Bachelor of Arts, Major in Health and Society

at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth USA

English is an exciting discipline that challenges you to explore both literature and writing. Pursue your interest in literature by choosing the literature and criticism option. You'll learn how to:

• Read and think critically
• Engage with literature—and the world—thoughtfully and analytically
• Identify and analyze formal literary genres and schools of literary criticism
• Communicate effectively through literary analysis, persuasive argument, critical exposition, and presentation

Our award-winning faculty members specialize in a wide and diverse range of fields such as creative nonfiction, drama, fiction, poetry, world and British literature, and many more.

The skills you'll develop as an English major are essential in today's competitive job market and can lead to rewarding careers in communications, editing, freelance writing, grants writing, journalism, public relations, publishing, teaching, technical writing, screenwriting, 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 study of fashion design and production balances your creative vision with technical skills and an in-depth understanding of the fashion industry. You can prepare for a professional career in apparel design, marketing, manufacturing, and product development.

When you pursue your BFA in Art + Design: Fashion Design, you'll develop a wide range of skills and knowledge: advanced fashion design concepts such as computer-aided design (CAD), technical design and production, business in the fashion industry, public speaking and presentation, and contemporary fashion trends.

You’ll utilize up-to-date software and fashion-forward techniques to develop a strong and comprehensive portfolio of work. Juniors and seniors in the program develop full lines of clothing with opportunities to exhibit their collections at the annual CVPA Fashion Show, industry shows, and retail galleries.

Internships and networking opportunities help you make industry connections in Boston and New York, and graduates will be ready to compete successfully for jobs throughout the fashion industry.

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. Your BFA degree also provides excellent preparation for MFA programs and other graduate study.

Economics is the science of decision-making. Economists identify and analyze the costs and benefits of financial and social decisions.

As an economics major at UMass Dartmouth, you'll learn how to:

• Advise businesses and government on economic issues
• Collect and analyze data
• Interpret and forecast market trends
• Research economic issues and design policies to solve them

Skills in cost-benefit analysis, the core of an economist's training, are widely applicable to and highly valued in current job markets.

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 accounting, business and law.

The Ceramics program offers the opportunity for concentrated studio work involving both technical and conceptual challenges. Through questioning and experimentation, students work to consolidate materials and processes while developing strong conceptual and expressive ideas.

Graduate students are encouraged to pursue individual areas of interest which may include fabrication of functional or sculptural forms. Your work in the studio is complemented by courses in clay and glaze formulation, kiln construction, and ceramic history and aesthetics.

You will work closely with a faculty advisor to ensure guided exploration to develop maturity. Individual meetings take place on a weekly basis and critiques occur each month. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis.

Civil engineering is the engineering of the constructed facilities we encounter every day:

• Buildings, bridges, tunnels, and dams
• Waterways, railways, and highways
• Water power, irrigation, drainage, and water supply
• Wastewater and hazardous waste disposal
• Environmental health systems

As a civil engineering major, you'll learn how to plan, design, construct, and manage public and private infrastructure and facilities. You'll also be prepared to address emerging engineering issues related to sustainability, climate change, and new energy resources. You will be prepared to pursue a career in industry, government, research, or academia. Frequent interaction with the public is unique to the field of civil engineering.

UMass Dartmouth's liberal arts major offers an intellectual challenge, encouraging you to pursue your interests across a variety of academic fields.

You'll develop your creativity, critical thinking skills, and sense of independence while you explore concentrations across the humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs:

• The humanities: art history, English, foreign languages, history, philosophy
• The social sciences: anthropology, economics, political science, policy studies, sociology, women's and gender studies
• Interdisciplinary programs: sustainability, urban studies, women's and gender studies

Recent studies have shown that a degree in liberal arts provides a strong foundation for professional careers and scholarly work. You'll develop the qualities that future employers prize most: strong communication skills, the ability to assess a situation and develop a course of action, and the confidence to work independently.

As a liberal arts major, you will design your own interdisciplinary path as you choose two concentrations and bring them together to create new ways of seeing, knowing, and expressing your academic and research interests.

Liberal arts majors find careers in business, communications, education, government, human resources, museums, non-profit organizations, public policy, and social work. You'll be prepared for graduate study in the fields you'll explore as you select your liberal arts concentrations.

Focus your studies on international affairs. The Political Science Department offers a BA degree in political science with a concentration in international politics.

The International Politics Concentration promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity with respect to international politics; it enables students to address global issues and contribute to the public good.

Building on a strong foundation of American and comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, the international politics concentration provides you with the knowledge and analytical skills to understand politics within other countries and politics among countries.

Through experiences in and out of the classroom, you’ll learn to address critical global issues and contribute to the public good. You’ll acquire proficiency in writing, communication, advocacy, and comparative analysis: all vital skills in today’s global workplace.

You’ll be prepared for careers in international business, development, and diplomacy, and to continue your education at the graduate level.

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.

The Charlton College of Business Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program provides advanced and affordable education in finance for those with finance, business or non-business baccalaureate degrees. The MSF program is a high-quality, well-rounded program designed to prepare students to be competitive, market-ready, and successful in a rapidly changing global environment.

The MSF is a 10-course, 30-credit degree program. Students will be prepared to pursue nationally and globally recognized credentials, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Our program covers the major topic areas of the CFA exams, so graduates will have a strong foundation from which to draw while completing required exams.

Quantitative finance concentration

• The quantitative finance concentration has mathematical and capital market focus that will appeal to students interested in quantitative financial analysis, risk management, investment management, and financial technology careers. The quantitative finance concentration is STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designated, offering students on a VISA an extended OPT upon completion of the degree.

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.