Bachelor of Arts in Arabic and Islamic studies

at Shorelight Group - University of Kansas USA

Communication skills, creativity and critical thinking are among the most in-demand skills for successful employees. KU’s literature, language and writing undergraduate programs develop life-long writing, communication and critical thinking skills that set you up for advanced degrees and professional achievement in a wide range of fields. Here are a few of the ways professionals with a background in literature, language and writing apply their knowledge in the working world:

• Technical writing, such as instructional manuals, project proposals or business correspondence
• Editing print or electronic materials to ensure accuracy, correct spelling and grammar
• Creating, assigning and collaborating on marketing materials and campaigns
• Providing clear, constructive critical feedback on projects and proposals
• Writing compelling speeches or public messaging
• Authoring of books, articles or other media and literature; journalism
• Library science

The department offers three different concentration options for undergraduate students at the BA level.  Depending on their interests, students can pursue a concentration in Polish Studies, in Russian language, literature and culture, or in South Slavic (Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian) Studies.

Language Assessment of Slavic Majors - All majors in Slavic languages will complete degree-level assessment in the final semester of their Slavic major at KU (or somewhat earlier if desired) to demonstrate and document their attainment of the SLL learning outcomes for undergraduate students.

The B.G.S. degree in the Department of Religious Studies is a research, analysis, and writing intensive program that features close work with faculty in small classroom settings. The B.G.S. develops a foundational knowledge of the world’s diversity of religious cultures in students, while accompanying a secondary field of academic study (a second major, co-major, or minor). Through the study of specific religious traditions and settings, students come away with a background that is invaluable to understanding and working with people of other cultures, whether in international business, medicine, law, or simply as an informed global citizen.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Physics is designed to provide a general background within Physics  for individuals with a primary interest in another field (e.g. high school science teaching, journalism, computer programming, etc.) where a broad but not deep understanding of a physical science can be of  benefit, but isn’t critical. Whether the degree ends with the achievement of a BA or BS or serves as a stepping stone to additional study, these programs offer an excellent undergraduate education, training some of the finest problem solvers and analysts of the future! All of our undergraduate BS majors and the majority of BA students are involved in research projects during their years here. Many earn summer scholarship support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, through research grants to faculty supervising their projects, or through admission to one of the many summer REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) sponsored by the National Science Foundation. KU majors have also competed successfully on a regular basis for summer internships at REU sites around the country.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art is a four-year, 120 credit hour degree program. The first year is spent in Foundations where students focus on the development of their creative and technical skills.

After the foundation year, students select five introductory courses from across the seven studio areas; Ceramics, Expanded Media, Metalsmithing/Jewelry, Painting/Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Textiles/Fibers.

The intent is for students to explore a variety of mediums in order to determine how they would like to focus their advanced studies. In addition, fundamental concepts and strategies of artmaking are reinforced, even as new techniques and approaches from various disciplines are introduced.

The classroom meets the stage in the University Theatre, a leading arts program serving the KU and Lawrence communities. KU Theatre students, faculty and professional staff work together to create up to eight fully-produced shows each year, from dramas to musicals to opera.  In our fully-equipped facilities students engage in all aspects of production onstage and backstage.  Production continues year round with the summer Kansas Repertory Theatre program.

Highly Qualified Faculty Scholars and Artists

The Theatre faculty are creative artists and researchers working in the areas of theatre technology, performance, design, dramatic literature, dramaturgy, pedagogy, as well as the historical, literary, and cultural study of theatre and performance. Our faculty include award-winning teachers and internationally recognized scholars and artists working in professional theatre and authoring books and articles.

Because political science advances our understanding of politics, power, governance, and public policy in the United States and across the globe.

In the broadest sense, political science is the study of governments and governmental procedures. Political science is as old as civilization, because people always have been interested in their government and in their leaders. But political science as it is thought of today, as one of the social sciences, is a comparatively new discipline. It developed in the United States during the last century as political scientists developed an ability to make increasingly scientific observations of government. Political scientists are concerned with the origins and sources of governmental organizations, their growth, and their decline, as well as with the processes and structure of government.

The Illustration & Animation concentration of our Design BFA prepares students to develop and refine methodologies in image making while acquiring an effective use of visual language, and problem-solving skills. These qualities prepare them for a variety of existing and emerging professional practices.

Technical skills and techniques, as well as a refined understanding of composition, color, and value, are developed through the introduction and exploration of traditional and contemporary media. Conceptual problem-solving methodologies address theoretical and formal visual challenges that allow students to develop their own visual voice.

Business and legal issues of the industry are addressed that prepare students for numerous professional options that include print media, book publishing, motion graphics, entertainment, gallery installation, fashion, toys and games, and surface design..5

Our Department will introduce you to histories, cultures and societies in Africa and its Diasporas, with due attention to the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.  Our degrees, with opportunities for fieldwork in Africa or the African Diaspora, encourage students to engage in independent study to maximize their academic and research potential, and prepare for careers in these geographic, cultural, and policy areas.
The Department encourages and welcomes donations for student scholarships, lecture series, teaching and service awards, faculty research, public programming, and other activities.  Please use this link to donate to African and African-American Studies.

The study of economics offers students insight into some of the most fundamental questions facing societies today: what goods and services should we produce? How should we produce them ? How should we distribute them? Economics offers an outstanding preparation for careers in policy analysis, international relations, business, and other careers that require rigorous analytic thinking. Economics also makes an excellent foundation for graduate study in economics, business, law, political science, or public administration.