Bachelor of Arts, Major in Digital Media

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

The Creative Writing concentration invites English majors to study literary artistry in small group workshop classes that emphasize style, technique, and other aspects of craft. Where most undergraduate programs staff creative writing classrooms with visiting lecturers or graduate students, UMass Lowell retains a permanent faculty of distinguished writers specializing in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Focused on reading widely and writing well, the concentration’s multi-genre, progressively rigorous course of study culminates in a capstone portfolio project.

Students can expect to take part in the English Department's vibrant and active literary and creative community. The campus literary magazine, The Offering, is entirely student-run and -edited, and many creative writing students work on the editorial team or publish work in the magazine. Students have access to any number of public literary events each semester, including student readings, and can meet and speak to award-winning, nationally recognized authors through our Writers on Campus series. Our program, like the other department concentrations, offers a degree in English, and provides a solid foundation for students hoping to pursue a writing life beyond the classroom. Graduates of our program have published work in prominent literary magazines, been accepted in top-ranked MFA programs, released books with major publishers, and won prestigious national awards.

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 Creative Writing concentration invites English majors to study literary artistry in small group workshop classes that emphasize style, technique, and other aspects of craft. Where most undergraduate programs staff creative writing classrooms with visiting lecturers or graduate students, UMass Lowell retains a permanent faculty of distinguished writers specializing in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Focused on reading widely and writing well, the concentration’s multi-genre, progressively rigorous course of study culminates in a capstone portfolio project.

Students can expect to take part in the English Department's vibrant and active literary and creative community. The campus literary magazine, The Offering, is entirely student-run and -edited, and many creative writing students work on the editorial team or publish work in the magazine. Students have access to any number of public literary events each semester, including student readings, and can meet and speak to award-winning, nationally recognized authors through our Writers on Campus series. Our program, like the other department concentrations, offers a degree in English, and provides a solid foundation for students hoping to pursue a writing life beyond the classroom. Graduates of our program have published work in prominent literary magazines, been accepted in top-ranked MFA programs, released books with major publishers, and won prestigious national awards.

This program provides students with knowledge of the key issues, research, and theories in the important and emerging field of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Students are challenged to answer the following key content questions:

• How do factors such as poverty, lack of education and social inequity lead to conflict, both internationally and domestically
• What are the causes and conditions which generate and sustain conflict and violence?
• What are the principles and methods for the resolution of conflict and violence?
• What are the norms, practices and institutions for conflict transformation and building peace?

The Bachelor of Science in Meteorology & Atmospheric Science is for students who wish to explore weather and the environment and fulfills the education requirements for federally employed meteorologists. The program guidelines follow those of the American Meteorological Society.

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.

Communications and Critical Thinking -  Concentration
Effective communication is an essential tool for those seeking careers in journalism, advertising, commerce, law, public relations, education or related fields.

The Communications and Critical Thinking (C&CT) track in philosophy serves students preparing for these careers with a unique interdisciplinary course of study that puts them on the fast track for any of those professional choices. It provides training in the latest media technologies and in timeless communication skills such as presenting good arguments, critical reasoning and logical evaluation of competing opinions.

Students specialize by selecting a specific set of courses from the wide variety offered for the major, and by adding minors in other related areas such as computer science, English, music, art, economics, psychology, sociology or political science.

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.

Geoscience is the study of the physical environment. The curriculum at UMass Lowell is centered around a strong geoscience core, but includes additional course work in the biological sciences, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry and geographical information systems. This concentration provides a broader preparation than the traditional geology course of study and also is recommended for students who might wish to obtain certification as earth science teachers. It provides the requisite course work for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in environmental science or geology.
Graduates of this concentration are qualified for a variety of employment opportunities in traditional areas of geological employment in the petroleum and mining industries, as well for expanding opportunities in hydrogeology, hazardous waste assessment and management, groundwater remediation, wetlands delineation and evaluation, and environmental management.
Previous graduates have found employment in the petroleum industry, in asbestos identification and remediation, in environmental testing laboratories as analytical specialists, and in the field evaluating hazardous waste sites and ground and surface water contamination.

The pandemic exposed the critical role that public health professionals play to prevent diseases and promote health. With a B.S. in public health, you’ll be prepared for a career that creates healthy communities through education, research and promotion of healthy environments and lifestyles.

The cornerstone of the program is health promotion and disease prevention, rather than on diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions after they occur.

Public health jobs exist in private industry, organizations, local communities, and state and national settings. We offer the Public Health BS in two options: Community Health/Health Promotion and Health Sciences. See more details below. Students will also attain a foundation of knowledge that is necessary to pursue graduate studies in public health and health sciences.

Community Health/Health Promotion - Concentration

• Students will be involved in service learning and community health practicum experiences and take courses to increase skills in communication and teaching related to health promotion and prevention in community settings. This option will prepare students for careers as community health educators in a variety of settings including community health centers, hospitals, long term care facilities, corporate wellness, and nonprofit organizations.

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.

Forensic Science Option
The forensic option combines the application of physical sciences to criminal investigations, offering students the opportunity for close collaboration between the University and the community, by providing needed expertise and resources while obtaining real world experiences. This is the only forensics undergraduate degree program at a public university in Massachusetts and one of only three in New England.