Bachelor of Arts, Major in English with Concentration in Literature and Criticism

at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth USA

Our BA in political science with a concentration in pre-law prepares you for law school by providing a solid foundation for future study in fields including commercial, criminal, environmental, family, labor, and tax law.

Your courses will focus on the U.S. legal system, law and courts in relationship to other aspects of the U.S. political system, international law and courts, and the international political system. A background in law prepares you not only for a practice of law, but also for rewarding careers in advocacy, business, and education.

Studying law will develop your analytical, logical, and creative thinking skills. You'll be prepared to think critically and act effectively as an engaged citizen.

We want to ensure that you acquire proficiency in writing, communication, advocacy, and comparative analyis: all vital skills in today's workplace, which is why we require students to complete an internship.

English is an exciting discipline that challenges you to explore both literature and writing. We offer two options for English majors—creative and professional writing or literature and criticism.

With either option, you'll learn how to:

• Read and think critically
• Write to move audiences
• Engage with literature—and the world—thoughtfully and analytically

The skills you'll develop are essential in today's competitive job market and can lead to rewarding careers in communications, editing, grants writing, journalism, public relations, social media, technical writing, web publishing, teaching middle or high school English, writing for general and specialized audiences, and many other fields. You'll also be prepared for graduate study across many disciplines, such as creative and professional writing, education, law, and library/information science.

The MFA degree is the credential that signifies a student's capacity to work independently in a discriminating, distinctive, and professional manner.

The Fine Arts program provides an educational context where motivated and creative artists can pursue their own goals, hone technical skills, and advance personal vision through intense, focused individual studio activity. Faculty members generate critical dialogue with graduate students at specific intervals during each semester.

Academic courses in art history, critical theory, philosophy, and a range of university offerings support the cultivation of the individual's intellectual and aesthetic maturation.

The need for advanced degrees in civil and environmental engineering is both regional and global.

UMassD's Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering provides professionals with the skills needed to handle today's challenges, with opportunities to specialize in:

• Structural and geotechnical engineering
• Environmental and water resources engineering
• Transportation engineering

Through faculty consulting and student projects, the civil and environmental engineering program has forged strong bonds in southeastern Massachusetts, one of the state's fastest-growing regions. The program:

• Contributes to the growth of regional industries, businesses, and governmental agencies
• Addresses problems related to development and infrastructure
• Provides an accessible source of graduate education for the region's engineering employees

Faculty also address environmental problems that impact economic development, including:

• Water quality and quantity issues
• Lake eutrophication
• Hazardous waste handling
• Preservation of the ecological health of the bays
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Solid waste handling
• Leachate collection and treatment

The program offers:

• Small classes
• Close contact with faculty who have a diverse set of research interests and industry experiences
• Access to well-supported research facilities
• State-of-the-art computational and experimental research facilities
• Opportunities for full-time or part-time study
• Convenient class schedule for students who are employed

Mathematicians are problem solvers and precise thinkers, applying their knowledge and skills in academia, government, industry, research, and technology.

UMass Dartmouth's mathematics program provides a foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of mathematics, preparing you for a variety of careers, including: actuary, algorithm design, biostatistician, computer information systems, data science, defense analyst, economics, education, finance, game developer, government, insurance, manufacturing, medicine, mathematical modeling consultant, psychology, science computing, software development, and statistician.
You'll also be well-prepared for graduate studies in math or in areas that emphasize math, such as economics, engineering, and the sciences.

We offer both BA and BS degrees in mathematics, a degree in applied and computational mathematics, as well as a degree in data science that is jointly taught by the mathematics department and the College of Engineering. All degrees require completion of 120 credit hours of overall coursework.

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, uniting a fascinating diversity of societies and cultures. When you major in Spanish, you'll gain proficiency in oral and written language skills while enhancing your awareness of the social and cultural influences that shape knowledge in the Spanish-speaking world.

As a Spanish major at UMass Dartmouth, you'll study Spanish, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino language, literature, and culture. You'll explore topics in linguistics, civilization, business, art and music—and learn about new ideas and developments within the Hispanic world.

A degree in Spanish will prepare you for careers in business, communication, education, hospitality, government, law, international business, journalism, linguistics, social service, and translation. We also offer teacher preparation for students who are interested in teaching Spanish at the middle or high school level. Learn more about teacher preparation

Students majoring in Spanish may go on to graduate study in areas such as Spanish, Latin American, Caribbean or Latino literature; cultural studies; comparative literature, Hispanic linguistics, applied linguistics or international studies.

Massachusetts is one of the world's hubs for digital technology. UMass Dartmouth's animation and game arts program integrates digital art, design, and technology to advance the quality of digital communication and create a more understandable world.

You'll concentrate on digital animation and interactive multimedia while exploring 2- and 3-dimensional design, web design, and virtual reality. As you explore the potential of various digital media technologies, you'll engage in consistent, hands-on experimentation, working with faculty members who have considerable expertise in the field.

Your BFA in Art + Design: Animation + Game Art will prepare you to meet the design and communications challenges of the 21st century with careers in areas such as art direction, advertising, animation, broadcasting, creative direction, education, environmental design, game design, interface design, multimedia, scientific visualization, software application design, special effects, video editing, virtual reality and web design.

The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art courses than you would in a BA program. At UMass Dartmouth, you also have the advantages of a university education where you can diversify your studies and expand your career opportunities.

The Health and Society bachelor's degree program explores multiple perspectives on health, health care, and related systems and policies. You will engage in a critical analysis of the factors that impact the health and health behaviors of diverse populations, the provision of health care, and the formulation of health-related policy.

Through the program, you will:

• Understand how systemic inequalities affect health outcomes
• Learn how theoretical frameworks and research from multiple disciplines can be used to find innovative solutions to health-related problems
• Demonstrate an understanding of the organization and efficacy of health care systems and policies
• Develop basic skills in qualitative and quantitative social scientific research methods
• Utilize effective oral and written modes of communicating health-related issues to diverse audiences

The economics department offers a bachelor of arts degree in economics with a concentration in applied economics. Applied economics uses economic theory and empirical analysis to address real-world problems. You will learn the underpinnings of economic decision-making, identifying and analyzing the costs and benefits of financial and social decisions. You will also be trained in econometrics, statistical methods and software specifically for economic data. With this knowledge and these skills, the concentration in applied economics prepares students for entry-level analytical positions in finance, government, healthcare, consulting, and other fields.

As a student in the applied economics program at UMass Dartmouth, you'll learn how to:

• Collect and analyze micro and macroeconomic data
• Evaluate findings from data analysis
• Formulate recommendations for business decisions and policymakers
• Interpret and forecast market trends
• Research economic issues and evaluate policy solutions

Economists pursue careers in business, economic journalism, finance, government, insurance, management, public policy and real estate. Your studies will also prepare you for graduate study in areas such as business, policy, and law.

Money, time, and risk: these are the fundamentals of finance. Finance is the study of funds management, and how money is spent and budgeted. Financial decisions determine the economic viability of any enterprise, whether a corporation, multinational company, limited partnership, private company, or nonprofit organization.

Your professors—leading experts in their field—will introduce you to the discipline's analytical tools, which bring together concepts from economics, accounting, and mathematics. Internships in corporations and financial institutions will help you discover the many career opportunities available in finance.

Finance majors prepare for careers in brokerage firms, corporations, financial institutions, investment banks, and government in positions such as:

• Budget analyst
• Financial analyst
• Financial manager
• Financial planner
• Mortgage officer
• Portfolio & mutual fund manager

As global markets expand, international opportunities for finance professionals will also increase.