Bachelor of Arts, Major in History

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

The program combines theoretical study and scientific research methods with practical application through course work, field studies, community involvement, volunteerism and supervised independent research. Graduates of the Psychology department go on to careers in social services, mental health, education, research and business. Undergraduates also may choose to specialize in developmental disabilities.

The Psychology major augments a general liberal arts education and provides the basis for graduate training and careers in mental health, community development, education, research, and business and industry. The psychology curriculum acquaints students with the theoretical and empirical foundations of the major sub-fields of psychology (human development, basic mental and behavioral processes, the social context, and individual differences). The curriculum reflects the importance of scientific methods and provides students with hands-on experience in designing and conducting their own research; indeed, over the years, many of our students have been able to present their work at scientific conferences or have it published in academic journals. The curriculum also emphasizes the applications of psychological knowledge and skills in many areas of human functioning and gives students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills through a variety of placement opportunities on campus and in the community.

The Creative Writing concentration invites English majors to study literary artistry in small group workshop classes that emphasize style, technique, and other aspects of craft. Where most undergraduate programs staff creative writing classrooms with visiting lecturers or graduate students, UMass Lowell retains a permanent faculty of distinguished writers specializing in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Focused on reading widely and writing well, the concentration’s multi-genre, progressively rigorous course of study culminates in a capstone portfolio project.

Students can expect to take part in the English Department's vibrant and active literary and creative community. The campus literary magazine, The Offering, is entirely student-run and -edited, and many creative writing students work on the editorial team or publish work in the magazine. Students have access to any number of public literary events each semester, including student readings, and can meet and speak to award-winning, nationally recognized authors through our Writers on Campus series. Our program, like the other department concentrations, offers a degree in English, and provides a solid foundation for students hoping to pursue a writing life beyond the classroom. Graduates of our program have published work in prominent literary magazines, been accepted in top-ranked MFA programs, released books with major publishers, and won prestigious national awards.

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.

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences Master's Degree Program at UMass Lowell is intended for experienced professionals or new graduates with a background in clinical sciences/medical laboratory science, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology or related areas who want to develop and expand their expertise in the clinical sciences.

This program provides individuals with the level of graduate education to develop those skills required to upgrade the quality of their job performance and enhance their opportunities for advancement in their professions. Students will develop skills and knowledge required for the advanced degree, including critical and independent thinking, research design, normal and pathophysiology, analytical method evaluation and scientific literature assessment. Students will also develop competencies in administration and management.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in World Languages and Cultures that allows students to pursue one of four options:

• French Option
• French / Spanish Option
• Italian / Spanish Option
• Spanish Option

Each option requires specific foundation courses that prepare students for advanced study; students then select specialized courses that complement this core and allow for exploration of individual interests.

The main purpose of the World Languages major is to provide students with the ability to function more effectively in the multicultural world we live in. The courses offer students the opportunity to acquire an ability to use a second language and to become aware of the cultures in which they flourish.

The options focus on the major intellectual concerns, culture and communication. Serving as the paradigmatic model for thinking in the human sciences, language occupies a high rung in the conceptualization of numerous disciplines. Language courses offer an understanding of language as a system and a model of communication in its cultural context, in addition to providing skills in a number of languages. The learning of languages facilitates the cultural connections with the various linguistic groups of a region. The specific areas of study include instruction in language, literature, linguistics, civilization and culture.

The MPH Coordinated Program in Dietetics program is intended for students who want to become Registered Dietitians (RDs). The program combines the coursework and supervised practice requirements to become eligible to take the national examination to become a Registered Dietitian after graduation Dietetics.

The mission of the program is to promote public health nutrition by preparing graduates to practice as entry level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists with knowledge, competence and the ability to address the needs of diverse communities. The dietetics option is an accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics, which is a highly regarded degree option that combines the academic and supervised practice experience to qualify graduates to become RDs.

The Bachelor of Music in Composition for New Media balances established coursework in musicianship, performance, and liberal arts with hands-on contemporary training in music and sound composition for all facets of commercial and artistic media. Students in this program compose, mix, design, and arrange music and sound assets for movies, web, television, animation, mobile and educational platforms, games, artistic installations, advertising, industrial media, interactive live performance, Virtual Reality systems and related outlets.

Like all music major programs at UMass Lowell, this program requires:

• An entrance audition on an instrument or voice,
• The submission of a portfolio of scores/recordings/creative work, which consists of three media excerpts around 90 seconds each of original compositions, with supplemental materials, which may include documentation, scores, etc. as needed.

Students gain education and training in radiation sciences, radiation protection, medical applications of radiation, and dosimetry, which includes laboratory work and clinical internship. The MS program duration is designed to be two years plus one summer semester, although the typical academic plan may be different due to elective courses and the length of thesis research. The duration of the Ph.D. program depends on the student’s academic progress, and it is usually between four and six years. Both the M.S. thesis and Ph.D. dissertation must be based on hypothesis- or development-driven research, and the student is expected to submit the results to a peer-reviewed journal.

The MS Degree in Medical Physics qualifies students for all medical physics specialties and prepares them for residency programs, junior medical physicist positions, and future ABR exams. The clinical component provides the students with training dominantly in radiation therapy, but diagnostic imaging traineeships are also available.

Upon graduation, medical physics students are prepared to receive advanced clinical training through working under the direction of a board-certified medical physicist or entering a medical physics residency program. The students will be prepared for a career as:

• A professional clinical medical physicist.
• A medical physicist in a research laboratory.
• A medical physicist in industry.
• For Ph.D. students, career as a medical physicist in an academic environment.
• For MS students, further research training in a Ph.D. medical physics program.

The Master of Science in Plastics Engineering program offers professional training at the master's level designed to provide the opportunity for the study of more advanced theory and practice in plastics materials, design, and manufacturing. There also are concentrations in elastomer technology, medical plastics, and sustainability. This graduate program also is designed to broaden the background of experienced professionals to help them keep up with the latest fundamental developments in the field.

The Literature concentration introduces students to a range of historical periods, genres, and critical approaches to literature. It prepares them for graduate work in literary and cultural studies as well as careers in publishing, law, teaching, business, the arts, and other professions that require skilled reading, writing, research, and communication. Students take at least two courses that fulfill the department’s Diverse Literary Traditions requirement. These courses explore authors and texts through the historically under-represented perspectives of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, post-coloniality, and sexuality. The concentration includes a capstone course that provides a culminating opportunity to complete a substantial learning project. Some capstones focus on in-depth, advanced study of a particular author or period; others encourage deep research into an individual area of interest or provide an internship experience.