Undergraduate opportunities
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Opportunities
01 What is the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences?
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Majors and Minors
How to Choose a Major
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International & Interdisciplinary Studies
Humanities
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Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Social & Behavioral Sciences
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Internships and Service Learning
15 Languages and Study Abroad
School of the Arts
16 University Honors Program
Student Academic Services
What is the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences? The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is the educational core of the University of Kansas. The College encourages learning without boundaries in its more than 50 departments, programs and centers. The College emphasizes interdisciplinary education, global awareness and experiential learning. We are KU’s broadest, most diverse academic unit. The College is home to about 60% of all students on the Lawrence campus - more than any other school. No matter your major, our goal is to ensure that your experience with the College prepares you with fundamental skills and knowledge that will serve you well in any career.
Why should you choose a major in the College? The College is the most diverse school at KU o In the College, you can pursue your passions — all of them. We offer dozens of majors, minors and certificates. The College is home to more than 50 departments and programs, the School of the Arts and the School of Public Affairs & Administration. Areas of study span the Arts, Humanities, International & Interdisciplinary Studies, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. The College offers endless opportunities o Want to engage in undergraduate research? Looking to study abroad during your time at KU? Interested in playing an active part in the creation of new ideas through your own project? Planning to get an internship as an undergrad? The College is the place for you. Learn more about these opportunities in this guide. The College prepares you for a successful future o The University Career Center’s survey of 2013 College graduates showed 68.4% of graduates were employed full-time and 21.7% were pursuing graduate or professional school.
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How to Choose a Major • Browse the KU Undergraduate Catalog to see various majors’ requirements and course descriptions online at catalog.ku.edu • Take a variety of courses in subjects that interest you to explore different majors • Talk to departmental undergraduate coordinators, faculty and advisors • Talk to friends and other students about their majors • Explore student organizations related to majors that sound interesting to you • Thinking ahead to career choices? Visit the University Career Center to discuss options for various majors
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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Majors: Regular type * Major and Minor + Minor only (EC): Taught at Edwards Campus. A co-major must accompany a major.
African & African-American studies* American studies* Anthropology* Applied behavioral science* Astrobiology+ Astronomy* Atmospheric science* Behavioral neuroscience Biochemistry Biology Brazilian studies+ Chemistry* Classical antiquity Classical languages Classics+ Communication studies* Dance* East Asian languages & cultures* Economics* English* Environmental studies* European studies co-major* Film & media studies* French* Geography* Geology* German studies* Global & international studies* History* History of art* Human biology Humanities* Human sexuality* Italian+ Jewish studies+ Latin American studies* Latino/a studies+ Leadership studies+ Liberal arts & sciences Linguistics* Literature, language & writing (EC) Mathematics* Microbiology
Middle East studies+ Molecular biosciences (EC) Peace & conflict studies+ Philosophy* Physics* Political science Psychology* (Lawrence & EC) Public aairs & administration* (EC) Public policy in the United States+ Religious studies* Russian, East European & Eurasian studies co-major* Slavic languages & literatures* Social & behavioral sciences methodology+ Sociology* Spanish Speech-language-hearing* Theatre* Theatre design Visual art Visual art education Women’s studies*
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School of the Arts The arts are inter-connective and interactive – they interpret, represent, and question our essential ideas of what it means to be human. Study in the arts gives students the tools for later in life, challenging them to take risks and express themselves in public ways. In the arts, students learn to cross boundaries, to reflect on the world and push themselves to the limits of their imagination.
Departments • • • •
Dance Film & Media Studies Theatre Visual Art
Chris Martin Film & media studies major Chris Martin has had a lot of success as a young Hollywood professional, launched by his experience in KU classrooms and through the Jayhawk alumni network. He won an Emmy at age 28 for his work on “Heroes.” “I think my liberal arts background at KU, and particularly the diverse set of experiences I got, has really done a lot to make me a more analytical thinker, given me better problemsolving skills, critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills. And I also think done a lot to really make me a more creative person and a more creative artist.” 4
Career Possibilities • • • • • • • • • •
Actor/Actress Casting Director Choreographer Cinematographer or Videographer Costume Designer Curator Illustrator Jewelry Designer Photographer Screenwriter
Amanda Shriwise Dance major and pre-medical track Coming to KU, Shriwise was unsure if she’d pursue a dance degree, so she completed her premed requisites, also spending time performing research in the lab. Taking advantage of new opportunities was an extension of the physical challenges that were a way of life as a dancer. “You get interested in how the body works, so lots of dancers are interested in fields within the medical realm. Dance is very demanding. It teaches you what it takes to perform well at something, in terms of time and commitment, from a young age. … I loved the feeling of taking things to a new level.” 5
Humanities Twenty-first century society requires ever more intellectually nimble people, who can think critically, apply knowledge in a variety of new and unforeseen circumstances, and express themselves articulately in step with a constantly changing world. Globalization challenges us to understand different perspectives. Technology makes unprecedented amounts of information available in a few keystrokes. Humanities are what help us reflect, question and contextualize it all to find meaning and shape the future.
Taylor Broadfoot Slavic languages & literatures major Because of KU, Taylor Broadfoot had the rare opportunity to visit Ukraine in the early stages of revolution. “The whole college experience is not just about your education. It’s about you growing as a person. Thinking about the person I was when I first moved to KU … [I was] feeling so scared and so alone and not knowing what to do with myself and how to talk to anyone. Now I can just agree, yeah I’ll go to Ukraine for three days. That’s OK. That sounds fun.” 6
Departments, Programs & Centers • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Classics East Asian Languages & Cultures English Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center French & Italian Germanic Languages & Literatures History History of Art Humanities & Western Civilization Institute for Digital Research in Humanities Philosophy Religious Studies Slavic Languages & Literatures Spanish & Portuguese
Career Possibilities • • • • • • • • • • •
Archeologist Book Editor Diplomat Historical Researcher Human Rights Advocate Intelligence Analyst Journalist Lawyer Librarian Museum Curator Translator
Paul Fowler III History major Growing up in Lawrence, Paul Fowler III heard many stories about the AfricanAmerican community. As a KU student, he had a chance to study those stories in depth when he won an Undergraduate Research Award. “You start to feel a connection. That’s what I love about history. You’ve got a question to answer. At first, you’re not sure which direction to go, but over time you piece things together.” 7
International & Interdisciplinary Studies When you pursue a degree in International & Interdisciplinary Studies, you can explore to your heart’s content. Whether you want to know everything about a region or a culture, these degrees encourage you to analyze the issues from all angles. You can look forward to studying languages, religions, science, social sciences, humanities and more.
Departments & Programs • • • • • •
African & African-American Studies American Studies Indigenous Studies Environmental Studies Museum Studies Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Jomana Qaddour International studies and human biology majors Jomana Qaddour, who also has a law degree from KU, started a nonprofit with her father, Syria Relief & Development. Her non-profit has distributed more than $9 million of humanitarian aid and has set up four hospitals. “Your degree is truly what you make of it. Shortly after I graduated from law school, while I was working as a patent attorney, I realized that my true interest was in the future of the Middle East. … I slowly started to become involved in efforts to ameliorate the humanitarian catastrophe occurring in Syria, and found that the best way to do so was to redirect funds from donors to Syria and to advocate for tangible solutions to end the crisis in my home country.” 8
International Area Studies Centers International area studies centers contribute to the preparation of students throughout Kansas for life in an increasingly interconnected world. Our five centers offer undergraduate and graduate degrees and programming, in addition to outreach activities to K-12 teachers, businesses and governmental agencies across the state and region. • • • • •
Center for East Asian Studies Center for Global & International Studies Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies Kansas African Studies Center
Career Possibilities • • • • • • • • • •
Community Services Specialist Diplomat Economist Genealogist Intelligence Specialist/Analyst International Correspondent Museum Curator Policy Analyst Public Relations Specialist Social Worker
Sarah Kraus Environmental studies and East Asian languages & cultures majors Sarah Kraus downplays her three years in the Navy when she’s among her fellow University Honors Program students, but her military training has combined with her academics to give her a rather unique set of interests. She has been gathering data for her research about sustainability and capitalism. “You really can’t go into a research project assuming you know what’s going to happen. You have to figure out how to work around unexpected results and challenges you never expect. … Everyone makes their own way in the Honors Program, so even if they are not doing something with that particular subject, they are interested in learning and being involved with it.” 9
Natural Sciences & Mathematics
In the Natural Sciences & Mathematics, you’ll consider possibilities to develop cures, discover species, and locate and manage natural resources. These degrees will offer opportunities to work in labs, and in the field. Resources include the Kansas Biological Survey and the Kansas Geological Survey.
Heather Bergmann Chemistry major As a member of the track and field team that was the first KU women’s team to win a championship in any sport ever, Heather Bergmann was a champion both inside and outside the classroom. She accomplished all that while completing her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and earning her teaching license through the UKanTeach program. “I ended up owning this belief that you need to know both the content you’re going to teach and how to teach it. UKanTeach really stressed that.”
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Departments, Programs & Centers • • • • • • • • • • •
Bioinformatics Center for Science Education (UKanTeach) Chemistry Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Genetics Geography Geology Mathematics Molecular Biosciences Physics & Astronomy Undergraduate Biology
Career Possibilities • • • • • • • • • •
Astrophysicist Conservation Biologist Crime Scene Investigator Environmental Geologist Laboratory Technician Medical Technologist Meteorologist Paleontologist Science Writer Zoologist/Marine Biologist
Joseph Kellum Neurobiology major After assisting a faculty mentor with research for a few years, Joseph Kellum began his own study on vascular health. By better understanding how a particular molecule works, he can contribute to the discovery of treatments that can limit tissue damage. “I originally became involved in research because I knew it was essential for admission to a good medical school. … My opinions have since changed dramatically. I found research to be an incredibly exciting field. ... I firmly believe that conducting biomedical research will be an essential component of my career as a physician.” 11
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Through study in Social & Behavioral Sciences, students are enabled to prepare healthier citizens, teach people to effectively manage organizations and support effective participation in society. Options abound in communication, language practice, discourse traditions, wise and fair use of resources, civic literacy, sustainable communities, economic policy and childhood health.
Allison Colburn Sociology major An internship with the international Women’s Leadership Institute at KU led Allison Colburn to a new major, a new passion and a trip to Dubai for a women’s leadership conference. “I most enjoyed spending my time discussing women’s issues with other international members. I thought I would be learning about the Middle East and Islamic culture, but instead I learned about the world and how we really aren’t all that different from one another.”
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Departments, Programs & Centers • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Anthropology Applied Behavioral Science Center for Research Methods & Data Analysis Child Language Program Clinical Child Psychology Program Communication Studies Economics Gerontology Linguistics Political Science Psychology School of Public Affairs & Administration Sociology Speech-Language-Hearing
Career Possibilities • • • • • • • • • • •
Archeologist Case Manager Environmentalist Foreign Service Officer Forensic Scientist Human Resources Specialist Legislative Analyst / Coordinator Lobbyist Market Research Analyst Police Officer Psychologist
Bryne Gonzales Speech-language-hearing major Bryne Gonzales has spent much of his time at KU in labs, researching ways to improve the hearing of adults with cochlear implants. “My absolute favorite experience with research was witnessing one of my participants being interviewed. He discussed his isolation and loneliness before being fitted with cochlear implants and how his life has improved since the surgery. It was incredibly rewarding and reaffirming. I love being able to step out of the classroom and learn through experience.”
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Internships University Career Center Looking for an internship or job? The University Career Center (UCC) offers a wide range of quality services designed to support and challenge KU students at all points on the career development and implementation path. To guide students as they prepare for post-graduate career success, the UCC offers internship and career fairs, career coaching and assessments, job search tools, resume help and more. The UCC is the number-one internship and career resource for students in the College. For more information visit career.ku.edu.
Service Learning Experiential learning—learning by doing— deepens student understanding through direct experiences and reflection and actively involves you in your education. KU offers multiple certifications in experiential learning, including arts engagement, entrepreneurship, global awareness, leadership studies, research experience and service learning. Volunteer and service learning opportunities at KU offer meaningful ways for you to engage with the local and national community while connecting with other civic-minded students.
Alternative Breaks – kualternativebreaks.com Center for Community Outreach – cco.ku.edu The Big Event – thebigeventku.com
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Languages With nearly 7,000 languages spoken in the world, the future will be conducted in many languages other than English. You won’t find a better place to study languages than at KU. We offer instruction in 40 foreign languages, more than any university between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. All language courses are offered through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Learn more at languages.ku.edu.
Languages offered at KU • Amharic • Arabic • Bosnian/ Croatian/ Serbian • Cherokee • Chinese • Czech • Danish
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Dutch Farsi French German Greek Haitian Creole Hausa Hebrew Hindi
Popular destinations • • • • • • •
Brazil Costa Rica Israel Japan Morocco Spain United Kingdom
• Italian • Japanese • Kaqchikel Maya • KiSwahili • Korean • Latin • Miskito • Polish
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Portuguese Quichua Russian Slovene Somali Spanish Swedish Tajik Tibetan
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Turkish Ukrainian Uyghur Wolof Yiddish
Study Abroad The KU Office of Study Abroad administers more than 160 international study, internship and research programs in 70 countries. Programs are offered year-round to all majors.
For more information, visit studyabroad.ku.edu.
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University Honors Program A distinguishing program of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is the University Honors Program, which is open to all students at KU. The Honors Program is a small, selective community of scholars within the University of Kansas. It is the #2-ranked academic program in the nation for the benefits it oers students, including priority enrollment, highly individualized advising, access to special Honors housing and engaging Honors courses taught by KU’s best faculty members. About 1,300 students from all academic disciplines participate in the University Honors Program. Students admitted to the
University Honors Program enjoy a wide range of opportunities that equip them for success during college and after graduation. By graduation, Honors students are wellprepared for employment, internships and graduate programs. As a result, the University Honors Program boasts one of the nation’s highest graduate placement rates. Interested students should apply to the University Honors Program at the same time they apply to KU. The University Honors Program application can be accessed through the general admission application at admissions.ku.edu.
For more information about the University Honors Program, visit honors.ku.edu.
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Student Academic Services Student Academic Services advocates and supports student success in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU. Our mission is to welcome students, encourage them to be active participants in their educational experience and celebrate their milestones. Students who major in the College receive advising help at many levels. Our team of advisors works with current and prospective undergraduate students to develop the most eective path from declaring your major to finishing your degree. Faculty are key advisors, too, who help students explore options for interesting courses and careers for particular majors. Student Academic Services brings these two pieces together to ensure great advising and opportunities for College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majors. For more information visit college.ku.edu/undergrad.
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Contact Us Student Academic Services 109 Strong Hall clas109@ku.edu (785) 864-3500
Connect with Us @KUCollege facebook.com/KUCollege @KUCollege
college.ku.edu
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