Bachelor of Arts in Literary Studies

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

UNH philosophy majors acquire the ability to think systematically and imaginatively about fundamental and enduring issues such as morality, justice, happiness, beauty, gender, race, nature, artificial intelligence, space, time, and the meaning of life and death. Our internationally-renowned professors emphasize discussion, debate and writing in our courses. Wrestling with the “big questions” from diverse and global perspectives will prepare you exceptionally well for a variety of fulfilling careers. A lively and nurturing community personally invested in the success of our high achieving students, we take pride in watching our graduates excel in top law and graduate schools, innovative social justice programs, and various positions from Wall Street to Silicon Valley and beyond that seek hard workers who can think rigorously and communicate clearly.

The Bachelor of Arts in Earth sciences is offered through the Department of Earth Sciences. This program provides students an opportunity to obtain a broad education and a general background in the Earth sciences with a greater degree of freedom in choosing electives than in the bachelor of science programs. Through careful choice of electives, students can prepare for business, industry, public service, the non-profit sector or graduate school.

The goal of the UNH BSEP program is to produce broadly-trained engineers who can provide solutions to today’s challenging problems in support of a technologically evolving society. The core of the program is based on interdisciplinary training, complemented with a deeper understanding of the physical principles needed to support careers in engineering,  engineering research or, perhaps, further training in systems engineering. The program balances depth and breadth in skill development; flexibility and functionality are what drive the program in the sense that 1) the particular focus is based on the student’s interests, and 2) the breadth of the course selection is guided by the post-graduation goals of the student (e.g., employment versus graduate school).

Candidates interested in passing on their love of theatre to future generations will find that the secondary theatre education option offers practical and theoretical training for teachers. As one of a few programs in the country, UNH’s Secondary Theatre Education option boasts a robust offering with six courses specifically focused on how to teach theatre. Through comprehensive course and laboratory work, students obtain hands-on theatre teaching experience, so that by the time they reach graduation, they have spent significant hours working with the K-12 age group. Students are provided with extensive training and practical teaching experience specifically geared towards the goal of being a theatre teacher, either in a traditional classroom or as a teaching artist. Whether pursuing the fifth year graduate certification program or entering the professional theatre education world directly after the undergraduate degree, students can expect to leave UNH prepared for the rigorous task of teaching.

This option covers the major areas of current interest in the energy field. The required courses provide students with a general background knowledge of fossil fuels, nuclear power, solar energy, and other alternative energy resources. The elective courses will permit the student to study topics of special interest in more depth or gain a broader perspective on energy and some closely related subjects. Three courses are required, and a minimum of two additional courses of at least three credits each should be selected from the electives list. Students interested in the energy option should declare their intention to the department faculty during the sophomore year. 

The Option in Global Trade and Finance (B.A. degree) studies the global trade and financial systems and their importance for understanding macroeconomics and business activity, foreign direct investments and other international capital flows, globalization, economic growth and development, international financial markets, and currency fluctuations and risk.

Students will learn about the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other institutions undergirding the global economy. Students will develop institutional knowledge and analytical skills to study some of the most hotly debated issues of our day, including free-trade policies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and WTO, global financial crises, Basel III and other financial reforms, European monetary union, and international policy coordination.

The option is designed for students interested in careers at international organizations such as the IMF, WTO, World Bank, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This option also prepares students for careers in the financial services sector, including commercial and investment banking, financial trading, security analysis, portfolio management, and financial advising, and in the government sector, especially at the Federal Reserve System, U.S. Trade Administration, and U.S. State Department.

The bachelor of science degree in physics prepares students for professional work as physicists, and is the first step toward graduate work in physics. It is also excellent preparation for graduate programs in medicine, law, or engineering, as well as for technical jobs in industry. The required courses are those typically necessary for admission to graduate study in physics or astronomy. The interdisciplinary options require fewer physics courses combined with a concentration in another area (chemistry or materials science). The astronomy option emphasizes courses that help prepare a student for advanced studies in astronomy.

The master of arts in liberal studies (M.A.L.S.) is an innovative, interdisciplinary graduate program, intended to promote broad intellectual comprehension and enrichment rather than vocational or professional training within a single field or discipline. Housed within the College of Liberal Arts but drawing its courses and instructors from across the University, the program makes available a diverse spectrum of offerings and a wealth of faculty expertise and resources. The program addresses the particular interests of students who seek to deepen their knowledge by designing their own challenging but flexible program of cross-disciplinary learning.

The M.A. program in sociology will provide foundational training in critical thinking and research and a deeper understanding of the social causes and consequences of human behavior. You’ll build skills in data analysis, research design and sociological theory, and engage in research on topics such as environment and social change, gender, race and inequality, family, social demography, and stress and mental health. Our master’s program culminates in an original research thesis project, and these analytical and research skills will prepare you for a wide range of careers in research, education, health and human services, law, business, public policy and government.

The Russian program provides students with an opportunity to study one of the world's most important languages, its literature and its culture. In addition to the intrinsic value of Russian language, literature and culture as a liberal arts experience, majoring in Russian leads to a number of careers, such as teaching, translation and interpreting, government and the Foreign Service. The knowledge of the language and cultural proficiency is also a valuable asset in preparing you for careers in law, economics and international trade. All Russian majors are strongly encouraged to double major or include a relevant minor in their studies.