Undergraduate Extended Accelerator Pathway (3-Term) - Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies – Diversity Studies

at Shorelight Group - University of Central Florida USA

The undergraduate program in materials science and engineering at UCF is distinguished by offering an outstanding selection of courses taught by excellent instructors who offer students state-of-the-art classroom and research opportunities.

Further, due to the interdisciplinary nature of materials science and engineering, students are encouraged to expand their knowledge across multiple disciplines through the several innovative curriculum and interdisciplinary research facilities and research centers at UCF. These include the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center, the Nanoscience Technology Center, the Florida Solar Energy Center and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers. This approach provides a distinct advantage to UCF undergraduates in that they not only understand materials-specific challenges but also have an overall understanding of engineered systems for many applications.

Students majoring in the Social Sciences Interdisciplinary B.S. program are provided with interdisciplinary breadth and depth in the Social Sciences as they fulfill the requirements of three separate social science minors of their choice, a statistics course, and a methodology course. The Social Science minors are housed in Anthropology, Communication, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Women's and Gender Studies. This major supports UCF's goal of offering the best undergraduate education available in Florida with flexibility that is absent in most discipline-specific programs.

The study of human communication allows students to develop critical thinking skills, an understanding of cultural and gender-related differences in how people communicate, and it sharpens their marketable skills such as writing, public speaking and persuasion.

Students with a B.A. in human communication pursue jobs in a wide range of industries including management, sales, human resources, higher education (admissions and student services), marketing and training. Many students also continue their education in graduate school, law school and business or professional graduate degree programs.

Students must choose one track from the following: General Human Communication, Business and Professional Communication, Health Communication, Interpersonal Communication, or Social Innovation and Activism.

Within the rapid advance in nanoscience, with continuous breakthroughs leading to exciting applications in current and new emerging technologies, and the high degree of industrial innovation in Central Florida, UCF has an important role to play in the education of knowledge workers for an industry that is becoming more and more sophisticated. While UCF provides several opportunities for the graduate population to pursue training in nanoscience.

The overall goal is for the students to acquire a working knowledge of nanoscience principles and industrial applications, and to understand the societal and technology issues that may impede the adoption of nanotechnology. In addition, students are expected to develop the ability to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and identify paths and requisite knowledge and skills for nanotechnology careers.

The Plant Science Track is designed to give students a diverse understanding of the plant world and their impact on human lives and environment. Plant Kingdom, Plant Anatomy, Plant Physiology and Plant Taxonomy courses will position students to find jobs in biotechnology labs, state parks and as field technicians as well as teaching in high schools or obtaining internships in other botanical institutions. Culinary Botany focuses on health and nutrition derived from plants and Medical Botany prepares students towards a career in naturopathy, allopathy and Pharmacy programs.

The UCF Psychology Department is the largest in the Western Hemisphere by student enrollment. Currently at the undergraduate level we have well over 4,500 psychology majors, nearly 1,000 psychology minors, and over 180 students seeking the Behavioral Forensics Certificate. We also have well over 150 graduate students across our different doctoral and masters programs. We are Central to any conversation about Psychology Training in the State of Florida.

The B.S. in Early Childhood Development and Education program at UCF prepares you to impact a diverse population of young children and families using research-based, developmentally appropriate practices. Your coursework will provide you with the knowledge and skills in many areas, including child development, social and emotional development, assessment and literacy. Here, we believe that all children deserve a strong foundation in a safe and nurturing environment, using a constructive approach to learning.

The B.A. in Film offers courses in film theory, history and criticism. The aim of the program is to give students a broad and in-depth knowledge of these areas. The emphasis is on the aesthetics, styles and forms of film. The first two years of the program provide students with a general background and introduction. In the second two years, the program concentrates on the analysis of specific film practices such as editing, color, sound, staging, cinematography, narrative form and theoretical and historical perspectives.

In the advanced courses, student learning will be verbal and visual, written and practical. Students are expected to have access to a digital video camera and an editing suite. Courses are sequenced and coordinated over the period of the degree enabling students to build on their learning in a progressive and coherent manner. An Honors Dissertation is an option in the final year.

Students of Film have the advantage of stimulus and interaction with faculty and students in other disciplines and the opportunity to take elective courses in these areas. The emphasis on film form and the integration of theoretical/historical and practical studies in the UCF program makes it unique and innovative.