Undergraduate Extended Accelerator Pathway (3-Term) - Bachelor of Science in Family, Community, and Human Development

at Shorelight Group - The University of Utah USA

Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on interactions of gender with race, class, sexual orientation, and nationality. In addition to its focus on the history and achievements of women, gender scholarship has inspired research and curricula that address men’s lives, masculinity, and the lives of people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The University of Utah Gender Studies Division offers a space for the study of a wide range of feminist thought and practices: theory and community-engaged learning; activism and professional development; lively debate and professional skill building. Pursue your passions!

Geoscience applies the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to understand the composition, structure, and history of the Earth and the processes that govern it. Geoscientists then use this knowledge to address societal needs and problems, such as locating and characterizing mineral, energy, and groundwater resources, assessing seismic and other geologic hazards, and evaluating and remediating environmental contamination. The University of Utah’s Geoscience program will provide you with a broad foundation in fundamental science concepts, and you can then individualize your degree by pursuing one of three emphasis areas in the geoscience field: Geology (which focuses on geologic materials, Earth systems, and fossils); Environmental Geoscience (which focuses on the layers of the atmosphere and their interactions); and Geophysics (which focuses on using physical methods to image and understand the Earth). Regardless of emphasis area, all program graduates will be prepared and qualified to pass the professional geologist licensure examination. After graduation, students are prepared for post-graduate work in the earth sciences, or professional jobs requiring earth science knowledge (such as environmental law and earth resource management).

Metallurgical engineering involves the study, innovation, design, implementation, and improvement of processes that transform mineral resources and metals into useful products that improve the quality of our lives. This includes processing materials, like metals and alloys, to extract, refine and recycle metals. Without metallurgical engineering, we would not have the components we need to build buildings, aircraft, trains, ships, or even mountain bikes. Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the Metallurgical Engineering curriculum consists of coursework across the three main areas of metallurgy: mineral processing, chemical metallurgy, and physical metallurgy. Additional classes cover topics like metallurgical thermodynamics, fluid flow, kinetics, and heat and mass transport, as well as the general sciences (chemistry, engineering, physics, and math). Because society is so dependent on metals, metallurgical engineering has become an increasingly important area of study: continued economic and technical progress will depend on further advances in metal and mineral technology. This program additionally offers students the option to complete one of 6 emphases, allowing them to tailor their program to best fit their strengths and interests.

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

Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENVST) is a STEM interdisciplinary program that offers a major with several emphases to focus your study, as well as a minor. The curriculum explores ecological systems and the impact of human-environment interactions from the perspectives of the natural sciences, the social and health sciences, and the humanities. The U’s program strives to foster an understanding the multi-faceted issues of the environment and sustainability and finding solutions through systemic analysis, peer learning, and community engagement, social responsibility, leadership, and having a science-based focus on solutions and integrated problem solving.

Biology is the study of life: the cells, physiology, and behavior of all living things. The biological sciences impact almost every aspect of modern life and interface with a multitude of fields and disciplines, including the basic sciences and medicine, social sciences, law, and engineering. This makes studying biology an ideal preparation for a wide range of careers. The Department of Biology at the University of Utah offers a wide range of courses involving field, laboratory, lecture, and library experience. Students pursuing a degree in Biology may complete one of the following emphases:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Cell & Molecular Biology
• Ecology, Evolution and Environment
• Genetics and Genomics
• Microbiology
• Neurobiology
• Plant Biology

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.

The Spanish program at the University of Utah is ideal for students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the Spanish language and the cultures of those who speak it. Students of this program will study the language, literature, history, and society of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, gaining cross-cultural understanding and an appreciation of diversity. The curriculum consists of courses in Spanish grammar, composition, conversation, and reading. Electives are then chosen from a variety of allied fields, allowing students to focus on the aspects of the language and its speakers that fascinate them most. Topics covered include the literature, film, linguistics, and culture of Latin America and Spain. The program also offers a wide range of seminars in Golden Age, Modern Peninsular, Colonial Latin American, Caribbean, Contemporary Latin American, and U.S. Latina/o studies, as well as Spanish linguistics. This diverse range of study ensures that students will graduate with the language literacy and critical thinking skills they need to be successful in a number of careers.

Recreational therapy (RT) is a form of therapy that uses physical recreation and activities to help people with illnesses or disabling conditions achieve mental and physical health. This therapy might include dancing, playing a sport, hiking, cooking, or even playing a video game. If you like being active and want to help others at the same time, consider majoring in Recreational Therapy. This program will give you the counseling techniques and knowledge you need to help rehabilitate individuals and educate them on the support systems and skills needed to maintain their health and happiness. The RT curriculum covers topics in recreational therapy foundations and treatment methods: through a combination of coursework, community programs, and treatment services, students learn how to conduct treatment planning and provide therapy. The culminating experience of the program is a recreational therapy internship through a local agency, preparing you for work in a professional environment. Students of this program graduate well-prepared to apply for licensure to practice as therapists or to find jobs in allied fields.

Linguists explore all things to do with language: Its structure and mechanics, how language and the mind interact, and the tie between language and socio-cultural factors. Linguistics is an ideal major for today’s university students.  It provides the intellectual satisfaction of learning how human language works, while at the same time developing the analytical skills necessary to be highly competitive on the job market.  Students in linguistics learn how to analyze languages and develop crucial skills for today’s job market: Reasoning, critical thinking, rigorous analysis, and written and verbal communication. Students may also simultaneously pursue a TESOL and/or Computational Linguistics certificate.