Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fibers

at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee USA

The Committee Interdisciplinary Major with a focus in American Indian Studies provides students with a thorough understanding of the Native American tribal nations in North America and their influence and impact in today's culture and society.

Our program embraces everyone interested in understanding the treaties, history, cultures, and politics that shaped the formation of North America and continue to have relevance today. While UWM does attract a number of students with Native American ancestry to the program, our classes are full of people from all types of backgrounds. They all share a common interest in understanding the past in order to impact the present. The curriculum develops the depth of students’ experience with the methodologies and sources used in the field of American Indian Studies. Although interdisciplinary, American Indian Studies encompasses a distinct body of knowledge. Students majoring in American Indian Studies can select from a wide variety of courses organized under three areas:

• Culture and Creative Expression
• History, Law, and Government
• Education and Community Policy Studies

German is the third most studied foreign language in the world, and, at UWM, we offer more than just instruction in language. In addition to German fluency, students learn how to apply that fluency by studying German culture, literature, customs, and history.

Wisconsin has a strong German heritage and many students find it both professionally useful and personally satisfying to explore the State's German influences. Many may come into college having already taken German in high school. Students can take a placement test to determine their starting course and may be able to earn retroactive credits if they place above the level of GERMAN 101.

Fluency in German can provide a career advantage in all types of industries where Germany and other German-speaking countries are leaders: finance, marketing, manufacturing, politics, government work, electronics and technology, chemical and biochemical, environmental science, and architecture. At UWM, language students receive an education in not just language fluency but also in the culture surrounding that language. Context matters in communication, and we believe it is important for students to understand the history, literature, and customs of native speakers of German in order to successfully apply their fluency.

The Committee Interdisciplinary Major with a focus in Chinese language and culture is a vital program with growing importance and value as China expands its role as a super power in world economics, manufacturing, technology, and politics.

Each year more and more students are joining the ranks of the 1.4 billion people who speak Mandarin, the official language of the People's Republic of China and of Taiwan.

Many students now can find Chinese instruction in their high schools. At UWM, students can continue their high school studies or begin from the first semester of Chinese language instruction. We offer eight semesters of Chinese language, and equally as important, we offer an array of classes on Chinese culture. Students can explore classes in Chinese art, Chinese film, the use of Chinese in business settings, Chinese and Asian history, and the politics and religions of the region.

While the study of any Asian language is challenging for native English speakers because of their vast differences from English, students often find it is less difficult than they lead themselves to believe. Successful students of Chinese will dedicate the necessary daily time to practice and repeat...and practice and repeat.

The School of Freshwater Sciences offers a graduate program of studies providing students with advanced training and education in four areas:

• Freshwater System Dynamics
• Human and Ecosystem Health
• Freshwater Technology
• Freshwater Policy and Economics

Each of these focus areas is interrelated with the others, and includes biologic, physical, technologic and policy aspects of freshwater.

The charge of the Voice Area is to teach skills for future success in music, to offer solid vocal technique and knowledge of vocal health. This training is built upon a foundation of history, theory, and a varied repertoire of vocal music. A spirit of genuine collaboration both within and outside of the voice area offers experiences in many musical styles, fostering future performers, pedagogues and leaders in the arts.

The purpose of the MLIS program is to prepare librarians and information professionals who are able to manage change in an urbanized, technologically oriented, and knowledge-based society. The MLIS program provides a systematic course of study which enables individuals with a strong service orientation to apply principles of library and information science, use current methods and tools, and recognize the value of research.

Students may elect to specialize according to the type of library or information service which best meets their needs: i.e., school, public, academic, or special; or to follow a more generalized approach. Concentrations in archival studies, information organization, information technology, and public libraries are available.

The MA in Language, Literature, and Translation (MALLT) is an interdisciplinary MA degree program focused on global languages, literatures and translation. With over 50 faculty from five different departments, MALLT offers a flexible program of study tailored to your professional goals. Three departments—French, Italian and Comparative Literature, Foreign Languages and Literature and Translation & Interpreting Studies cooperate in offering this interdepartmental, interdisciplinary master’s program designed for the student who wishes to focus on language, literature, and translation on a cross-cultural basis.

Students in the Biomedical Sciences major are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion of all requirements. This submajor provides excellent preparation for medical, physician assistant, dental, or veterinary school, biomedical research, forensic science, or employment with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies.

Human resource (HR) managers play an essential and strategic role in helping organizations recruit, train and retain an effective workforce. HR managers understand people and help organizations create an inclusive and productive workforce by providing performance and talent management systems; offering training, career development and work-life programs; and by creating effective compensation and benefits packages. HR managers also help organizations develop effective leaders and teams and proactively work with top-management to build inclusive and positive organizational cultures. Effective HR managers are skilled in interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, diversity management, and perspective-taking.

Comparative Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines issues of social identity and power, in contemporary and historical contexts. The field centers on questions of race, gender, and sexuality. Students are free to select from a range of courses in the Ethnic Studies program, and to include coursework they do from around the university their academic programs.

Unique to UWM, our program offers courses covering the Hmong diaspora. Wisconsin is home to the third largest Hmong American population in the US, making UWM a great place to learn about this population.

The Committee Interdisciplinary Major with a focus in Comparative Ethnic Studies is also one of a handful of majors that requires an internship prior to graduation, thereby ensuring that students leave college with hands-on experience from the local community. The program is administered by the College of Letters and Science interdepartmental Comparative Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee.