This fall, the College of Arts and Science is enhancing its degree offerings with three new majors and one new minor. The college is also restructuring some academic units to leverage teaching and scholarly strengths and provide more opportunities for students and faculty.
New degree programs
Previously offered only as a minor, the major was created due to burgeoning student interest in the current geopolitical environment. This interdisciplinary program, offered in partnership with the Institute of National Security, educates students on U.S. national security, foreign affairs, and theories of conflict. Students select from two tracks, National Security Analytics or National Security Technology, developing skills in data science, computing, or engineering. Students are prepared to lead in U.S. foreign policy and foreign affairs, the private sector, the armed services, research organizations, and many other career paths.
Major in Climate and Environmental Studies
This reimagined major, formerly called Climate Studies, has been expanded to better equip students to understand and address climate change and environmental degradation. The program has launched new interdisciplinary courses, hired two new faculty members, increased opportunities for experiential learning, and strengthened connections with alumni to enhance professional development for students. These thoughtful changes, developed through faculty, student, and alumni input, more closely connect climate and the environment and provide students with important resources and learning opportunities that prepare them to be leaders in the field. Read more about the innovative changes the program has made.
Major in Romance Languages, Cultures, and Diasporas
Increasingly important in today’s global environment, this major fosters intercultural competence through the languages, cultures, and literatures of France, Italy, Brazil, Spain and the Americas, and the Luso and Francophone worlds. The major connects language instruction to business, medicine, journalism, law, and engineering, among other fields, to provide students with an understanding and appreciation for cultural contexts and how to succeed in an interconnected world.
Minor in Museums and Market Studies
This new minor, offered by the Department of History of Art and Architecture, offers students a critically informed understanding, together with pre-professional training, in the histories and theories of museums and art markets. Students gain comprehensive knowledge of museum practices and the business of art while developing practical skills through hands-on experiences. They are prepared to be leaders in nonprofits, museums, auction houses, galleries, and many other areas.
In addition to these new curricular offerings, several departments in the College of Arts and Science have merged to leverage existing academic and scholarly strengths and create an even more vibrant academic community. The newly formed departments offer more interdisciplinary learning and research opportunities for students, foster more faculty collaboration, and provide enhanced mentoring and support for junior faculty.
The new departments are:
- Department of Cinema, Media Arts, and Theatre (formerly Department of Cinema & Media Arts and Department of Theatre)
- Department of Classical and Religious Studies (formerly Department of Classical & Mediterranean Studies and Department of Religious Studies)
- Department of European, German, and Russian Studies (formerly Department of German, Russian & East European Studies and Program in European Studies)
- Department of Romance Languages, Cultures, and Diasporas (formerly Department of French & Italian and Department of Spanish & Portuguese)