Humanities & Sciences

We are pleased to offer the Education Studies major, which takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the field of education. The primary purpose of this major is to introduce students to the broader field of education studies including, but not limited to, methods of research and inquiry in our field, meaningful educational endeavors that take place outside of the traditional K-12 classroom, and education beyond New York state and the United States. The major is also of value and interest to students with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher; in particular, students may enroll in this major in anticipation of completing the M.S. in Childhood Education through the Teach in Five pathway.

The interdisciplinary major in Education Studies is grounded in our department’s commitment to equity and social justice and prepares students to be “creative, culturally competent, critically reflective graduates who possess deep knowledge in their fields of study and work collaboratively to achieve high quality education for all” (Department of Education Vision Statement). The major consists of three curricular categories: Required Education Courses, Education Department Electives, and Education Studies Electives. The major is structured such that students take 14 credits of named required courses, as well as a minimum of 24 elective credits, at least 12 of which must have the subject code EDUC prefix (with at least 3 credits at the 300-level or above), and an additional minimum of 12 elective credits of courses (at least 3 credits at the 300-level or above) that: a) have the subject code EDUC prefix, or b) the CSCR prefix, or c) have an Education Studies Elective (ESE) attribute. This structure is highly flexible and manageable, which allows students to pursue multiple minors or a double major in order to craft their ideal undergraduate experience.

The World Languages and Cultures major is a highly flexible major that allows students interested in French, German, Italian, and Spanish to deepen their linguistic proficiency and gain a deeper knowledge of the literatures, cultures, and traditions associated with these languages. Students can pursue multiple pathways to completion: focusing intensely on a single language, combining their study of a primary language with additional coursework in a second language, or integrating courses in Linguistics and Translation Studies into their study of language, literature and culture. Foundational courses in the study of literature, linguistics, and cinema will enable students to develop the analytical skills needed to engage with the values and ideas expressed in cultural production, while advanced courses will instill in students cultural understanding and global perspectives, enabling them to feel part of a larger world and able to make socially aware choices.

No matter their particular focus, students graduating with a degree in World Languages and Cultures will obtain a high degree of linguistic proficiency and cultural competence in at least one foreign language, demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language and the concept of culture by making comparisons with other languages and cultures, and develop the skills to analyze and interpret a variety of texts and aesthetic objects. The flexible nature of the degree means that students can tailor their study so as to allow them to focus on other, related professional interests while completing their degree. This program will thus enable students to become productive global citizens, whose linguistic and practical skills and whose broadening of their awareness of global culture will prepare for them for a variety of professions in the global workplace.

The Applied Physics B.S. is a flexible program that takes the liberal arts core of physics, a fundamental natural science, and offers you the opportunity to combine it with a variety of other areas of knowledge of your choice, including mathematics, computing, business, or social sciences.

The program is ideal for students who are interested in math and science, and who plan to transition into the STEM workforce. It prepares you equally well for jobs in industry or graduate school in engineering or other applied fields. 

The goal of the Race, Power, and Resistance major is to provide students with an option to study concepts, methodologies, and histories related to race, power, and resistance from an interdisciplinary and intersectional perspective. This major has an unapologetic focus on race and power inequalities in the U.S. and the diaspora. It is enhanced by a rich array of interdisciplinary course offerings that is unified by a coherent conceptual core. The Race, Power, and Resistance major has an integrated experiential learning component, and a flexible design that allows students to explore different departments, disciplines, and schools. 

Objectives:

1. Attain a working knowledge of key concepts, debates, and methodologies within the field of Race & Ethnic Studies. 
2. Demonstrate knowledge of major historical developments of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian communities in the U.S. and in their respective diasporas. 
3. Understand how structural racism operates both historically and in the contemporary moment in relation to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian communities in the U.S. and in the respective diasporas. 
4. Articulate how race, ethnicity, and indigeneity intersect with other factors such as gender, gender expression, class, sexuality, religion, and nationhood. 
5. Express how racial and ethnic minoritized individuals and communities have organized to resist, survive, and thrive. 

The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major is an interdisciplinary program that provides opportunities for feminist study, research, close collaborations with faculty, internships, and community involvement. Students will develop a robust general understanding of how gender and sexuality shape our culture, daily lives, social institutions, and interactions, while focusing their studies on specific issues and areas that are of interest to them. 

The WGSS BA is highly flexible, permits a great deal of student choice, and is a strong pairing for a double major.

A degree in WGSS equips students with the critical thinking, research, problem-solving and communication skills that are highly valued in today’s workforce, thus opening the door to a variety of challenging careers. It also empowers students to put their education into practice in transformative ways, with an emphasis on advocacy, compassion, and social justice.