Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

at Queens College USA

Latin is one of the gems of the liberal arts curriculum. Learning Latin gives students access to the language and literature of the ancient Roman Empire, and it opens myriad cultural resources as Latin remained the international language of educated people through the Renaissance—hence it was the language of Western diplomacy, religion, history, science, literature, and the arts.

Students of Latin learn the language and, through it, come to understand classical Roman prose and poetry. Courses may be supplemented by work in translation in classics, literature, drama, art, history, and philosophy.

A degree in Latin can be a gateway to graduate work in a classics-related field, history, or philosophy. Equally, Latin is superb discipline for a grasp of English and other European languages’ structure and linguistic roots. The major stresses the excellent reading and writing skills that prove most valuable to liberal arts graduates.

Russian is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It also is important in diplomacy, science, business, finance, and sports, serving as an official language in such forums as the United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Bank, the International Olympic Committee, and many other organizations. Russian also is the language of great arts, including literature, dance, music, and painting.

The Russian program has been part of the curriculum at Queens College for almost fifty years. It instructs students in reading and speaking the language, and introduces them to the arts and culture of the Russian-speaking world. It also offers courses in Belarusian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian language and literature, and sponsors a chapter of Dobro Slovo, the National Slavic Honor Society.

The major and minor in environmental sciences reflect the college’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning and research on the earth and its processes across geologic time. With a choice of concentrations and coursework, students plot a course through a curriculum that addresses the challenges of environmental quality and sustainability. The faculty support this commitment in hands-on courses, laboratories, and fieldwork, with research conducted in the atmospheric sciences, biogeosciences, geochemistry, geology and geophysics, and water resources.

There is a global need for environmental scientists in both the private and public spheres. Upon graduation, majors may enter the technical workforce for corporations, governments, international agencies, or nonprofit organizations.

Philosophy involves the pursuit of fundamental questions, such as the nature of reality, truth, justice, values, ethics, reason, science, and faith. It offers careful training in inquiry, critical thinking, and the construction of well-reasoned arguments. Coursework includes philosophical questions, methods, history, and systems of thought.

Although philosophy is sometimes thought of as a luxury or “ivory tower” discipline, PayScale’s research has found that it actually ranks as the top-earning humanities major. The mental discipline students acquire and their facility with complex reasoning are valued highly by employers who seek innovative problem solvers and executives. Further, philosophy has historically offered a high road to the study of law.

The program in International Business prepares graduates to deal effectively with contemporary economic environments. Coursework emphasizes accounting, business, mathematics, and economics. Students prepare for private- and public-sector careers—whether in corporations and finance (for example, multinational corporations, export-import firms, and banks) or in government and agencies concerned with international trade, finance, and economic development.

The different concentrations in Family & Consumer Sciences cover interdisciplinary subjects. The Human Development & Family Studies track concerns family services and consumer economics. The Food Service Management track involves institutional food administration and food science. The Textiles & Apparel track pertains to those materials’ design, production, distribution, and retailing. Finally, Secondary School Teacher Education is a co-major with Secondary Education & Youth Services.

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.

Chemistry involves the study of all forms of organic and inorganic matter. Biochemistry focuses on the processes essential to life. Both not only analyze existing substances but also synthesize new ones.

As a core modern science, chemistry spans the full spectrum of modern industries and technologies. Both chemists and biochemists are employed in scientific and non-scientific research and applied capacities.

People in modern societies often have health issues linked to poor diet and exercise habits, a problem that is costly in both economic and human terms. The degree in Nutrition & Exercise Sciences prepares students for careers in the maintenance of cardiovascular health and fitness through healthy diets and regular physical activity.

The curriculum combines core courses with biology, chemistry, and statistics coursework. Graduates go on to work in corporate- and hospital-based programs in health, cardiovascular fitness, wellness, and cardiac rehabilitation; community-based programs for adults and senior citizens; and adult health and fitness programs in health clubs, adult education centers, sports medicine and physical rehabilitation centers, and preventative health agencies.

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.