Bachelor of Arts, Major in American Studies

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

The Bachelor of Music in Composition for New Media balances established coursework in musicianship, performance, and liberal arts with hands-on contemporary training in music and sound composition for all facets of commercial and artistic media. Students in this program compose, mix, design, and arrange music and sound assets for movies, web, television, animation, mobile and educational platforms, games, artistic installations, advertising, industrial media, interactive live performance, Virtual Reality systems and related outlets.

Like all music major programs at UMass Lowell, this program requires:

• An entrance audition on an instrument or voice,
• The submission of a portfolio of scores/recordings/creative work, which consists of three media excerpts around 90 seconds each of original compositions, with supplemental materials, which may include documentation, scores, etc. as needed.

Mathematics has long played an integral role in advances in science and technology. And in today’s high-tech, information-based economy, a background in mathematics is a highly valued commodity.

At UMass Lowell, students pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics develop valuable and transferable skills in critical thinking, quantitative analysis and problem solving — skills that are necessary for success in a broad range of fields.

Offered by UMass Lowell’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, this flexible program features a robust curriculum designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the science of mathematics. Topics covered include calculus, physics, discrete structures, applied statistics, propositional logic, methods of proof, relations and functions, applications to computer science and more.

Students can take courses in the history of philosophy and philosophical movements; political, mathematical and scientific philosophies; metaphysics; linguistics and aesthetics. Students will learn how to analyze, reason, deduct and apply persuasive arguments in a disciplined and systematic way while developing their oral and written communication skills.

The department does not specify particular course work for the major, but recommends that the sequence of courses be designed in close consultation with the student’s faculty advisor. Students who plan to go to graduate school are strongly encouraged to take at least two courses from the History of Philosophy series. They should also consider a second major in a cognate field, e.g., American studies, English, French, history, mathematics, or political science.

Religious Studies - Concentration
A major in Philosophy with a concentration in Philosophy & Religious Studies requires a combination of required introductory courses, Philosophy and Religious Studies electives and Interdisciplinary courses.

Students should choose those courses that are most suitable to their particular interests. Not all of these courses will be offered in a given academic year; students may contact the Chair of Philosophy to determine when a given course will be offered. New courses relevant to Philosophy & Religious Studies may be added to the catalog from time to time; students may contact their advisors to determine whether a new course will count towards the Philosophy & Religious Studies concentration.

In satisfying the Philosophy & Religious Studies electives requirement, students may also take courses from other departments that are relevant to the Philosophy & Religious Studies concentration.

The Theatre Arts Concentration offers a solid foundation in the dramatic arts within a broad-based liberal arts degree. The concentration emphasizes creative, analytical, and communication skills as well as collaboration and teamwork. Students work in genres ranging from classical to contemporary, including opportunities to collaborate on devised-theatre projects. Close attention from our professional theatre faculty and guest artists allows students to develop the skills and confidence to pursue graduate study or professional work in theatre, education, the entertainment industry, and many other fields.

Required and elective courses provide well-rounded study in the history and literature of theatre and a rich grounding in theatrical practice—acting, design, directing, stage management, production, and dramaturgy. Students can concentrate their upper-level coursework within a particular area of their choice—for example, performance, dramaturgy, or design/tech. Our students also have a wide range of exciting internship opportunities through our partnership with the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, and at theatres in Boston and the region.

The introductory courses for majors provide the freshmen experience and create common bonds among students in Political Science. Core offerings on American Politics and Policy have been augmented by others on comparative policies of countries ranging from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia to Southern Africa. The Department also offers specialized courses related to gender and citizenship, political economy, race and ethnicity, and public policy of interest to students in a variety of majors across the University.

In addition to traditional courses in political thought, recent course offerings have included work in state theory, feminist political theory, current theoretical conflicts in constitutional interpretation, and the politics of arts and culture.

The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering program at UMass Lowell offers an opportunity to pursue a broad range of interests in the fields of environmental and water resources engineering. The course of study is designed to meet an individual student's interests and career goals. Programs consist of civil engineering courses in

• Water and wastewater treatment,
• Environmental chemistry,
• Hydrology,
• Hydraulics,
• Air pollution control,
• Environmental law and policy,
• And may include courses from allied disciplines such as biological and health sciences, environmental studies, chemistry and work environment.

The Environmental Geoscience Option is designed to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research and act as consultants in environmental sciences and geosciences. The students in the program will take a variety of courses distributed across three areas – Policy/Economics, Environmental Engineering, and Environmental Geosciences. Course work will be concentrated in the Environmental Geosciences, with the option to take additional courses in the other areas based on student interest.

The study of economics stems from the scarcity of resources and the limitless nature of our demands for products and services. Societies must therefore choose the goods and services that will be produced from among the larger range of production possibilities. Economics develops the principles and concepts that follow from this fact of scarcity and applies them to the analysis of various aspects of human activity.

The B.F.A. degree prepares students for careers in studio arts and graphic design. Within these disciplines, students may choose to focus on photography, sculpture, painting, ceramics, animation, 3D modeling, drawing, printmaking or interactive digital media.

The art major is designed to develop a rigorous art practice. Students gain a deep knowledge of the technical and conceptual abilities needed to succeed in the professional world. The Art & Design Department offers the professional degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.).

Through a rigorous competence-building sequence of core courses (Graphic Design I,II,III and Typography I,II,III) students learn the fundamentals of design as well as a wide variety of skills such as team building, critical thinking and problem-solving, which are necessary to succeed in the field. They also gain competences in public speaking and writing. In addition, they learn how to continually adapt to new technology.

Assignments focus on Graphic Design systems, Graphic Design in context and professional practice. In addition to these core courses students can take advantage of courses in web design, motion graphics, animation, interactive design and advanced independent studies.
The final year, students focus on their capstone project. The Senior Studio project is a year-long exploration where students develop their online portfolio, resume and create a self-directed project that reflects their talent and skills.

High quality professors, rigorous and relevant curriculum and state-of-the art facilities create an environment that produces excellent student achievement. The graphic design concentration at UMass Lowell provides students with the tools necessary to reach their highest potential as designers and to have a successful design career in today’s global world.

The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media at UMass Lowell helps students turn their talent and passion into careers in the diverse and rapidly expanding field of media production. With an interdisciplinary structure and real-world approach, this program offers a rigorous curriculum taught by industry experts. Students can build their skills and explore their interests through a wide range of courses in video, film, sound production, editing, motion graphics, broadcasting and screenwriting.

The digital media program offers many opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience with regional media companies through professional internships and co-ops in film, TV, animation, marketing and digital production. See examples below.