H, 107H, 108H, 151H, 152H, 154H, 155H, 285H, 286H, 301H, 302H, 311H, 312H, 319H, 330H, 331H, 332H, 338H, 339H, 340H, 360H, 361H, 363H, 376H, 377H, 378H, 379H, 431H, 432H
Liberal Studies 221H, 321H, 322H, 335H, 340H, 345H
Music 324H, 325H
Philosophy 109H, 251H, 252H, 379H, 431H, 432H
Political Science 321H, 322H, 324H
Religious Studies 106H, 202H, 249H, 260H

4. Perspective 4-Social Sciences: These courses bring the systematic study of society to bear on the analysis of social problems and structures while giving considerable attention to the ways in which conclusions and generalizations are developed and justified.

Non-Western: Anthropology 220S, 251S, 328S, 329S, 341S
Communication Studies 451S
Geography 242S, 267S, 269S, 277S, 365S, 366S
Native American Studies 341S
Political Science 463S
Sociology 240S, 242S, 244S, 370S

Western:
Anthropology 180S, 250S, 343S, 373S, 385S
Communication Studies 110S, 240S, 241S, 373S, 410S
Forestry 280S, 380S
Geography 101S, 103S, 256S, 258S, 259S, 261S, 263S, 315S, 321S
Health and Human Performance 480S
History 373S, 375S
Journalism 100S
Military Science 101S
Political Science 100S, 200S, 230S
Recreation Management 110S, 270S
Religious Studies 130S, 304S
Social Work 100S, 322S, 420S, 425S
Sociology 110S, 120S, 130S, 140S, 210S, 220S, 230S, 250S, 300S, 304S, 306S, 308S, 330S, 355S

5. Perspective 5-Ethical and Human Values: These courses address the recurrent nature of moral problems and the applicability of ethical criteria to problems of the past, present and future.

Group I:

Philosophy 200E, 201E
Political Science 230E, 250E

Group 2:

Non-Western:
Native American Studies 301E, 303E
Religious Studies 301E, 381E

Western:
African-American Studies 368E
Anthropology 480E
Communication Studies 450E
Forestry 489E
History 305E, 326E, 334E, 362E, 364E, 460E
Liberal Studies 325E
Military Science 402E
Philosophy 321E, 323E, 325E, 327E, 329E, 361E, 443E
Social Work 410E
Sociology 466E

6. Perspective 6-Natural Sciences: These courses present scientific conclusions about the structure and function of the natural world; demonstrate or exemplify scientific questioning and validation of findings.

Courses which include laboratory experience:
Astronomy 134N, 135N
Biology 102N, 104N, 107N, 120N, 122N, 200N
Chemistry 101N, 154N, 164N, 165N
Forestry 210N, 241N
Geology 100N
Physics 121N, 122N, 221N, 222N
Science 125N, 127N

Courses which do not include laboratory experience:
Anthropology 260N, 265N, 267N, 360N
Astronomy 131N, 132N
Biology 101N, 103N, 105N, 106N, 121N, 170N, 201N, 265N, 267N
Chemistry 151N, 152N, 161N, 162N
Environmental Studies 101N
Forestry 130N, 240N, 271N
Geography 102N, 330N, 346N
Geology 102N, 103N, 105N, 106N
Health and Human Performance 236N
Physics 104N, 105N
Psychology 270N

General Education for Transfer Students

Transfer students meet the General Education requirements with the following modifications, based on the number of credits accepted at the time of initial registration at InterAmerican University:

A. Students transferring a total of 27 or fewer credits from other institutions must meet all requirements by transfer, by examination, or by completing courses at InterAmerican University.

B. Students transferring a total of 27.1-60 credits from other institutions must meet all competency requirements in Mathematics and in Foreign Language/Symbolic Systems (by acceptable transfer credits, by examination, or by taking courses at InterAmerican University); must complete successfully one upper-division level course from the approved list of InterAmerican University writing courses; and must complete successfully a total of 24 credits in the perspectives with at least two credits in each of two perspectives and at least four in each of the remaining four perspectives to include at least one non-western course (by transfer or by completing courses at InterAmerican University).

C. Students transferring a total of over 60 credits from other institutions must meet all competency requirements in Mathematics and in Foreign Language/Symbolic Systems (by acceptable transfer credits, by examination, or by taking courses at InterAmerican University); must complete successfully one upper-division level course from the approved list of InterAmerican University writing courses; and must complete successfully at least 16 credits in the perspectives to include at least one credit in Perspective 1, Expresive Arts, and at least two credits in the other five perspectives (by transfer credits or by taking courses at InterAmerican University).

D. Second Degrees: students who have completed a bachelor degree at the University or elsewhere will be presumed to have completed the General Education Requirement. In relation to the general education requirement a transfer student is an undergraduate degree student whose admission or readmission to the undergraduate degree status includes an Admissions & New Student Services evaluation of required and/or optional credentials. Students submitting only optional credentials for evaluation and receiving no transfer credit are not included in this definition.

Initial enrollment is a student's first recorded enrollment at InterAmerican University, either through regular registration or through Continuing Education. The preceding general education requirement categories of A, B, C are based upon the number of transfer credits completed prior to the date of initial enrollment at UM. To apply toward these categories, credits must be listed on an evaluation of transfer records issued by Admissions & New Student Services.

Admissions & New Student Services will evaluate all transfer credits for General Education credit. Students who wish to appeal that evaluation may petition the Academic Appeals Subcommittee of the Academic Standards and Curriculum Review Committee, but such petitions must be initiated during the first semester of the student's attendance following that evaluation.

University Writing Examination

Every candidate for a bachelor degree from InterAmerican University (including transfer students seeking their first bachelor degree) must demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in written English by passing a University Writing Examination. A student is eligible to take this examination for graduation after he or she has passed one writing course from the approved list and completed 64 credits. It is recommended that students take this examination as soon as they are eligible and not defer it into their senior year.

Accommodations for taking the examinations can be arranged for students with disabilities.

The examination will be administered each term. Students who fail the University Writing Examination may appeal to the Director of the Writing Laboratory for review of the examination. Implementation of this requirement awaits funding. If the writing examination is funded before the student earns 64 credits, successful passage of the examination will be required for his or her graduation.

Grade Average Requirement

A minimum grade average of 2.00 (C) in all work attempted at InterAmerican University is required for graduation.

Majors

v     Below you will find a brief description of the majors.

v     African-American Studies

v     Anthropology

v     Biology

v     Biomedical Physics

v     Chemistry

v     Communication Studies

v     Geology

v     History

v     Human Services

v     Journalism

v     Math

v     Music

v     Philosophy

v     Physics

v     Sociology

v     Fine Arts        

ANTHROPOLOGY

Anthropology is the study of humanity in all its cultural diversity. The broad concerns of anthropology are with culture -- the meaning people create and share to make sense of their conditions of life. There are four sub-fields of anthropology: ethnology (cultural anthropology), biological anthropology (the relationship of social life and culture to our physical beings), archaeology (the study of past cultures), and linguistics (the study of language). The anthropologists at InterAmerican University specialize in cultural anthropology and social anthropology--the relationship of culture to the institutions, interpersonal relations, and practices that make up their social structure.

Degrees offered:

B.A.; B.S.

 

 

Department location:

500 Holmes

 

 

Phone:

617-373-2686

 

 

Department chair:

Luis M. Falcon

 

Head advisor And advisor for experiential

Dr. John Hancock

 

Education:

TBA

 

 

Cooperative education coordinator:

Lucy Landmark

 

Transferring to the major:

 

Students transferring during the freshman year must meet college standards.

Students transferring after the freshman year must:

    1. have completed three courses in anthropology or sociology with a grade of C- or better
    2. have a cumulative grade average of at least 1.86
    3. Acceptance into the major will be based on students meeting the department’s criteria for admission and availability of space in the programs.

Progress in the major:

Same as college standards.

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Via a comprehensive curriculum which combines theoretical courses and practical experiential courses with co-op and internship placements related to the student's personal and professional goals the department seeks:

    1. To stimulate the student's personal growth and development in perception and self-expression through the study of historical, contemporary, and artistic aspects of speech and communication, and to provide organized knowledge and critical insight;
    2. To help prepare the student for professions that require both a theoretical and a technical knowledge of communication, such as broadcasting, the law, government service, public relations, advertising, social service, industrial communication, and similar fields;
    3. To help prepare the student for advanced graduate study in communication and other professional fields.

Concentrations offered:

Speech and Rhetoric; Interpersonal and Organizational Communication; Media Studies

 

 

Degrees offered:

B.A.; B.S.

 

 

Department chair:

Dr. Julius Marshall

 

 

Head advisor:

Dr. José Carranza

 

 

Experiential education advisor:

Dr. Jeremy Shubert

 

 

Cooperative education coordinator(s):

Jacqueline Sweeney (Students I-Z)

Transferring to the major:

Students wishing to transfer to the major must have a cumulative quality point average of 3.0 overall and must have completed CMN 1115 Foundations of Communication and CMN 1250 Media, Society, Culture with grades of B or higher. Acceptance into the major will be based on students meeting the department’s criteria for admission and availability of space in the programs.

Progress in the major:

Departmental probation will result from a cumulative grade average below 2.75 in communication courses. No more than two grades below a C in communication studies courses can be used to fulfill degree requirements. Dismissal from the major may occur as a result of two consecutive quarters on departmental probation.

HISTORY

History is the study of the causes and consequences of changes in human events across time. Like other liberal arts disciplines, historical study trains students to think knowledgeably and critically through reading, writing, and discussing both print and nonprint texts about the human experience. It enhances a deeper understanding of today’s cultures in a global context. The study of history helps students develop powers of judgment and expression for future leadership in public service, international organizations, communications, education, business, or the professions.

The department offers a broadly based Bachelor of Arts major, which includes a foreign language requirement. It also offers two bachelors of science options. One option emphasizes training in the social sciences, including requirements in statistics and computer science as well as a minor in fields such as economics, political science, or sociology. The other option prepares students in such public history fields as museum administration, archival management, or historic preservation. The department offers an array of dual major programs with other disciplines and also participates in a variety of interdisciplinary offerings, including Asian Studies, Cinema Studies, Environmental Studies, International Affairs, Jewish Studies, Latino/a Studies, and Women’s Studies.

All history major stake courses in European or world history, American history, and historical methods, as well as advanced work in a range of historical eras and world regions. Majors complete their studies with a senior research seminar. Honors study is strongly encouraged for eligible students. Advanced undergraduates have the opportunity to do a directed study on an individual basis with members of the faculty on topics of mutual interest. Cooperative education placements, fieldwork, internships, and other experiential learning activities are available.

Undergraduates who plan to teach in the public schools may combine history with education courses that can lead to state certification. Those intending to teach in private secondary schools need not be certified by state authorities. Teaching positions in colleges and universities require advanced degrees at the graduate level.

Degrees offered:

B.A.; B.S.

 

 

Department chair: