Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences

at Shorelight Group - University of Illinois at Chicago USA

Political science is the systematic study of politics and its connection to human life as a whole. It focuses on the way people are governed and govern themselves in a wide variety of settings—including the state, the workplace, schools, and the family—and the way in which governance in those settings affects their life chances and shapes their sense of self. Students who elect this major examine, among other things, the relationships between law and political institutions, economic and political power, and culture and political identity. They develop the analytical, interpretive, and critical methods necessary to understand these relationships at local, national, regional, or international levels, and thus, to act as responsible citizens at those levels. They also learn to write well. In short, political science is central to a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Political science also provides excellent preparation for careers in law, government, teaching, journalism, business, and the nonprofit sector.

In addition to the BA with a Major in Political Science program, the department offers two concentrations: the Concentration in Law and Courts and the Concentration in Urban Politics.

The UIC Business MBA provides students with a solid foundation in core business disciplines, while allowing for specialization in one or more areas based upon a student’s professional interests and career goals. The UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School ranks in the top 25 percent of business schools nationwide.

The Master of Science in Finance Program at UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School is a STEM designated program, just steps from the Chicago Loop – the city’s financial district. As an MSF student, you will gain a solid foundation in the principles of modern finance and specialize your coursework in a sought after field. You will also have the opportunity to perform coursework in our Marketing Training Lab, a virtual trading center featuring state-of-the art industry software including Bloomberg terminals.

The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Major in Integrated Health Studies is a collaborative program of the College of Applied Health Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The program will be jointly supported by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Departments of Biological Sciences and Psychology and administered by the Department of Biological Sciences.

The Major in Integrated Health Studies provides students the opportunity to explore the complexity of human health, from the level of the gene to society, by providing a diverse, interdisciplinary curriculum that includes core content spanning the life sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. As a more holistic perspective of health has evolved, the training of health professionals has evolved as well. Students will graduate with a broad understanding of human structure and function in health and disease across the lifespan; a broad understanding of how human health and disease are impacted by culture, the environment, society, and personal behavior; and an appreciation for health issues that are unique to the urban environment and to the global society. Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, graduates will be competitive for admission into professional and graduate health-related programs or entry into health-related careers.

Philosophy (from the Greek “love of wisdom”) originated as the search for understanding concerning the most basic features of reality, the natural world, and human life. The discipline prizes and develops the skill of engaging effectively with arguments on a tremendous range of subjects. In ancient times, philosophers pioneered the study of topics from the physical cosmos to the gods to human conduct. They debated not only the character of fundamental reality but also questions of how we can attain knowledge of it. To this day, philosophy engages with questions drawn from every part of our life and experience. For example: Is there such a thing as a purely objective observation? Am I identical with my brain? Is it ever permissible to break the law? Why is there evil in the world? Is death to be feared, and why?

Job candidates and applicants to professional schools can only be helped by being able to examine both sides of a question, think critically, write cogently, and solve very general abstract problems. Moreover, the powers of reflection, imagination, self-expression, and engagement with the ideas of others that philosophy cultivates are in themselves of fundamental value for human life.

The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry is awarded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to students who successfully complete this curriculum. It is a joint program of the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry. It is intended for students planning advanced study in biochemistry or molecular biology, who wish to pursue a medical degree, or who will be seeking employment and careers in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, or related fields. Students may be advised through the LAS advisors in the Department of Chemistry.

The Department of English offers a Major in English and Minor in English, Minor in Professional Writing, and a Major in Teacher Education and Minor in Teacher Education.

The field of English focuses on the study and practice of various forms of writing in English. It includes:

• The study of written works in English—whether by writers from the United States, Britain, former colonies, the Commonwealth nations, or elsewhere—whose aesthetic achievement and cultural significance qualifies them as literature;
• The study of literary criticism and theory, of the relationship between literature and popular culture, and of allied narrative forms such as film, performance, electronic communications, and other new media;
• The study of the English language, its historical development, and its rhetorical dimensions;
• The theory and practice of writing, whether of poetry, fiction, nonfiction prose, or other expository forms;
• The theory and practice of teaching English language and literature, particularly at the secondary level.

Students who major in English develop broad reading and writing skills that make possible both an analytical engagement with, and a critical understanding of, diverse fields of cultural and aesthetic production. The English major offers excellent preparation for careers in writing, editing, publishing, teaching, government, law, and advertising.

The MEd Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics & Assessment (MESA) program provides rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and addresses the current industry-wide shortage of highly trained individuals in educational research and other social science research settings. The program offers nationally recognized faculty committed to the mentoring process, projects and coursework tailored to students’ career goals and interests. It offers an effective balance between theoretical and applied courses, and training in fields with excellent career potential.

Earth and environmental science majors and minors study the processes that occur at Earth's surface and in its interior, the evolution of these processes over time, and the solids, liquids, and gases that make up Earth materials. Earth is viewed as a dynamic body, with continual exchange of materials and energy among the planet’s interior and exterior, atmosphere, oceans, and life. Understanding  these Earth system processes is essential for evaluating the global environment, its natural variability, and changes that result from human activities.

A degree in earth and environmental sciences may lead to employment in industry, in the public sector, or in education. Many earth scientists establish careers in areas that are environmentally related, which may include the prevention, control, and remediation of pollutants from water and soil. Others work at predicting and preventing problems associated with natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Employment possibilities also exist in the exploration, use, and management of resources such as water, metals, petroleum, and coal.

The MS program in Bioengineering provides education in the research and development of systems using modern engineering concepts and methods. These methods apply modern technology to problems of living systems and health care.