Bachelor of Science in Astronomy

at Shorelight Group - University of Kansas USA

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 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 bachelor's degree in sport management at the University of Kansas prepares students for a variety of positions in the sport and athletics industry: professional athletics, intercollegiate athletics, as well as other sport and health-related organizations. Students learn from full-time faculty who are prominent scholars and expert practitioners. Students also get to interact with program alumni and other sport professionals working for organizations such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City Royals, and KU Athletics.

The bachelor's degree in secondary English teacher education at the University of Kansas prepares pre-service educators to teach adolescents in both middle school and high school classrooms. The program combines literature-based theory and knowledge with culturally diverse readings and discussions. In addition to the course offerings in the School of Education and Human Sciences, courses taught by faculty from the Department of English offer students learning options in rhetoric, linguistics and literature.

The String Area is comprised of nationally and internationally recognized artists. Students study with faculty who are in demand as featured soloists with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the United States and the world, and who are equally active as university faculty and master class teachers.

All four faculty members have a wide experience in symphonic and chamber music, as well as an extensive list of solo performances. Orchestras in which they have participated include the Cleveland Orchestra, Utah Symphony, and Montreal Symphony. Their music festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival, Yellow Barn Music Festival in Vermont, Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival, and International Musical Arts Institute.

KU string alumni have gone on to important teaching and performance careers and have appeared as soloists with orchestras throughout the region, as well as nationally. They currently serve on faculties at universities such as Penn Sate University, Mercer University (GA), Harrisburg University (PA), and the University of Utah (Logan). They are members of professional orchestras, such as the Buffalo Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, and the Kansas City Symphony.

The B.A. in dance offers comprehensive technical training built on a solid liberal arts foundation, allowing our students to double-major or pursue graduate study in a wide number of fields.

The Department does NOT require an audition for entry into the Dance B.A. program. Incoming or transfer students may declare a dance major when they apply or enroll.  At the end of the sophomore year, students will undergo a Sophomore Review (PDF), an evaluation of their academic progress and artistic growth within the program. If a student is in good standing at the end of their sophomore year, they may continue in the B.A. program. If a student transfers into our program after the sophomore year, he or she will be evaluated at the end of the first year of attendance.

The B.A. in Humanities is an interdisciplinary major that allows students to examine key issues relating to human experiences and the human condition from a variety of perspectives, including philosophy, history, religion, literature, art and language.  Comprised of two tracks – Civilization in a Global Context and Peace and Conflict Studies – the Humanities Major provides a foundation in the liberal arts that prepares students to take part in the world around them and is basic for success in many fields, including business, medicine, law, marketing, sales, and social services.

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.

Civil engineering, the oldest and broadest of the divisions of engineering, implements a range of public and private projects for improving society’s physical infrastructure and the environment. The civil engineer integrates scientific principles with engineering experience to plan, design, and construct networks of highways and railroads, airports, bridges and dams, environmental pollution control systems, industrial structures, water purification and distribution systems, and urban transportation systems that maintain, protect, and enhance the quality of life. Civil engineers are trained to consider the social effects as well as the physical and environmental factors that constrain the planning, design, construction, and operation of their projects. Environmental engineering, a technical specialization with its origins in civil engineering, is a growing discipline dedicated to the protection of the environment.

The undergraduate program gives students the theoretical background, instruction in engineering application of scientific principles, and professional attitude to serve the public. It typically leads to entry-level positions or to graduate work in technical specialties (e.g., environmental, geotechnical, structural, and transportation), business administration, or other professions.

The Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (REES) program offers students a broad background in the languages, arts, literatures, histories, politics, and cultures of Russia, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and countries of the West Slavic (Poland, Czech Republic) and South Slavic (Balkan) regions. The program is interdisciplinary and draws on over 45 faculty members and courses from 14 different KU departments and schools.