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

at Shorelight Group - The University of Utah USA

Students of English enter a world rich with intellectual possibilities. As an English major at the University of Utah, you will study literature, creative writing, and literary discourse and theories. The U’s English curriculum covers the vast range of literature written in English, from the 8th century AD until the present day. Students will explore theory, film, graphic novels, video games, digital humanities, popular culture, and have the chance to develop their skills as critical and creative writers. However, the skills you gain from an English degree are not limited to just studying literature—written and verbal communication skills are central to any career or subsequent degree that demands the ability to think, argue, write, and speak about complicated issues. In addition to expanding your intellect, your English degree ultimately provides an essential foundation for careers in law, business, government, education, finance, and media.

Communication is much more than just the written word. Communication is also verbal or non-verbal, and it takes place at both an interpersonal and mass scale. With the University of Utah’s Communication program, students learn how to be effective communicators for all different types of audiences. Communication is a diverse discipline and offers a variety of skills to prepare students for their careers. Through a combination of theoretical and technical training, the Communication program allows students to develop a comprehensive portfolio to market themselves to the industry. If you want to focus your studies on a particular area, you can pursue an emphasis in one of the following emphases:

• Communication Studies
• Journalism
• Science, Health, Environmental, and Risk Communication
• Strategic Communication

With a major or minor in Russian, you will learn how to speak and understand the Russian language, and you will also gain a deeper understanding of Russia and Russian-speaking countries. Russia has a rich, proud history and culture, making it perfect for examination in an academic environment. Through study of Russian language, literature, and society, students will develop critical thinking skills, cross-cultural understanding, and social awareness. The program curriculum includes four semesters of Russian language courses, and instruction then continues with advanced language classes and coursework in phonetics and morphology, as well as Russian history, literature, and culture. As we become an increasingly global world, the skills and knowledge you gain from the Russian program will prepare you for a number of international and domestic careers.

Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Oprah, Ariana Huffington—all are famous for their business skill and acumen. If you want to put your business abilities to the test and join the ranks of these innovators, considering studying entrepreneurship. The undergraduate Entrepreneurship program at the University of Utah prepares students to pursue and create business opportunities of all kinds. Students learn to follow trends, identify emerging opportunities, and pursue those possibilities through the creation of new products, services, and companies. Core entrepreneurship courses in the program include application and theory of leadership, discovery of market opportunities, creation of new business opportunities, testing and validation of business models and venture concepts, intrapreneurship, and marketing.

Philosophy is the study of knowledge, reality, and existence. If you want to better understand yourself and the important issues surrounding life, knowledge, and values, consider studying philosophy. This program will provide a broad understanding of the central problems and positions in philosophy, through coursework from the four central areas of philosophy: ethics and value theory, metaphysics and epistemology, the history of philosophy, and logic and formal methods. A major in philosophy offers a wide range of opportunities for intellectual growth and self-development to students who have a variety of interests, preparing you for a number of careers that require critical thinking and decision-making.

Satisfy your curiosity and learn how art and culture intersect through the University of Utah’s Art History program. Art history is the study of the artistic endeavors of peoples around the globe, and professional art historians seek to understand the context of art: why art and architecture are made and how they relate to historical and cultural circumstances. In recent years, the discipline of art history has expanded from a narrow study of the fine arts to the wider and more inclusive fields of visual and material culture. The Art History curriculum introduces students to these topics through lectures and seminars. Your coursework will cover topics such as visual analysis and critical thinking, as well as the art and history of specific cultures and geographic locations. The culminating capstone experience is a seminar class that allows you to apply your analytical and research skills to a select art history theme or area. Art history is an exciting field, especially in recent years: feminist, postmodern, postcolonial, and contemporary perspectives are all reinvigorating art historical writing today.

The undergraduate Special Education teacher education program provides professional training for those who wish to be educators for young children and students with disabilities.. Through a combination of academic coursework and hands-on experience, you will graduate with the critical thinking skills, pedagogical knowledge, and human understanding you need to be an effective educator to those with unique education needs. The program curriculum consists of a Teacher Education Core, with classes in the following topics: early childhood education, secondary classroom education, assessment and instruction principles, language development, legal and policy foundations, reading methods, writing instruction, math instruction, and classroom technology integration. Students then complete courses and practicums relevant to their emphasis area, with the academic experience culminating in a period of student teaching. Students who successfully complete the program are recommended for licensure to the Utah State Office of Education; once licensure is granted, students may become teachers in the state of Utah.

Geography is a unique field that bridges the physical and social sciences: geographers study not just natural Earth systems but also human societies, examining the interaction between the two. Geographers work with powerful technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), digital Earth imagery (remote sensing), and spatial modeling. Geography also has a long-standing field tradition, often involving travel to spectacular locations. The University of Utah’s Geography program will provide you with a collaborative, integrated approach to understanding complex geographical challenges, such as climate change, globalization, sustainability, urbanization, and living with hazards. The program curriculum includes courses in environments, human geography, geographical analysis, cartography, and GIS; students then choose courses from the broader areas of physical and human geography, as well as electives from allied fields (such as atmospheric sciences or geology). Geography has a “No Student Left Inside” Initiative that encourages field work and labs in their courses to get technical, real world experiences. If you want to focus your studies on a particular area,

Philosophy is the study of knowledge, reality, and existence. If you want to better understand yourself and the important issues surrounding life, knowledge, and values, consider studying philosophy. This program will provide a broad understanding of the central problems and positions in philosophy, through coursework from the four central areas of philosophy: ethics and value theory, metaphysics and epistemology, the history of philosophy, and logic and formal methods. A major in philosophy offers a wide range of opportunities for intellectual growth and self-development to students who have a variety of interests, preparing you for a number of careers that require critical thinking and decision-making.

The Family, Community and Human Development (FCHD) Major is housed in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies (FCS). The objective of the FCHD major is to provide students with a broad and detailed understanding of the processes of personal development in the context of the family, and as impacted by community and societal forces beyond the family. More specifically, students with a FCHD major will acquire an understanding of:

• The key features of development through each stage of life (infants, children, adolescents and adults);
• How these key features of development are impacted by experience to account for the ways that each of us is unique;
• How family members develop and maintain relationships within and across generations;
• The decisions people make about managing resources such as time, money, and material assets;
• The ways that individual and family well-being are impacted by community and societal forces;
• The impact of local, national, and international policies and laws on individual, family and community well-being;
• How research in these areas is conducted and evaluated, and how the findings from these works may be applied to enhance the well-being of individuals (at every age) and families

In addition to the breadth and depth of our FCHD major as summarized above, our department offers students three opportunities for diving more deeply into specific areas of focus that are both relevant to the broader goals of our major and oriented toward specific career opportunities.