Academic Program Descriptions

This information has been provided by departments offering these degree-granting programs. It is included to help students make informed decisions about their education. Please refer to the actual programs described elsewhere.

Accounting: Prepares students for entry-level positions in the field of accountancy.

American Studies: Develops the ability to think critically while offering the opportunity to focus on different subject areas (American literature, history, political science, etc.); prepares students for a variety of careers, e.g., law, public administration, elementary and secondary school teaching.

Anthropology — Sociology: Offers a comprehensive education in the methods and content of anthropology and sociology within a liberal arts tradition; prepares students to take a proactive, independent role in selecting a career option or graduate training program.

Art: Provides challenging visual arts training within the context of a liberal arts education, including the following goals:

Acquisition of a comprehensive set of technical, creative, and conceptual skills, along with an ability to make connections between them. Students will have an understanding of scale, perspective, tone, color, line, form, light, texture, pattern, balance, and tension.
Development and creation of a significant body of work along with the ability to understand and evaluate works of art.
Familiarity with art history and the works and philosophies of major artists/designers and a familiarity with contemporary thinking on art and design.
Graduating majors participate in the annual Thesis Exhibition, which serves as the capstone event, showcasing their acquired skill sets.

Biology: Provides students with a strong background in the biological sciences suitable for entering either the work force or graduate school in a variety of biological disciplines.

Biology — Secondary Education: Develops the competencies for teaching biology in both middle and high school; develops a broad understanding of all the major concepts of biology (from molecular to ecological), its methodology and its technical language; evaluates the role which biology has played in the advancement of human society; develops skills related to biological experimentation and advancement of scientific knowledge.

Chemistry: Aids students in selecting meaningful career directions in chemistry while providing them with the professional background to pursue such careers.

Chemistry — Secondary Education: Prepares students to have careers in teaching chemistry in both middle and high schools. Aids students in selecting meaningful career direction; educates students with the professional background to pursue such careers; prepares them to take active responsibilities as concerned citizens in our society; and develops the abilities of students for self-education, introspection and commitment to accountable holistic life styles.

Communication: The Department of Communication and Media Arts at Western Connecticut State University is committed to teaching the theory, ethics, and skills necessary to expand and deepen students’ participation in a globalized world. Students learn to engage in challenging dialogues across a variety of communicative landscapes. Each of our degrees and options shares an emphasis on the enhancement of capacities for observation, critical appraisal, and expression. Graduates of the program are positioned to pursue careers in public service, media campaigns, advocating for the underserved, organizational relations, broadcasting, and filmmaking, among many others.

Computer Science: Prepares students for graduate study in computer science or to obtain positions in software development.

Contract Major: Allows students, with faculty guidance, to combine existing courses and study opportunities into innovative major programs responsive to individual interests and needs. Proposed contract majors must be approved by the academic departments involved and by the university curriculum committee.

Digital and Interactive Media Arts: Grounds students in design and aesthetics as they learn to work collaboratively using text, moving images, video and audio to create interactive media for the web, social networking, and video games, among others.

Earth and Planetary Sciences: Prepares students to enter graduate programs in the earth and planetary sciences or to enter the workforce in jobs which make use of the earth and planetary sciences and allied areas including astronomy, geology, meteorology and oceanography.

Earth Science — Secondary Education: Prepares students to have careers in teaching Earth Science in both middle and high schools. Students will have an understanding in astronomy, geology, meteorology and oceanography.

Economics: Offers a comprehensive education in the methods and content of economics within a liberal arts tradition to prepare students to take a proactive, independent role in selecting a career option or graduate training program.

Elementary Education: Accepts and matriculates competent teaching candidates seeking elementary certification in Connecticut and prepares students for successful careers in teaching.

English: Prepares students for a variety of careers and for graduate studies by developing three key skills needed in any field: close reading, critical thinking and clear writing. English majors study the major texts of English and American literature and learn to conduct research in the field to enable them to better situate their ideas in the ever-expanding realm of English studies. English also provides a solid analytical and communications foundation for students pursuing careers in business and law.

English — Secondary Education: Develops abilities to read and analyze literature and to write analytically and creatively while preparing students to become secondary school English teachers; aims to produce teachers who know both their subject and the pedagogy appropriate for the grades they will teach.

Finance: Provides the analytical, practical, computer and communication skills required to succeed in the areas of investments, financial markets and corporate financial management.

Health Education PK-12: Develops the skills and competencies for teaching health from pre-K through 12^th grade. Provides a theoretical and practical foundation in health education so students will be prepared to take on the responsibilities of professional health educators.

Health Promotion Studies: A competency‐based curriculum which prepares students for careers in education, community outreach, clinical settings, worksite health promotion, public health, health, fitness and wellness coaching. Students are well‐prepared for graduate studies in Public Health, Nutrition, Physical, Occupational and Recreational Therapy, Naturopathy, Chiropractic, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, and more. Service learning is intertwined in the program’s unique experiential learning component.

History: Introduces students to the framework of American, European and world history; provides the opportunity to study advanced topics in these areas; teaches the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to evaluate the past; teaches students how to use sources and write history; produces articulate graduates who can express a nuanced verbal and written evaluation of the past and apply analytical skills to fields other than history.

History — Secondary Education: Prepares students to teach history on a global perspective. American and European history courses are taught along with courses on Middle Eastern, Caribbean, Asian and African history. The understanding of history in civilization is key in working with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds in a modern pluralistic society.

Interdisciplinary Studies: Allows students to combine two different fields to best suit their interests and career plans.

Justice and Law Administration: Prepares students to pursue careers in fields such as federal, state and local law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole departments, other offender rehabilitation careers, public administration, paralegal work, private security and fraud investigation. The JLA program also offer a solid foundation to pursue further studies in law school and graduate school.

Management: Provides knowledge, perspective and competencies necessary to understand and practice management as a generic process in all organizations; prepare students for future managerial positions and roles.

Management Information Systems: Produces management information systems professionals who can integrate business systems, computer security and quantitative skills with creativity and synergy in the solution of complex business problems.

Marketing: Produces graduates who can recognize marketing problems, apply appropriate marketing tools and find satisfactory solutions.

Mathematics: Prepares students to study mathematics at the graduate level, prepares students for a position in fields requiring quantitative reasoning, problem solving and logical thinking.

Mathematics — Computer Science option: Prepares students for a field requiring a fundamental knowledge of both mathematics and computer science; prepares students to obtain positions in software development which require competencies in upper-division mathematics.

Mathematics — Secondary Education: Develops the competencies for teaching mathematics at the secondary level; develops a broad understanding of all the concepts of mathematics; expands skills in quantitative reasoning, problem-solving and logical thinking, enabling students to become effective teachers of mathematics and to continue to study mathematics at the graduate level.

Media Arts: Develops students’ ability to express themselves appropriately, creatively and effectively in, as well as to understand and evaluate, various communication media.

Meteorology: Prepares students to enter the workforce at entry-level positions in meteorology and related sciences. Prepares students to enter graduate programs in meteorology and environmental science as well as professional graduate programs in business and law.

Music — Bachelor of Arts: Appropriate program for students who wish to study music within the broader context of a liberal arts education. Specific goals include:

To prepare students for possible careers in music and arts-related professions.
To increase students’ understanding and appreciation of the arts in relation to society, thus encouraging lifelong advocacy of the arts.
To allow students to maintain an emphasis on music while further exploring other academic interests.
To foster intellectual curiosity.
To encourage students to seek breadth and variety in their educational pursuits to aid them in securing employment in the ever-changing global economy.

Music — Bachelor of Music — Three degree options

B.M. Emphasis in Audio and Music Production: Designed for those wishing to pursue a career in audio and music production. Many students who choose this option continue their studies at the graduate level and in various professional programs in their specific area. This music degree provides a well-rounded education in all aspects of production including recording, mixing, sound design, arranging, and scoring. Goals are:

To give students comprehensive capabilities in the basic techniques of audio recording and mixing, studio sound, acoustics, copyright law, music theory, aural skills, arranging, composition and improvisation necessary to succeed in the music audio production industry.
To provide students with instruction and performing experiences on their principal instrument which will improve their ability to solve technical and artistic problems in the preparation of live performances, recordings or other media for various purposes and in various musical genres and settings.
To provide students with an understanding of administrative structures and practices associated with music organizations as well as of entrepreneurship and the history of the music industry.
To give students a comprehensive musical education that includes experiences in traditional ensembles, jazz and contemporary ensembles, conducting, form and analysis, music history, music of diverse cultures, pedagogy, music technology, composition, improvisation and professional development.
To increase understanding and awareness of the arts in relation to society, thus developing lifelong advocates of the arts.

B.M. in Performance (Vocal and Instrumental): Designed for those who wish to pursue a performing or teaching career in music. Many who choose this option continue their studies at the graduate level and participate in various professional programs in their specific area. Specific goals include:

To prepare students to become highly skilled performers on their principal instrument, thus giving them the potential to succeed in a highly competitive field.
To give students a comprehensive musical education which includes experiences in traditional ensembles, jazz and contemporary ensembles, conducting, analysis, music history, music of diverse cultures, pedagogy, music technology, composition, improvisation and professional development.
To prepare students for careers as private music teachers.
To prepare students for advanced study at the graduate level.
To increase students’ understanding and awareness of the arts in relation to society, thus developing lifelong advocates of the arts.

B.M. in Jazz Studies: Designed for students wishing to pursue a performing or teaching career in jazz and commercial music. Many who choose this option continue their studies at the graduate level and in professional programs in their specific area. Specific goals include:

To prepare students to become highly skilled performers on their principal instrument, thus giving them the potential to succeed in a highly competitive field.
To give students the requisite skills in history, arranging, composition and jazz improvisation necessary to succeed in the industry.
To give students a comprehensive musical education which includes experiences in traditional, jazz and contemporary ensembles, conducting, analysis, music history, music of diverse cultures, pedagogy, music technology, composition, improvisation and professional development.
To prepare students for careers as private music teachers.
To prepare students for advanced study at the graduate level.
To increase students’ understanding and awareness of the arts in relation to society, thus developing lifelong advocates of the arts.

Music Education — Bachelor of Science: Prepares the student to apply for provisional PK-12 certification in Connecticut. Designed for students who wish to pursue a career in music education. Program goals are:

To prepare students to become highly skilled teaching professionals.
To prepare students to become highly skilled performers on their principal instrument.
To give students a comprehensive musical education that includes experiences in traditional, jazz and contemporary ensembles, conducting, analysis, music history, music of diverse cultures, pedagogy, music technology, composition, improvisation and professional development.
To increase students’ understanding and awareness of the arts in relation to society, in particular the education system, thereby developing lifelong advocates of the arts.

Musical Theatre — Bachelor of Arts: Offers students knowledge of and training in all aspects of musical theatre within a liberal arts context in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where musical talent is utilized. Students will develop the following skills:

Vocal production and techniques sufficient to present complete roles in full productions.
Vocal interpretation and role preparation skills that enable understanding and performance of roles in a wide variety of styles and formats.
Musicianship, keyboard competency and analytic skills.
Theatre skills, acting competence, script analysis, stage movement, voice and diction for the actor, auditioning techniques and related physical skills such as modern dance, ballet and jazz.
Understanding of basic production elements such as make-up, costume, sets and props, and lighting.
Knowledge of the musical theatre canon, along with its history and development within the theatre.
Portfolio preparation of musical and non-musical material for auditions and/or graduate school.

Nursing: Prepares professional nurses for licensure as registered nurses; provides opportunities for educational mobility for registered nurses prepared in associate degree and diploma nursing education programs.

Political Science: Offers students a comprehensive education in the methods and content of political science within a liberal arts tradition to prepare them to take a proactive, independent role in selecting a career option or graduate training program.

Professional Writing: Prepares students to work professionally as writers. Optional fields include creative writing, business, public relations and journalism.

Psychology: Provides students with a broad knowledge base in psychology, advanced skills in scientific inquiry and critical thinking, an understanding of ethical and social responsibility in a diverse world, good communication skills, and the opportunity for professional development in the field of psychology.

Social Sciences: Offers students a comprehensive education in the methods and content of the social sciences within a liberal arts tradition to prepare them to take a proactive, independent role in selecting a career option or graduate training program.

Social Work: Prepare competent and effective generalist social work professionals to practice in a manner consistent with the purposes and values of the profession, to enhance human and community well-being, and to value the dignity and worth of all persons. Based on the knowledge, values and skills of the profession, the program exposes students to a world view that leads to a commitment to service, human rights and social and economic justice. Provides students with significant opportunities to connect with faculty, students and community.

Spanish: Prepares students to function in an interdependent, multicultural, multilingual world to meet local, national and global needs in business, translation and interpreting, the non-profit sector, government and other professions for a bilingual and bicultural workforce. With a foundation in socio-cultural, literary, commercial, historical and artistic study of Spain, Latin America and Latinos in the United States, students are prepared with linguistic expertise, cultural awareness and community engagement.

Spanish — Secondary Education: Prepares candidates to teach Spanish at the secondary level to develop language proficiency and cultural awareness through the 5 C’s: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities. The classroom setting, in which future teachers will be engaged, sets the highest standards of cross-cultural interaction and immersion in the target language.

Theater Arts — Bachelor of Arts: Appropriate for students who wish to study theatre within a broader context of a liberal arts education and to emphasize areas of concentration such as performance, design/technology, theatre arts management or drama studies. Specific goals:

To develop understanding and practice of theatre arts by focusing on the verbal, physical, visual and research aspects of the craft.
To understand script analysis in order to develop an understanding of the relationship of production process to the period, style, content and structure of a script.
To provide exposure to a wide variety of theatre repertory through studying the history of theatre and its major dramatists, attending performances, and producing of a variety of theatre works.
To prepare students for entry-level positions in theatre performance, design and/or technology, theatre arts management and other entertainment industry related fields, as well as, for continuation with graduate studies and/or teaching.
To encourage students to explore breadth and variety in their educational pursuits to enhance their understanding of the world around them and to give them greater career versatility as a post-graduate.