Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in World Languages and Cultures that allows students to pursue one of four options:

• French Option
• French / Spanish Option
• Italian / Spanish Option
• Spanish Option

Each option requires specific foundation courses that prepare students for advanced study; students then select specialized courses that complement this core and allow for exploration of individual interests.

The main purpose of the World Languages major is to provide students with the ability to function more effectively in the multicultural world we live in. The courses offer students the opportunity to acquire an ability to use a second language and to become aware of the cultures in which they flourish.

The options focus on the major intellectual concerns, culture and communication. Serving as the paradigmatic model for thinking in the human sciences, language occupies a high rung in the conceptualization of numerous disciplines. Language courses offer an understanding of language as a system and a model of communication in its cultural context, in addition to providing skills in a number of languages. The learning of languages facilitates the cultural connections with the various linguistic groups of a region. The specific areas of study include instruction in language, literature, linguistics, civilization and culture.

Completion of the chemistry curriculum provides preparation for all areas of the chemical profession, as well as for graduate study in chemistry, dentistry, medicine, patent law, and teaching. Students completing the B.S. requirements graduate with a degree certified as being in a program approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society.

The major typically includes 56-60 credits in chemistry courses and 26-30 credits in supporting science and mathematics courses. In addition, university/college guidelines for core curriculum/distribution requirements must be fulfilled.

The UMass Lowell American Studies Program offers both a major and a minor. It includes faculty from departments such as English, Cultural Studies, History, Psychology, Sociology and Political Science.

Graduates of the program have pursued careers in government and social services; others seek certification to teach elementary or high school. Having developed skills in writing and analysis, American Studies majors have become successful executives, public relations representatives, product managers, speech writers, press secretaries, and journalists. American Studies has proven a strong foundation for students continuing their studies in law or in library and information sciences.

American Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field practiced around the nation and world. It examines the intersection between such subjects as globalization and economics, music and politics, history and gender, race and environment, technology and art. This willingness to cross the boundaries of traditional disciplines allows for creative critical thinking and research.

The International Business Concentration provides you with the broad range of skills you will need for an international career in a rapidly evolving global workplace. Concentration coursework will assist you to:

• Develop an awareness of management concepts, systems and practices in different countries and institutional settings.
• Understand cultural dynamics, economics and political constraints as they affect the marketing and sales aspect of international business.
• Assess and evaluate the financial risks associated with multi-national firms, and address global sourcing strategies. This includes; managing supply and demand uncertainties, distribution strategies for global operations, and managing strategic alliances.
• Learn more about the role that information technology and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) plays in managing global supply chains.
• Enhance your understanding of the details and nuances of international trade.

International Business is your choice if you:

• Aspire to study abroad or participate in a significant international experience outside of the classroom such as an international internship.
• Want to tour international campuses and experience what it is like to study at a university in another country.
• Envision yourself to be an active participant in the world economy.

The Pharmaceutical Sciences Marketing and Management option prepares you for a career as a pharmaceutical executive in management, sales or marketing. You’ll gain a valuable foundation in health sciences and business, which will prepare you for a variety of job opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, or continue your degree in the graduate program.  

A unique blend of business and scientific courses, the program prepares you to:

• Be a leader in pharmaceutical project management.
• Market and promote novel therapeutics.
• Develop entrepreneurial skills in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields.
• Integrate new technology to promote health for diverse populations worldwide.
• Work in Quality assurance/control (QA/QC).
• Pursue Lab-based research positions.

In recent years, rapid advancement in information technology, radical shifts in global culture, and evolving contemporary popular opinion have drastically redefined the career landscape for the performing musician.

In response to these global circumstances, UMass Lowell seeks to train music performers of the modern era who have developed a sense of personal entrepreneurship that can be applied within both traditional and newly emerging performance contexts. For students who seek careers as a modern day performing musician, UMass Lowell offers a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance in the instrumental or vocal area of their choice.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting is designed to provide students with a general understanding of multiple areas of accounting and the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for entry-level accounting positions that require only an undergraduate degree, and for graduate business and accounting programs. Accounting courses will help students learn the “language of business" and translate the daily activities of a business into useful financial information to facilitate decision making.

The bachelor's degree program with accounting concentration is based on the UMass Lowell general education courses that consist of 56 credits in areas outside of the Manning School of Business. In addition, the Manning School of Business foundation and core curriculum include 67 hours of courses from all the business disciplines including 24 hours of courses from accounting.

The curriculum provides a sound foundation in math, science, and engineering as well as plastics specific courses. These courses, and the related laboratory experiences, focus on polymer materials, properties, processing and design. All levels of this curriculum foster communication, professionalism, ethics, safety, and environmental sustainability.

The department maintains the highest standard of academic excellence and a supportive environment for students from all backgrounds.

Students follow a sequence of mathematics, science, college writing, and fundamental engineering courses in their freshman and sophomore years. Plastics Engineering courses begin with the freshman-level Introduction to Plastics Engineering. Basic plastics materials, processing and design - with their hands on laboratories - are taught in the sophomore and junior years. The senior year includes advanced courses and a student-selected capstone project. Relevant clusters of humanities and social science courses are included with the context of engineering education to create well-rounded graduates.

A computer engineer must understand the fundamentals of general engineering and hardware design as well as essential low and high level programming. A computer engineer must have a fundamental understanding of digital signal processing VLSI filters, electronics, digital/advanced digital computer logic and architecture (at the hardware level) as well as the associated software. This defines the differences between a computer engineer, an electrical engineer, and a computer scientist. An electrical engineer will study math, physical science, and some hardware, while a computer engineer will focus more on hardware and software along with physical science and math, especially discrete math. The computer scientist concentrates more on software and discrete math than the computer engineer and less time to hardware and physical science. For example, both electrical and computer engineers require at least 20 credits of circuits and electronics (theory and laboratories). Computer engineers use their knowledge to create new devices and systems that satisfy perceived societal needs, including health and welfare, safety, environmental control, knowledge enhancement, etc.

The Master of Science in Accounting at UMass Lowell prepares students for careers in public, corporate, government and non-profit accounting, in addition to qualifying students to meet licensing requirements to become certified public accountants.

The Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy has classified MSA program at Manning School of Business as “Level 1” and deemed the program to be substantially equivalent to AACSB standards. Any student who earns a graduate degree in accounting from a Level 1 program is judged to have satisfied the educational requirements to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Students who earn degrees from non-Level 1 programs must demonstrate that they have satisfied such educational requirements. Therefore, our MSA program’s Level 1 status makes it easier for UMass Lowell accounting graduates to eventually become Certified Public Accountants (CPA).

The MSA will prepare graduates to succeed in a competitive environment and a respected profession, one whose members continue to be in high demand from public accounting firms, financial institutions, industry, government agencies, municipalities, schools, hospitals and charitable organizations.