Undergraduate Academic Accelerator Pathway (2-Term) - Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

at Shorelight Group - The University of Utah USA

International Studies (IS) is a flexible and interdisciplinary major. It is designed to provide students with a sophisticated understanding of some of the modern world’s most persistent and challenging problems. Students learn about global issues in local, national, and international contexts. They develop the analytical skills and cultural competencies necessary to launch into fulfilling careers that make a difference. Students in the International Studies program typically begin by taking one introductory course on each of three themes: Peoples, Challenges, and Systems. They draw connections between these in the core course, Foundations of International Studies, and they take electives drawn from disciplines across campus as they develop an emphasis on any one of seven focus areas: Development & Sustainability, Foreign Relations & Security, Global Health, Culture & Identity, Trade & Commerce, European Studies, or Human Rights. No matter the chosen focus area, all International Studies majors must also complete a learning abroad program or an international internship.

Learn a new language, gain an appreciation for another culture, and become an active participant in today’s global world with the Middle East Studies program. Students of this program will learn basic instruction in one of two major languages of the Middle East—Arabic or Persian—and will also complete a wide spectrum of courses that approach the Middle East from many different perspectives. In addition to area-specific courses, the Middle East Center also coordinates with other University of Utah departments to offer interdisciplinary courses in the following fields: anthropology, economics, geography, history, languages and literature, linguistics, and political science.

Urban Ecology is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interrelationships among social, environmental, and economic systems, with the goal of enhancing the vitality and sustainability of places and communities. The University of Utah’s Urban Ecology program is designed to respond to problems and opportunities that exist in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural places for example, environmental management, fragile landscape protection, recreation and tourism, public lands planning, rapid population growth, regional transportation, energy production, and sprawl. As a student of the Urban Ecology program, you will take classes in urban ecology, planning, field studies, economics, law and social justice; you can also choose from a variety of electives topics, such as green infrastructure, sustainable development, community leadership and cities in literature. In your senior year, you will do an internship and take on a real world problem in the Ecological Planning Workshop.

Students with interest in severe weather, climate change, forecasting, broadcast meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, remote sensing, and many other areas may find a home in the Atmospheric Sciences. Study in this field seeks to understand the behavior and predictability of the earth's atmosphere. Atmospheric scientists need a good foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science, and the University of Utah’s program offers training in these areas and others, such as meteorology and climate. As a natural extension of the geographic setting of the university, the atmospheric sciences degree uniquely emphasizes mountain weather and climate. Ultimately, this program provides the knowledge and tools needed to address the challenges posed by hazardous weather and climate change in the 21st century.

Rhetoric is the study of effective speaking and writing: it is the art of argument and persuasion. Through the Writing and Rhetoric Studies program, you will become a strong analytical thinker and proficient writer. Students of this program learn rhetorical analysis and the ways that culture and society shape what we define as “literacy,” giving you critical thinking skills and social awareness that can be applied to a number of pursuits. Students in the program choose courses from topics such as under-represented rhetorics, rhetorics of gender, writing poplular non-fiction, professional discourse, grammar and stylistics, digital storytelling, writing as a social practice, and others. The culminating experience of the program is a senior seminar, synthesizing all of the student's undergraduate work into a portfolio piece. Employers consistently rank written communication skills as among the most-desired abilities in job candidates, and strong writing and argumentation abilities are excellent assets for graduate-level coursework.

Gain a deeper understanding of a culture other than your own through study of the language, literature, and society of Japan. The diverse and innovative program caters to individual student needs and fosters forward thinking and intellectual freedom. This freedom is reflected in program coursework: in addition to Japanese language instruction, students will complete courses on Japanese linguistics, syntax, civilization, contemporary literature, poetry, and classical Japanese. All students additionally must complete a capstone as a culminating experience to their time in the program. The U’s Japanese program provides excellent preparation for pursuing graduate work and entering a variety of professions where critical reading, writing, and thinking skills are paramount.

The Health, Society and Policy (HSP) Program addresses the multidimensional characteristics of human health. Health status may be related to factors beyond pathogens or illness: lifestyle, environmental exposures, socioeconomic status, cultural affiliation, poor communication, or access to health services can all contribute to an individual’s health. Students in this program are given the broad, interdisciplinary foundation for understanding health, allowing them to sensitively and effectively address health care issues in multidimensional contexts: for example, the geographic location, literacy, or socioeconomic status of an individual might impact their ability to access or obtain healthcare or eat a healthy diet. HSP students take courses from a variety of fields, including epidemiology, behavioral sciences, research methods and quantitative skills, administration, philosophy, and history. This coursework provides students with a coherent perspective on health care in its various social and administrative contexts. The culminating experience of the program is a capstone, delivered as an interdisciplinary series of seminars on a particular theme related to the major.

The rapidly growing economy in Utah and many parts of the country requires construction of new roads, houses, and commercial buildings, and construction engineers are needed to build them. The University of Utah’s Construction Engineering program will prepare you to enter this exciting field: you will learn scientific, mathematical, engineering, and management principles so that you can plan, design, and build commercial and residential buildings. As a construction engineering student, you will take courses in both civil engineering fundamentals—such as structural principles, site analysis, foundations, computer-assisted design, evaluation and testing, and materials—and instruction in construction courses, such as those related to contracting, project management, graphic communications, and laws and regulations. If you want to solve problems of infrastructure, use creative design in a practical setting, and improve the lives of others, consider majoring in construction engineering.

If you want to pursue your passion for creative expression, consider studying dance. The BFA in Modern Dance at the University of Utah integrates the rigors of intellectual exploration, technical discipline, and creative investigation in order to prepare dancers for the opportunities and challenges of the profession. As a Modern Dance student, you will be part of a contemporary dance community distinguished by its sense of excellence, professionalism, humanism, and a proud commitment to a lively spirit of creative inquiry: the degree is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) and ranked as one of the top programs in the country. All incoming undergraduate students must audition for admission into the Department of Modern Dance. Upon admission, the curriculum includes courses in movement, technique, improvisation, musical theory, cultural dance forms, and kinesiology. Students also gain experience in teaching methods through practicums in elementary and secondary schools. This coursework ultimately prepares dancers for a professional career in performance, choreography, and teaching.

Gain a deeper understanding of a culture other than your own through study of the language, literature, and society of Japan. The diverse and innovative program caters to individual student needs and fosters forward thinking and intellectual freedom. This freedom is reflected in program coursework: in addition to Japanese language instruction, students will complete courses on Japanese linguistics, syntax, civilization, contemporary literature, poetry, and classical Japanese. All students additionally must complete a capstone as a culminating experience to their time in the program. The U’s Japanese program provides excellent preparation for pursuing graduate work and entering a variety of professions where critical reading, writing, and thinking skills are paramount.