Bachelor of Arts, Major in English with Concentration in Journalism and Professional Writing (STEM)

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

Students can take courses in the history of philosophy and philosophical movements; political, mathematical and scientific philosophies; metaphysics; linguistics and aesthetics. Students will learn how to analyze, reason, deduct and apply persuasive arguments in a disciplined and systematic way while developing their oral and written communication skills.

The department does not specify particular course work for the major, but recommends that the sequence of courses be designed in close consultation with the student’s faculty advisor. Students who plan to go to graduate school are strongly encouraged to take at least two courses from the History of Philosophy series. They should also consider a second major in a cognate field, e.g., American studies, English, French, history, mathematics, or political science.

Communications and Critical Thinking -  Concentration
Effective communication is an essential tool for those seeking careers in journalism, advertising, commerce, law, public relations, education or related fields.

The Communications and Critical Thinking (C&CT) track in philosophy serves students preparing for these careers with a unique interdisciplinary course of study that puts them on the fast track for any of those professional choices. It provides training in the latest media technologies and in timeless communication skills such as presenting good arguments, critical reasoning and logical evaluation of competing opinions.

Students specialize by selecting a specific set of courses from the wide variety offered for the major, and by adding minors in other related areas such as computer science, English, music, art, economics, psychology, sociology or political science.

The Radiological Sciences Program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics (Radiological Health Physics option), a Master of Science degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physics (Radiological Sciences option) which are intended to address the various educational and career interests of our graduate applicants.

• The Project option,
• The Thesis option, and
• The Professional Science Master option

Our program is recognized nationally for producing graduates who make exceptional contributions to the radiological sciences community. Our graduates have established rewarding careers in the field of radiation protection, and can be found at national laboratories, nuclear power plants, universities, hospitals, government agencies, radioisotope production facilities, manufacturers of radiation detection equipment, radioactive waste disposal facilities, the military and other uniformed services, and other prestigious institutions and corporations across the country.

The Master of Science program in Security Studies prepares students for careers in the rapid expanding field of cyber security, as well as weapons of mass destruction (CBRNE) and how to address threats to our critical infrastructure.

Industrial and Economic Security - Concentration
Students pursuing this area of concentration will focus their studies and research on topics related to the private sector, including energy security, computer network and facility security, and the defense industry. Courses will also examine global trafficking, economic crime, and the policies and legal frameworks for combating these threats.

The curriculum provides a sound foundation in math, science, and engineering as well as plastics specific courses. These courses, and the related laboratory experiences, focus on polymer materials, properties, processing and design. All levels of this curriculum foster communication, professionalism, ethics, safety, and environmental sustainability.

The department maintains the highest standard of academic excellence and a supportive environment for students from all backgrounds.

Students follow a sequence of mathematics, science, college writing, and fundamental engineering courses in their freshman and sophomore years. Plastics Engineering courses begin with the freshman-level Introduction to Plastics Engineering. Basic plastics materials, processing and design - with their hands on laboratories - are taught in the sophomore and junior years. The senior year includes advanced courses and a student-selected capstone project. Relevant clusters of humanities and social science courses are included with the context of engineering education to create well-rounded graduates.

A computer engineer must understand the fundamentals of general engineering and hardware design as well as essential low and high level programming. A computer engineer must have a fundamental understanding of digital signal processing VLSI filters, electronics, digital/advanced digital computer logic and architecture (at the hardware level) as well as the associated software. This defines the differences between a computer engineer, an electrical engineer, and a computer scientist. An electrical engineer will study math, physical science, and some hardware, while a computer engineer will focus more on hardware and software along with physical science and math, especially discrete math. The computer scientist concentrates more on software and discrete math than the computer engineer and less time to hardware and physical science. For example, both electrical and computer engineers require at least 20 credits of circuits and electronics (theory and laboratories). Computer engineers use their knowledge to create new devices and systems that satisfy perceived societal needs, including health and welfare, safety, environmental control, knowledge enhancement, etc.

The Bachelor of Music Business degree program combines extensive training in various aspects of the exciting and ever-changing music industry, with our innovative music performance curriculum. In courses taught by experienced industry professionals, students will focus on a variety of industry sectors such as management, marketing, entrepreneurship, publishing and licensing, record and concert promotion, new media, music products, and arts administration. Our program is designed to prepare students for successful professional careers, whether in long-established pathways, or by developing bold, new ideas and approaches to connecting music to audiences.

With a concentration in finance in business administration, you will gain:

• The ability to analyze complex capital budgeting problems
• The ability to assess investment opportunities for institutes and individuals
• An understanding of the techniques needed to finance corporate operations and expansion
• The ability to communicate financial concepts to others

Finance graduates can choose from careers that include banking, financial planning, corporate finance, financial analysis, insurance, real estate, cash management and forecasting.

The Theatre Arts Concentration offers a solid foundation in the dramatic arts within a broad-based liberal arts degree. The concentration emphasizes creative, analytical, and communication skills as well as collaboration and teamwork. Students work in genres ranging from classical to contemporary, including opportunities to collaborate on devised-theatre projects. Close attention from our professional theatre faculty and guest artists allows students to develop the skills and confidence to pursue graduate study or professional work in theatre, education, the entertainment industry, and many other fields.

Required and elective courses provide well-rounded study in the history and literature of theatre and a rich grounding in theatrical practice—acting, design, directing, stage management, production, and dramaturgy. Students can concentrate their upper-level coursework within a particular area of their choice—for example, performance, dramaturgy, or design/tech. Our students also have a wide range of exciting internship opportunities through our partnership with the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, and at theatres in Boston and the region.

The Bachelor of Science in Meteorology & Atmospheric Science is for students who wish to explore weather and the environment and fulfills the education requirements for federally employed meteorologists. The program guidelines follow those of the American Meteorological Society.

The Applied Biomedical Sciences (ABS) degree program provides a high quality education in biomedical and laboratory sciences, preparing its graduates for employment in a broad range of laboratory and research work environments, including industry, government, medical diagnostics, forensics, and more. Graduates of the program are also very well prepared for graduate and professional degree programs, including medicine and related fields.

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Option - Prepares students for employment in hospital and free-standing clinical/diagnostic and forensic laboratories, as well as biotechnology companies. Students can apply to this option after at least one successful semester in the CS Option.