Humanities and Social Sciences Programs

AA Humanities
The Humanities AA degree provides students with the opportunity to develop a broad undergraduate background of various disciplines which traditionally comprise the Liberal Arts: art, languages, literature, music, and philosophy. The AA in Humanities is an excellent choice for students who plan to transfer after completing two years at Mesa State College.

AA Social Science - General
The Social Science A. A. degree is a two-year degree that provides students with an initial exposure to the various disciplines which traditionally comprise the Social Sciences, including History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Geography and Anthropology. The Social Science A. A. program provides an excellent, broad preparation for the pursuit of any four year degree program or a career in the public or private sector.

BA English - Literature
The English literature major provides students the opportunity to study literature through the ages and around the world. Course offerings span the ages from classical to postmodern; a solid foundation in American and British literature is enhanced by the study of literatures from diverse countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Norway. Guided by topnotch professors, students study methods of analysis in courses in critical theory, western and non-western literatures, rhetoric, popular culture, and film.

BA English - Secondary Certification
The English Department and the Teacher Education Program offer two collaborative programs: an English major for Secondary Education and a Liberal Arts concentration in English for those seeking licensure in Elementary Education. Both programs are designed to ensure competency in subject matter while meeting mandated "standards" for teaching English. To guarantee breath of knowledge, both programs require coursework in linguistics, literature, and writing.

BA English - Writing
The Writing emphais has the largest enrollment of the three English tracks. Writing majors complete the English core classes and then choose from an ample menu of writing classes taught by nationally published faculty. Writing majors find ample opportunities to develop their creative skills through membership in the Creative Writers Club, publication in the Literary Review, or practical experience as editors for the Literary Review, Pinyon Poetry, or Pinyon Press.

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Art
The Art concentration prepares students for careers in the visual arts. Fine artists can display their artwork in museums, art galleries, corporate collections and private residences. We offer several areas of specialization, including drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. One unique area is our foundry program where students can create a piece of art in wax and cast it in bronze.

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Art Education (K-12)
The degree in Kindergarten through 12th grade Art Education with teaching licensure combines extensive studio classes with a broad understanding of art history. Also required is a sequence of education courses that focus on the theory and application of pedagogy, assessment, diversity, literacy, and methods of teaching within the field of art. Students finish with over 800 field hours, working with students in local public schools, including a student teaching internship.

While the obvious goal of obtaining a K-12 Art Licensure degree is public school teaching, there are many other options for art education students. Private schools are increasingly requiring state teaching endorsements before hiring new employees. There are also alternative and special school environments that employ art specialists. The teaching credential also gives credibility to artists who wish to teach privately from their home studios.

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Graphic Art
The Graphic Art major is a competitive professional degree, providing students with the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of visual communication through the integration of problem solving, the process of design, and computer technology. The program includes courses in Computer Graphics, Layout and Design, Advertising Design, Corporate Design, Web Design, Applied Illustration and Professional Portfolio Construction. A senior internship follows providing students with firsthand field experience.

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Music Education

BA Fine and Performing Arts-Music Performance: Instrumental, Keyboard, or Vocal
Music is a traditional liberal arts discipline that has been taught throughout the centuries to foster aesthetic awareness in humankind. It encompasses, both academically and acoustically, all aspects of rhythm, melody, and harmony. To educate a student properly in this discipline, a quality baccalaureate program must include rigorous training in individual and group performance skills, a knowledge of music history in relationship to world history and culture, extensive training in the structure and theory of musical composition, and the ability to analyze and interpret all types and styles of musical art.

The objectives of the Music Program are for students to understand music's historical impact on Western civilization, to understand the principles of music theory, to have a broad knowledge of musical literature, to achieve basic proficiency as a pianist, to achieve a high degree of competence in Music Performance or Music Education, to perform proficiently vocally or instrumentally in ensembles or individually.

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Music Theatre

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Theatre Acting/Directing

BA Fine & Performing Arts - Theatre Design/Technical

BA History - History
The study of history prepares the student for understanding present society and
culture through a study of the past. Internships are available through museums,
historical societies and public agencies. MSC graduates pursue careers in
teaching and public history, as well as private employment. MSC history
graduates have also been very successful in gaining entrance to graduate study
and law school.

BA History - Teaching
The history department and the Teacher Education Program offer two collaborative programs, a history track for Secondary Education, and a Liberal Arts concentration in Social Science for those seeking licensure in Elementary Education. Both programs are designed to ensure competency in the subject matter, and meet the mandated "standards" for teaching history and social science. To guarantee breadth of knowledge, both programs require coursework in anthropology, economics, geography, and government, in addition to required history courses.

BA Liberal Arts with Elementary Teaching Licensure
This degree prepares students to be kindergarten through sixth grade teachers in public schools. Students are trained as "generalists," with the responsibility of teaching English/literacy, mathematics, science, social science, humanities, and physical education in their classrooms. This program path is extremely structured, with 128 credits required. It is imperative that students receive early advising in the Department of Teacher Education before they begin to take classes, as almost all coursework is prescribed. The Education sequence of classes begins during the sophomore spring semester, with EDUC 211/Introduction to Teaching (during this semester, students must formally apply to the Department). For each Education class, field hours in local public schools are required. The program culminates in the teaching internship. Students then apply for a teaching license that allows them to teach throughout the State of Colorado.

BA Liberal Arts

BA Mass Communication - Broadcasting

BA Mass Communication - News/Editorial

BA Mass Communication - Public Relations

BA Mass Communications - Print Media

BA Political Science - Administration of Justice
Students who major in either Sociology or Political Science have the opportunity
to complete a concentration in Criminology or Administration of Justice. Each
student must complete the required core courses for each discipline and the
specific courses outlined in the appropriate concentration. The courses required
in the concentration areas are the same, except for some minor variations. Click
on Criminology or Administration of Justice to see the specific degree
requirements for each concentration. Both concentrations are geared to help the
student develop a knowledge base in such areas as the criminal justice system in
general, theories of crime causation, law enforcement, courts and corrections
and substantive and procedural law.

BA Political Science
The primary objective of the Political Science program is to prepare students for
careers in government, law, and criminal justice. Students will acquire a working
knowledge of the basic concepts, theories, and approaches of the discipline of
political science and their application to selected political and governmental
systems and contexts within the national and international arena. One attractive
aspect of the program is the opportunity to intern in a variety of settings in
Washington, D.C., Denver, and Grand Junction. These internships allow
students a chance to acquire practical experience while increasing the opportunity
to network. Many of our student interns are now working in jobs they obtained
directly as a result of their intern experience. MSC political science graduates
have also been successful in gaining entrance to graduate and law schools.

BA Psychology - Counseling Psychology
The capstone of the counseling program is the Practicum course where students
work off campus at various treatment centers, therapy settings or local agencies
employing counseling and other human services skills. Here they are supervised
by professionals who meet criteria established by Mesa State Faculty. Many
counseling students gain employment in the counseling field after graduation and
a number of students have gone on to various graduate programs in clinical
psychology, counseling, and social work.

BA Psychology
The study of psychology prepares students to work in a wide variety of work
settings, including human services (counseling and social work), public affairs,
business, sales, criminal justice (probation officer or corrections officer), the
hospitality industry, and with graduate training, teaching and research. The
psychology program at Mesa State provides a strong foundation for further
study in the field of psychology, as well. Many of MSC´s psychology majors
have successfully continued their education in graduate programs in psychology.
A few have continued on to medical school or law school.

BA Social Science
The Social Science Major provides students with the opportunity to develop a
broad understanding of the various disciplines which traditionally comprise the
Social Sciences, including History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology,
Economics, and Geography. Many students come to the Social Sciences in
search of a broad background in several of the Social Science content areas.
Many others are preparing to enter the teaching profession. The Social Science
Program provides an excellent and broad preparation for many different career
goals including Social Science education, graduate school in several disciplines,
law, and public service.

BA Sociology - Anthropology
The Anthropology curriculum at Mesa State College is designed to introduce students to the panorama of the human cultural experience, past and present. Accordingly, there are two introductory courses: Cultural Anthropology, which exposes the students to research carried out on contemporary cultures, and World Prehistory, covering the anthropological subfields of Biological Anthropology and Archaeology.

BA Sociology - Criminology
Students who major in either Sociology or Political Science have the opportunity
to complete a concentration in Criminology or Administration of Justice. Each
student must complete the required core courses for each discipline and the
specific courses outlined in the appropriate concentration. The courses required
in the concentration areas are the same, except for some minor variations. Click
on Criminology or Administration of Justice to see the specific degree
requirements for each concentration. Both concentrations are geared to help the
student develop a knowledge base in such areas as the criminal justice system in
general, theories of crime causation, law enforcement, courts and corrections
and substantive and procedural law.

BA Sociology - Human Services
While Mesa State College does not have a social work degree, the Human
Services Concentration in Sociology serves the same purpose. Social work has
been called "applied sociology," and such is the focus of this concentration.
Students majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services find
careers in social work, juvenile delinquency care, and a variety of other fields.
This is also an excellent program for students interested in pursuing a Masters of
Social Work degree.

BA Sociology
Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new
ideas and critiquing the old. The field also offers a range of research techniques
that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life: street crime and
delinquency, corporate downsizing, how people express emotions, welfare or
education reform, how families differ and flourish, or problems of peace and
war. Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a
rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft
policies and create programs. Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns
of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems
work.

Minors
A minor is a 15-24 credit hour program you may complete in a second area of interest other than your major. Minors can be used to pursue additional career interests by either broadening your career options or better qualifying you for a specific field. You can declare a minor in the same manner as you declare your major.

Administration of Justice
Anthropology
Art
Art History
Classical Studies
Dance
English (Literature or Writing)
Graphic Art
History
Mass Communications
Music (Instrumental or Vocal)
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Spanish
Speech
Theatre

*This listing is for information purposes only. For the most accurate information consult the current Academic Catalog.