Bachelor of Arts in Italian

at Navitas Group - Queens College, City University of New York USA

Africana Studies brings a global reach to the liberal arts curriculum, educating students in the civilization, history, literature, culture, and institutions of the peoples of Africa and people of African descent in the Americas.

As an interdisciplinary field, Africana Studies provides an excellent foundation for graduate work and an entrée to numerous disciplines and careers. Many prominent people in the United States hold degrees in Africana studies—including doctors, lawyers, scientists, business people, politicians, athletes, social workers, actors, journalists, and ministers.

"In the attempt to understand how societies work, sociology addresses and integrates a wide variety of areas, including many that overlap other disciplines, such as psychology, the economy, politics and political structures, and culture. Among its topics are social institutions, rules, networks, movements, and organizations. Students also acquire perspective on the societal and institutional significance of race, gender, class, and other social differences. Coursework includes theory, methods, and introductions to specializations (such as sociology of medicine).

Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies is an interdisciplinary field concerning the history, language, arts, and culture of the Greek people from Byzantine times to the present. Combining the humanities and the social sciences, it offers advanced coursework in four areas: Byzantine studies, modern Greek studies, modern Greek literature and culture, and Greek American studies. In the United States, the opportunity to earn an interdisciplinary BA in this field is unique to Queens College.

The bachelor’s degree offers excellent preparation for graduate work in Byzantine or modern Greek studies. In addition, it serves as an entrée to a career for students interested in the Greek experience and language.

Linguistics involves the study of language. For students interested in general linguistics, that means studying the formal properties of language, language variation, processes of language acquisition, and ways that language affects thought and action. Graduates, who become adept at both the scientific method and professional-quality writing, acquire the solid foundation to continue their studies at the graduate level—whether in classic disciplines like linguistics, anthropology, or psychology or professional programs like law or information science.

Students interested in applied linguistics, with the aim of Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL), learn to teach English in elementary and secondary schools. The program gives them the opportunity to learn as a student-teacher and gain field experience.

A knowledge of German is essential for students interested in past and current cultural, political, and economic developments in Europe. As the largest trading partner in Europe, Germany plays a leading role in European and world affairs—as it has historically. Moreover, the German language is fundamental to a liberal arts education. German-speaking writers, artists, and scholars shaped modern arts, literature, and fields of inquiry, including philosophy, theology, and the natural and social sciences. Germany remains a center of avant-garde art, music, film, and thought. Coursework emphasizes both language proficiency and the study of German literature, art, music, philosophy, history, and culture.

The program in East Asian Studies is flexible and interdisciplinary, combining language instruction with the humanities and social sciences. Students become proficient in one or more languages and acquire knowledge of the history, cultures, and societies of Asia.
In a globalizing world, this field has become increasingly relevant to students interested in such fields as law and policy, the arts, secondary education, and business and the professions.

The Jewish Studies program is dedicated to unrestricted inquiry into all aspects of the Jewish experience. It hosts numerous public events concerning Jewish culture, film, arts, history, and religion, encouraging active outreach around current issues and, in the broadest sense, world affairs. Majors benefit from access to New York’s multicultural, multilingual Jewish community as well as the numerous museums, libraries, and cultural institutions in the metropolitan area.

The program has four main areas of study: Jewish social and intellectual history; the anthropology, sociology, political life, and folklore of Jews; Jewish religious and philosophical thought; and Jewish languages and literature. It can be tailored to a wide range of personal interests.

Political science analyzes the forces that shape government policy in both the national and international arenas. Such forces include power relationships, political values and ideologies, the “rules of the game” that shape government institutions, and the strategies of citizens and other social actors. The curriculum includes American, comparative, and international politics; political theory and methodology; and law and politics. Students also may complete internships for credit—with administrative, judicial, legislative, or other offices of government, law firms, nonprofit advocacy groups, and elsewhere.

American Studies fosters an interdisciplinary view of the United States and its hemispheric neighbors. Students explore historical, social, and artistic dimensions of the American experience. The program encourages students to design an individualized course of study.

American Studies majors become experienced researchers, trained to think critically and to work from many perspectives using a variety of primary sources.

Philosophy involves the pursuit of fundamental questions, such as the nature of reality, truth, justice, values, ethics, reason, science, and faith. It offers careful training in inquiry, critical thinking, and the construction of well-reasoned arguments. Coursework includes philosophical questions, methods, history, and systems of thought.

Although philosophy is sometimes thought of as a luxury or “ivory tower” discipline, PayScale’s research has found that it actually ranks as the top-earning humanities major. The mental discipline students acquire and their facility with complex reasoning are valued highly by employers who seek innovative problem solvers and executives. Further, philosophy has historically offered a high road to the study of law.