Undergraduate Academic Accelerator Pathway (2-Term) - Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies

at Shorelight Group - The University of Utah USA

If you want to explore the world around you and help make the world a better place, consider becoming a chemical engineer. Chemical engineers take chemistry out of the laboratory and into the real world by applying scientific knowledge, technical expertise, innovation, and creativity to make useful materials; without chemical engineering, things like fertilizers, vaccines, and antibiotics wouldn't exist in the quantities that we need them. With their skills and abilities, chemical engineers can be involved in research, development (taking a process from bench scale to full scale), design and evaluation (deciding how a process should work), plant design (deciding how a chemical plant should be built), plant operation, sales, management, and academics. The University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering is nationally recognized for its research and teaching. In this program, you will complete courses in math, physics, chemistry, and engineering. You can also complete an optional emphasis in Energy Engineering. By the time of graduation, about 50 percent of our graduates have found employment or been admitted to post-graduate programs that include law, medicine, and graduate school in a variety of fields. 

Physics is the field of study concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy: how we define measurable quantities, like energy and speed, and how these concepts are related (for example, Newton’s Law of gravity or the theory of special relativity). If you want to learn more about how the universe is structured and functions, consider studying physics at the University of Utah. In addition to learning scientific and theoretical concepts and facts, physicists also develop excellent analytical thinking skills and problem-solving techniques, and expertise in computational methods.

Religious studies scholars examine religions from the perspective of a religion’s followers, studying the similarities, differences, and core tenets of a belief system. If you want to gain a broader understanding of religions and their traditions, consider the Religious Studies program at the University of Utah. Courses of study include Jewish Studies, Coptic Studies, Western Christianity, Islam Studies, Mormon Studies, and Religion & Conflict. Through critical analysis and discussion of these faiths, students will learn how theology shapes individuals and communities across the globe. Regardless of emphasis area, the Religious Studies program consists of courses from 13 departments: English, History, Communication, Philosophy, World Languages & Cultures, Political Science, Social Work, Sociology, Anthropology, Art & Art History, Theatre, Health Promotion & Education, and the Middle East Center. Within these fields, religious studies courses are divided into four areas: Text and Literature, Theory and Methodology, Art, Culture and Society, and World Religions. The culminating experience of the program is a capstone seminar, a student-conducted research project that demonstrates your knowledge and skills in religious studies. Graduates of the program are ultimately equipped with social awareness and theological knowledge that can be used in a variety of careers.

Geoscience applies the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to understand the composition, structure, and history of the Earth and the processes that govern it. Geoscientists then use this knowledge to address societal needs and problems, such as locating and characterizing mineral, energy, and groundwater resources, assessing seismic and other geologic hazards, and evaluating and remediating environmental contamination. The University of Utah’s Geoscience program will provide you with a broad foundation in fundamental science concepts, and you can then individualize your degree by pursuing one of three emphasis areas in the geoscience field: Geology (which focuses on geologic materials, Earth systems, and fossils); Environmental Geoscience (which focuses on the layers of the atmosphere and their interactions); and Geophysics (which focuses on using physical methods to image and understand the Earth). Regardless of emphasis area, all program graduates will be prepared and qualified to pass the professional geologist licensure examination. After graduation, students are prepared for post-graduate work in the earth sciences, or professional jobs requiring earth science knowledge (such as environmental law and earth resource management).

Communication is much more than just the written word. Communication is also verbal or non-verbal, and it takes place at both an interpersonal and mass scale. With the University of Utah’s Communication program, students learn how to be effective communicators for all different types of audiences. Communication is a diverse discipline and offers a variety of skills to prepare students for their careers. Through a combination of theoretical and technical training, the Communication program allows students to develop a comprehensive portfolio to market themselves to the industry. If you want to focus your studies on a particular area, you can pursue an emphasis in one of the following emphases:

• Communication Studies
• Journalism
• Science, Health, Environmental, and Risk Communication
• Strategic Communication

International Studies (IS) is a flexible and interdisciplinary major. It is designed to provide students with a sophisticated understanding of some of the modern world’s most persistent and challenging problems. Students learn about global issues in local, national, and international contexts. They develop the analytical skills and cultural competencies necessary to launch into fulfilling careers that make a difference. Students in the International Studies program typically begin by taking one introductory course on each of three themes: Peoples, Challenges, and Systems. They draw connections between these in the core course, Foundations of International Studies, and they take electives drawn from disciplines across campus as they develop an emphasis on any one of seven focus areas: Development & Sustainability, Foreign Relations & Security, Global Health, Culture & Identity, Trade & Commerce, European Studies, or Human Rights. No matter the chosen focus area, all International Studies majors must also complete a learning abroad program or an international internship.

Conflict exists both within ourselves and in our interpersonal relations: with friends, families, or our community, locally and globally. If you want to be able to recognize and peacefully resolve conflict, consider the Peace & Conflict Studies program at the University of Utah. Offered collaboratively by the College of Humanities, Department of Communication, and College of Social and Behavioral Science, Peace & Conflict Studies will give you the knowledge, skills, and values you need to be a peacemaker in the world. Students in this program choose one of three themes for their studies: Conflict Resolution, Social Justice, or Global Perspectives. Regardless of emphasis area, students take courses in topics like negotiation, poverty and inequality, international affairs and human rights, world religions and politics, and the economics of race and gender. The culminating experiences of the program include a capstone course, seminar, and required internship. Through your studies, you will develop your communication, social awareness, and critical thinking skills, enabling you to pursue careers in a number of fields.

The University of Utah’s Department of Ballet is consistently recognized as one of the top programs in the country, and it is additionally accredited by the National Association of the Schools of Dance (NASD). The Ballet BFA is for serious students interested in a career in ballet or other dance-related fields and requires discipline, dedication, and a willingness to contribute to a collegial and effective learning environment. Honoring and encouraging both creative and scholarly research, the comprehensive curriculum ultimately prepares graduates to successfully pursue a career within the field of dance. This degree offers a balanced course of study that may include an emphasis in Ballet Teaching or a certificate in Studio Teaching. Students must audition before they can be admitted to the ballet program. Upon admission, courses include numerous ‘in studio’ classes as well as critical thinking and creative process classes. An understanding of dance history, pedagogy, kinesiology, and choreographic process is taught simultaneously with concepts in technique, pointe, men’s class, and partnering to prepare students for a career in various facets of the dance field. Students interested in studying Ballet must audition for the program. Audition and admissions information can be found on the School of Dance webpage.

The Ethnic Studies program at the University of Utah explores differences in power as expressed by the state, civil society, and individuals, challenging social constructions of race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality and gender. Students examine traditional forms of history and culture from the perspective of people who are underrepresented, while considering the role that race and racism play in today’s world. The curriculum includes required courses in Ethnic Studies experiences and theory, as well as electives from six different content groups: African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies, Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Studies, Pacific Islands Studies, and general Ethnic Studies. Through your coursework, you will learn to conceptualize socio-historical and political issues from the viewpoints of the various peoples that constitute U.S. diverse populations, using various disciplinary frameworks to do so. You can then apply this framework to current issues of race, gender and ethnicity. Students with this degree work in any career field - healthcare, nonprofit, business, government – bringing their knowledge working with historically underserved populations into their industries.

Speech and Hearing Science professionals evaluate, diagnose, and treat individuals with speech and hearing disorders, such as disorders of communication, the voice, swallowing, and cognition. The undergraduate major in Speech & Hearing Science (SPHS) is a pre-professional degree for speech language pathology and/or audiology. Students in the program complete courses in phonetics, anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, language science, pediatric and medical speech-language pathology, hearing disorders and evaluation, and psychometrics (measuring mental abilities and processes). Electives in allied fields -biology, physics, and psychology, for example- are also required, along with 25 hours of field experience observing treatment practices for speech, language, and hearing. Students who complete this program earn a BS in Speech and Hearing Science and are then prepared to enter graduate programs in the field: a master's degree is required for professional practice in speech-language pathology, and a doctor of audiology (AuD) is required for professional practice in audiology.