Degrees & Majors

The Urban Studies concentration is focused on topics across geosciences applicable to the study of urban settings, including social and environmental disparities in cities, issues related to development and economics from urbanization and more. This interdisciplinary concentration situated in Geosciences affords an opportunity for students to learn beyond the department as well as benefit from a multitude of expertise in Geosciences on human-environmental challenges.

The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.

Program Information

The mission of the Department is to give students the opportunity to develop appropriate proficiencies in the modern and classical languages, to acquaint students with the literary and cultural productions of other countries, and to provide them the opportunity to acquire critical skills through literary and cultural analysis.

For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog.

For more information about the Minor in German, visit the World Languages & Cultures website.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) in Gerontology offers students an opportunity to learn about aging across the life course. Gerontology courses draw from a variety of disciplines to expose students to issues, knowledge and research about aging processes, older people and the complex needs of our rapidly aging society.

Faculty members associated with the Gerontology Institute come from business, law, the social and biological sciences, and the health and human service professions. They bring a diverse, interdisciplinary perspective to our instructional programs and are engaged in a wide range of research in areas such as long-term care, assisted living, ethnicity and aging, health and health disparities, learning and memory, retirement, aging among minorities, intergenerational caregiving and marketing to seniors.

Students who major in Gerontology must select a concentration in one of two allied fields: Behavioral and Social Sciences or Health and Health Services.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Gerontology program is designed for students preparing for leadership positions in the field of aging and those interested in becoming gerontological researchers.

The M.A. program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that provides in-depth exposure to issues, knowledge and research about aging processes, older people and the needs of an aging population. Our program offers an intimate, nurturing and stimulating environment in which to learn.

Students choose one of two concentrations:

• Program Administration, which includes an internship in the field and a capstone project or
• Research, which culminates in a thesis.

About one-fifth of our graduates go on to earn a Ph.D. in gerontology, sociology or other related fields.

The Global Studies Program prepares students to be globally aware and competent in their chosen careers. In addition to focusing on global opportunities and pressing challenges, students develop deep regional concentration in a particular area of focus including Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America. The degree is designed so that students can create their own tailored curriculum while gaining broad competencies in global issues and world languages. Internship experiences may be undertaken only after completing at least 21 hours of credit in the concentration area.