Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

at Navitas Group - Queens College, City University of New York USA

The study of literature is at the heart of a liberal arts education. Through literature, students learn to probe rhetoric, emotion, morality, point of view, and other questions that enrich both life and the arts. Coursework ranges from elementary rhetoric and composition to advanced electives in creative writing; historical surveys of poetry, drama, and fiction; major literary figures; courses in minority and ethnic literature; postcolonial literature; literary theory; and many other topics. English majors do much reading and writing, honing their critical, analytical, and communication skills.

Those skills help to make English a versatile major for students pursuing a variety of goals. Professional careers require the excellent writing ability that English majors develop as well as their ability to read and interpret texts with accuracy, sophistication, and judgment. Graduates often go on to become editors and writers in such fields as publishing, journalism, public relations, and advertising. They also excel in law, business, and government.

The Department of Drama, Theatre & Dance is a highly respected program that offers an excellent liberal arts curriculum, a balanced combination of theory and practice in the arts, and a competitive degree. The faculty, as well as the many choices of concentrations and minors, support student aspirations for performance, production, and teaching careers. Drama and theatre courses cover history, literature, acting, directing, stage management, design, and technical theatre, while dance includes modern, ballet, tap, Asian, and African dance, choreography, and dance history. Students’ experience on and behind the stage is enriched by use of professional performance spaces, dance studios, and a lively calendar of productions.

"In the attempt to understand how societies work, sociology addresses and integrates a wide variety of areas, including many that overlap other disciplines, such as psychology, the economy, politics and political structures, and culture. Among its topics are social institutions, rules, networks, movements, and organizations. Students also acquire perspective on the societal and institutional significance of race, gender, class, and other social differences. Coursework includes theory, methods, and introductions to specializations (such as sociology of medicine).

There is no limit to expressing your creativity with the Queens College Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs. Queens College’s Design program combines knowledgeable faculty with industry-standard software and the creativity of a studio-based learning environment. Our Design program offers concentrations in:

• Communication Design
• Animation & Illustration
• Interaction Design

Students can specialize in techniques and approaches that prepare them for a multitude of careers, including graphic design, software and web development, illustration, animation, marketing and advertising or product design.

Whether you’re interested in pursuing more hand-drawn approaches that utilize traditional media, or you want to immerse yourself fully in digital media and software, our Design program has the flexibility and diversity for each student to achieve their vision. Additionally, our program has a network of internships that allow students to get real-world design experience while receiving college credit and building their resume.

French has been an international language for hundreds of years, and is often called the language of diplomacy. Today it is spoken by more than 200 million people in over 40 countries. The French language plays a major role in global business, diplomacy, and culture. The French and Francophone literary, artistic, and philosophical traditions exert a profound influence on the contemporary world.

Students receive instruction in speaking, reading, and writing French, and study French literature, arts, and culture. Majors and minors are encouraged to immerse themselves in both language and culture through the CUNY/Paris Exchange Program as well as programs available at the French embassy.

Classics involves the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilization and history, including the Greek and Latin languages. In courses on language, literature, art, philosophy, religion, and history, students learn about the pioneering thinkers, writers, leaders, and cultural innovators who shaped much of the Western intellectual and artistic legacy.

Research shows that classics majors consistently attain some of the highest GRE scores, outperform other undergraduate majors in law school, and are among the most successful majors admitted to medical school. In their close study of challenging languages, texts, philosophies, and other aspects of the ancient world, classics majors acquire superior skills in reading, writing, analytical thinking, and cultural understanding. These are essential to professional success in today’s highly educated workforce.

Classics serves as a gateway to numerous career paths. Many graduates go on to advanced study in classics, archaeology, or religion as well as professional schools in law and medicine. Other options include working in areas related to students’ training in classical language, history, and culture, including libraries, museums, publishing, the arts, and education.

The interdisciplinary major is designed for students who wish to develop their own concentration area in a subject not covered by any one department or program. Students who are interested in an interdisciplinary major should confer with the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies, which will provide guidance in developing a proposal for approval. The proposed concentration must have a distinct, coherent interdisciplinary theme and the coursework required for it should provide substantial expertise in that theme. Since an interdisciplinary concentration requires competence in more than one discipline, the major involves a minimum of 36 credits and may require the approval of several departments.

Religious Studies involves the interdisciplinary investigation of religious concerns throughout history and around the world. Religions are studied as text, experience, practice, and theology. Coursework explores themes and questions in comparative religion; religion, literature, and the arts; religion and culture; and religion and philosophy.

The program draws on multiple disciplines, including anthropology, art, history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and language and literature. Students are encouraged to study relevant ancient and medieval works in the original classical Chinese, classical Arabic, biblical Hebrew, and Latin.

A degree in religious studies is of interest to students planning to continue on for theological or ministerial training, religious research, or teaching. Its cross-cultural sensibilities, moral concerns, and linguistic expertise also are useful in such areas as development work, community advocacy, social care and counseling, public policy, journalism, and librarianship.

The study of Italian connects students to one of the world’s great civilizations. From medieval times to the present, Italy has produced great literature, art, architecture, philosophy, science, and scholarship. Its history and politics continue to fascinate scholars while Italian film is synonymous with the highest achievements of cinematic art.

At Queens College, students can expect to achieve proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the Italian language, followed by advanced courses in translation, literature, and culture. They may also opt for a minor in Italian American studies, an interdisciplinary subject area relevant to the larger history and culture of the American nation. Students are encouraged to pursue study abroad opportunities. The college also houses a chapter of Gamma Kappa Alpha, the national Italian honor society.

Graduates use their proficiency in Italian and their knowledge of Italian culture in a variety of careers in business, translation, publishing, and the arts. Many prepare for a career in teaching Italian in the secondary schools. For some, the major or minor gives a solid foundation for graduate study.

The Jewish Studies program is dedicated to unrestricted inquiry into all aspects of the Jewish experience. It hosts numerous public events concerning Jewish culture, film, arts, history, and religion, encouraging active outreach around current issues and, in the broadest sense, world affairs. Majors benefit from access to New York’s multicultural, multilingual Jewish community as well as the numerous museums, libraries, and cultural institutions in the metropolitan area.

The program has four main areas of study: Jewish social and intellectual history; the anthropology, sociology, political life, and folklore of Jews; Jewish religious and philosophical thought; and Jewish languages and literature. It can be tailored to a wide range of personal interests.