American Sign Language

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

The Interdisciplinary Minor in American Sign Language will increase students’ proficiency in sign language and provide them with key tools for the workforce of the 21st century. Students are provided a solid foundation in the way Deaf culture, Deaf history and language accessibility intersect with power, equality and human connection. A minimum of 21 credits is required for the program.

Image Information: Rourke, Nancy. HandEye. 2013, used with permission from the artist.

AnthropologyB.A.M.A.Ph.D.

Department of Anthropology and Geography

As an anthropology major, you will learn about human cultural and biological differences over time. We are focused on understanding the social, environmental, political, and economic systems in which humans operate. You will participate in hands-on training and have opportunities to explore interdisciplinary field and laboratory research. Our graduate program prepares students for academic as well as non-academic careers. The MA offers optional specializations in health and well-being, professional methods and techniques, humans and the environment, international development, and resilience of social ecological systems. The PhD program sits at the intersection of anthropology and geography where students apply geographic methods to anthropological questions.

Applied Environmental Policy Analysis

Department of Political Science

This minor is for students interested in gaining skills for developing and anazlying environmental policy.

Arabic Studies

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Through Arabic studies interdisciplinary minor, students gain a complex understanding of Arabic culture through language and history. With a language that is spoken by over 400 million people globally, Arabic studies give students a highly competitive advantage to develop culturally competent interpersonal and professional skills.

Archaeology

Department of Anthropology and Geography

Adding the archaeology concentration to your anthropology major allows you to focus your studies on the material culture of ancient and historical societies in North and South America. This is a great option for students interested in cultural resource management, museum curation, and research. Check out our archaeology field school for hands-on training in archaeological methodology.

ArtB.A.

Department of Art and Art History

Students pursuing a degree in Art understand and embrace the ideals of a liberal arts education and truly believe they have the potential to make a difference in the world. Students earning a Bachelor of Art must choose a concentration in Art History, Art Education, or Integrated Visual Studies.

Art Education

Department of Art and Art History

In the Art Education program, you will continue to develop your skills as makers and designers as well as pursue coursework that will prepare you to teach at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. You will work with art teachers in area schools and art museums as well as with professionals in programs that  serve at risk individuals through art.

Art History

Department of Art and Art History

Art History considers all the reasons that people have created, supported, and valued the visual arts throughout history. Art History students examine artworks and architecture from around the globe in relation to culture, politics, religion, gender, and aesthetics. Students also develop their skills in visual literacy, learning to understand the language of art and architecture, which is so important in our image-rich world. Art History students also choose a second field of study and a foreign language.

The department also offers a minor in Art History for non-art majors. Paired alongside your other degree program, this skill set will enhance your visual literacy in an image-saturated world to give you an edge as you create your future.

Art StudioB.F.A.M.F.A.

Department of Art and Art History

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program is a professional degree that is studio intensive. It is meant to prepare students to be practicing artists after graduation and provide a strong foundation for advanced study in art at the graduate level.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in studio art promotes growth and excellence in artistic inquiry, creative achievement, and academic research. The curriculum prepares emerging artists for lifetime involvement with contemporary culture. The program strives to immerse advanced students in an environment that exemplifies professional practice and creative contributions in the arts. Students accepted into the program work closely with highly committed and nationally recognized faculty who support a wide range of research in studio media.

Arts Leadership and Cultural ManagementM.A.L.C.M.

Department of Arts Management

In today’s fast-paced world, both nonprofit and for-profit organizations identify a need for people with a creative mind. This master’s program was designed to teach skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and public engagement so that students can become experienced management professionals for a variety of creative enterprises. The program covers a broad range of knowledge areas in entrepreneurship, events management, project planning, community engagement, financial decision-making, and policy advocacy. Students are well positioned for jobs in arts administration, mainstream entertainment, and other creative industries.

Asian Studies

International Studies

This concentration focuses on the multifaceted areas of Asian culture, both past and present, through historical and religious lenses, literature and art skills, political science of Asian societies, and three years of in-depth language skills. Students have the opportunity to choose from South Asian (Indian subcontinent), East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China), Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Biological Anthropology

Department of Anthropology and Geography

Adding the biological concentration to your anthropology major allows you to focus your studies on the evolutionary history of the human lineage including current human adaptations, global health, and primate diversity. This is a great option for students interested in careers related to public health, medical and dental professions, forensics, research, and museum curation.

Chinese

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Did you know?
Nearly 1.3 billion people (around 16% of the world’s population) speak some form of Chinese as their first language with Mandarin Chinese as one of the six official languages of the United Nations. The minor in Chinese integrates the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, and is available to students who complete four years of Chinese language study. Many of our students participate in education abroad programs to further their language study. And students can practice their Chinese regularly and participate in a variety of events through the Chinese Club.

CommunicationPh.D.

Department of Communication Studies

This program creates a cadre of scholars and practitioners capable of engaging with academic and professional communities to meet the challenges of our increasingly interdependent and globally diverse social worlds. Students develop a program of study that meets their unique professional goals, taking course from any of our three areas of study: Rhetoric and Civic Engagement, Relational and Organizational Communication, and Media and Visual Culture. We don’t track students into one of our specializations. Instead, students take advantage of faculty members’ complimentary and overlapping areas of expertise. Our PhD program prepares students for academic jobs at research institutions, academic jobs at teaching institutions and community colleges, and practitioner/consulting jobs in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Communication StudiesB.A.M.A.

Department of Communication Studies

A degree in Communication Studies is fiercely relevant. You will learn from award-winning faculty who inspire students to discover their voices and expand their horizons while bringing passion for scholarship mixed with fun to the classroom. Your coursework encompasses the study of oral, written, nonverbal, visual, electronic and computer-mediated communication whether through film, television, popular culture, relating, organizing, public communication or citizenship. With your B.A. in Communication Studies, you’ll know how to work in teams, make decisions, solve problems, analyze data, persuade others, and verbally communicate ideas — skills that set you above your peers, reward you financially, and serve you for life. The B.A. in Communication Studies is available as an accelerated program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters.

Our M.A. degree offers an introduction to the field of Communication Studies, with core courses in our three areas of study and instruction in critical and social scientific research methods. Students augment core courses with electives of their choosing, and they complete a master’s thesis under the advisement of a faculty committee. M.A. students with Graduate Teaching Assistantships are the instructors of record in their own sections of public speaking (SPCM 200) and may assist faculty in other courses. Our award-winning instructor training prepares graduate students to succeed as teachers, and the professional experience gained in the classroom is valued by employers in diverse contexts.

Communications and Media ManagementM.C.M.M.

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

This graduate program is ideal for professionals who want to learn about current and emerging media tools, strategies, and digital communication platforms to advance or transition to a new career. This program consists of face-to-face classes once a week at CSU’s downtown Denver Learning Center with various online electives to help gain technical skills in online communication. Students will learn to use media strategically with the latest research while advancing their multimedia competence.

Community Organizing and Institutional Change

Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies

The community organizing and institutional change concentration in the ethnic studies major offers students the opportunity to learn the history and methods diverse communities have used to seek civil rights. With a focus on recognizing, listening, respectfully engaging, and effectively organizing community efforts to create a more equitable society, students will be able to help guide organizations and institutions. Through courses focused on policy, organizing, and institutional change, students will recognize and respond to contemporary issues. Students will apply critical thinking and theorizing of strategies and goals into building outreach, awareness, organizing, lobbying and other influencing skills.

Composition

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

The undergraduate composition concentration is designed to prepare the student to compose original music for a wide variety of venues including live concerts, music to accompany film, video, dance, and theatre.

Conducting

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

For graduate students, specializations are available in choral conducting and instrumental conducting (band or orchestra). The programs offer students opportunities to develop their conducting and rehearsal techniques, explore a large body of literature, refine skills in music analysis and score preparation, and expand their knowledge of music history and theory.

Creative WritingM.F.A.

Department of English

Cultivate your craft through the study and writing of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid forms in the Creative Writing M.F.A. program. The nationally ranked program offers a balance of intimate and intensive writing workshops with courses in literature, form and technique, and related electives.

Creative Writing

Department of English

Cultivate your craft in the genres of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry with the creative writing concentration. Study your own writing through workshop and critique classes, and explore the literary traditions and styles of both established and emerging writers through English and literature classes.

Crime, Law, and Deviance

Department of Sociology

Analyze how individuals, organizations, and government entities violate laws. Discover possibilities for social impact through law enforcement, judicial and correctional processes.

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Department of Sociology

Prepare to enter the criminal justice system by studying its components including crime control policies, law enforcement, corrections, and legal issues. Explore criminology’s theories and concepts around deviance, violence, race, gender, green/environmental, and more.

Cultural Anthropology

Department of Anthropology and Geography

Adding the cultural concentration to your anthropology major allows you to focus your studies on comparative global human cultural diversity with an emphasis on socio-cultural theory and fieldwork methods. This is a great option for students interested in careers related to social services, international development, political consulting, marketing, communications, and research. Check out our ethnographic field school or field methods for hands-on training in ethnographic approaches and software.

DanceB.A.B.F.A.

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

The dance program at CSU has a rigorous curriculum focused on technical training and foundations, performance, composition, pedagogy, professional preparation, theatrical product and design, and academics. Dance students explore the many possibilities for movement expression, along with creativity and scholarly examination, in a challenging and supportive environment. Students can earn either a Bachelor of Fine Art or Bachelor of Art in Dance.

Dance EducationB.F.A.

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Adding the education concentration to your dance major prepares you to teach in elementary and secondary schools, dance studios, and the community at large. Dance education students receive in-depth training in pedagogy; classical, contemporary, and urban dance techniques and performance; and choreography. The degree equips students to apply for dance teaching licensure (grades P-12) in the state of Colorado.

Deliberative Practices

Department of Communication Studies

Our communities face increasingly complex problems year after year. They will require more than experts or politicians to solve them. The Deliberative Practices Graduate Specialization provides the tools and hands-on experience needed to design and facilitate public engagement that results in effective decision-making. Throughout the program, students work in partnership with the nationally recognized Center for Public Deliberation (CPD). With students trained in small group facilitation, the CPD assists local government, school boards, and community organizations by researching issues and developing useful background material, and then designs, facilitates, and reports on innovative public events.

Interested students apply for the Deliberative Practices Specialization during the fall of their first semester in the communication studies graduate program. Admission into this track must be approved by the Director of the CPD. Students within the Deliberative Practices Specialization complete a research project and practicum experience in lieu of a thesis project.

Digital and Public History

Department of History

This concentration allows students to discover and use emerging digital research tools and learn how historians inform and engage the public in museums, documentaries, podcasts, and more. This concentration also requires an internship.

Drawing

Department of Art and Art History

An undergraduate drawing student will complete intermediate level drawing courses that will help refine basic skills as well as expand drawing materials and processes beyond the traditional. In addition, students will conclude with advanced level courses where they will pursue their own personalized approach through longer duration projects culminating in a graduating capstone show.

In the MFA drawing program, students explore mixed media and interdisciplinary approaches. In this course of study, students will have access to all drawing faculty, faculty from other disciplines, along with their choice of advisor and committee members. Successful graduate students develop an in-depth body of drawings for an MFA qualifying exhibition. All graduate students in drawing are provided private studios each approximately 300 sq. ft. in size.

EconomicsB.A.M.A.Ph.D.

Department of Economics

Much more than business, math or finance, a degree in economics prepares students for the widest array of interesting career choices and pathways into higher education. Economics is a science of human behavior focused on understanding how people and societies make decisions, provision for themselves and others, and create as well as solve social and ecological problems. Our undergraduate and graduate programs offer courses that cover a wide range of economic approaches, including both neoclassical and heterodox economics. Students will become critical thinkers who understand and can engage in debates about economic policy as well as master the techniques of economic analysis.

Students also have the opportunity to work with the Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI) that aims to understand, analyze, and inform economic development strategies particularly in struggling regions in both rural and urban areas, especially in Colorado.

The B.A. in Economics is available as an accelerated program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters.

Electronic Art

Department of Art and Art History

The Electronic Art concentration is an interdisciplinary program that explores digital mediums within the context of fine art. As an electronic art  student, you will manipulate technology the same way a potter molds clay or a painter transforms a canvas. The technical skills you gain will be complemented through a study of electronic art history and the work of contemporary electronic artists.

EnglishB.A.M.A.

Department of English

We are a comprehensive English Studies department with programs in creative writing, English Education, language/linguistics, literature, and rhetoric and composition. We are home to poets and linguists, literacy researchers and teacher educators, novelists and literary scholars, composition specialists and writers of creative nonfiction. Join us in studying how people process and document the human experience through critical literacy, critical thinking, and culturally informed interpretive skills. Engage in transforming our understanding of what it means to be human through inquiry, imagination, and the development of insight. Be actively involved in the deliberate work of leading a meaningful life.

English Education

Department of English

Pursue a career in teaching English language arts in grades 7-12 in the English Education concentration. Take a range of courses in language, literature, writing, and teaching English.

Be not just an educator but an innovator in the English Education M.A. program. Join a program that will deepen your teaching practice, challenge your thinking, and help you create classrooms that will enrich the lives of your students and thus the world. The program is designed for those who wish to pursue a career in teaching language arts, and offers a range of courses in language, literature, and writing.

Environment and Natural Resources

Department of Sociology

Examine human-nature cultural factors and social change possibilities at local, national and international levels in the areas of natural resource development, conservation, and environmental justice.

Environmental Politics and Policy

Department of Political Science

This is the department’s specialization, with more than half of the faculty teaching and researching the environment. This concentration will prepare students to draw connections between the environment and politics/policy-making at a local, national, and international level.

Environmental Sociology

Department of Sociology

Get ready to create solutions by studying how social interactions affect environmental issues. Examine environmental justice and governance relating to water, natural resources, food systems, agriculture, populations, disasters and technology.

Environmental Studies in the Liberal Arts

Department of Political Science

Through the environmental studies in the liberal arts minor, students will study environmental issues with a foundation in the social sciences and humanities. Courses address domestic and international issues of concern, with both current and historical perspectives, through coursework in philosophy, art, sociology, political science, economics, anthropology, geography, ethnic studies, and history. The minor is open to all majors and is best suited for students interested in environmental careers or graduate study.

Ethnic StudiesB.A.M.A.

Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies

By examining the interlocking forces of domination rooted in socially constructed categories of gender, sexuality, class, race, disability, and national status, the Ethnic Studies department identifies and explores issues of power, privilege, and social justice relevant to marginalized groups in the U.S. and abroad. Our students become civic-minded and culturally informed, with a foundation in critical thinking, which is used to strengthen their own communities as well as to engage with a variety of communities to effect meaningful change in public policy and social life. Our faculty and researchers are committed to interdisciplinary, indigenous, international, and comparative approaches that challenge systemic marginalization of diverse populations.

European Studies

International Studies

Through a European studies concentration, students gain the tools of understanding European culture through literature, religion, history, philosophy, art, political science, and at least three years of language skills. With several European languages and areas of study offered at CSU, students have a wide range to choose from to gain a better understanding of the past, present, and future of European culture and societies.

Fibers

Department of Art and Art History

In the undergraduate fibers concentration, students will develop textile skills and pursue interests in the fields of art and design. Coursework supports technical mastery and material studies in weaving, dyeing, fabric printing and painting, felt making, stitching, and mixed media. Students’ individual studio goals are supported by research of historic textiles in CSU museum collections. Field trips and engagement with guest artists, writers, and entrepreneurs help students to explore careers in art, design, publishing, and education.

The graduate fibers program promotes a high level of studio performance and scholastic research about cloth in visual and material culture. In addition to work in fiber media and materials, the curriculum includes studio electives, art-history coursework, graduate seminars, and non-art electives. Study abroad and internship opportunities are available. Graduate students share semiprivate studio space near the undergraduate fibers studio and area library, and near the department’s woodshop, digital-fabrication studio, and computer lab.

Film Studies

Department of Communication Studies

Film Studies is concerned with exploring the narrative, artistic, cultural, economic, and political implications of the cinema. The United States’ film industry is second worldwide only to India and continues to grow, as does the study of film. A minor in Film Studies will enable students to develop media fluency in film –the ability to analyze, contextualize, and use the medium within the broad context of humanistic studies — while honing their critical thinking and writing skills.

Food, Agriculture, and Development

Department of Sociology

Study the social, cultural, economic and political aspects of food and agriculture from start to finish. Discover globalization, labor, urban/rural, fair trade and market based opportunities for social impact.

French

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Did you know?
French is spoken by 125 million people: the first and second language spoken in 49 countries. Along with English, French is the official working language of The European Union, The United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, and the International Olympic Committee. With more than 4,600 French companies conducting business in the U.S. and Canada an important import/export partner, the possibilities for language use are plenty. Additionally, the Peace Corps gives priority to French speakers.

At CSU, we offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate courses in language, French and Francophone literature, culture, linguistics, and French for specific purposes (Business, Translation). With faculty specialties in applied linguistics, language pedagogy, and Francophone cultures and literatures, students will have a holistic experience of the French language. Outside the classroom, students can practice speaking French at regular French Club meetings and in many education abroad programs.

General History

Department of History

This concentration allows students to take a wide array of history courses. History majors will encounter many different time periods and geographical regions. They will also consider the impact on history of race, gender, religion, social class, and environment.

General Philosophy

Department of Philosophy

Through this general philosophy concentration, students will receive a broad education in philosophy, including ancient and modern Western philosophy, ethics, metaphysics and epistemology, and courses in diverse philosophical traditions.

General Sociology

Department of Sociology

The general sociology concentration is designed to provide students with a broad liberal arts education and a greater understanding and insight into the social systems and processes that bear upon everyday lives.

Geographic Information Science and Geographic Analysis

Department of Anthropology and Geography

The geographic information science and geographic analysis minor is offered to students interested in gaining a background in geographic theory and the technical skills to use industry tools and technologies. The coursework is relevant to many disciplines including urban and regional planning, marketing and business, archaeology, agriculture, conservation, and engineering.

GeographyB.S.

Department of Anthropology and Geography

As a geography major, you will learn about interactions between space, place, and humans in built and natural environments. Our program has a focus of global change in mountain systems. You will solve real-world problems by addressing human-environmental issues from a spatial perspective and use technology such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing.

German

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

If you’re interested in working with a global business, learning German is a great choice. German is the most widely spoken language in Europe, the official language in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, and is commonly used as a second language in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Because German and English are both Indo-Germanic languages, students will gain a deeper understanding of English while gaining new language skills.

Students can take a variety of courses in language, literature, linguistics, culture, and practical applications such as Business German or translation. With faculty specialties in 19th through 21st century literature, German film and other artistic phenomena, social-political and -cultural history, and linguistics and translation, students will have a broad experience of German. Outside the classroom, students can participate in the very active German Club, which meets regularly and organizes a variety of cultural events on campus and in the community.

Global Philosophies and Religions

Department of Philosophy

An engagement with philosophical traditions from around the world, including Western, South and East Asian traditions, and Islamic traditions, plus courses on the philosophy and practice of religion.

Global Politics and Policy

Department of Political Science

This concentrations prepares students to make connections between and within different countries. Students are highly encouraged to learn a foreign language and study abroad.

Global Race, Power, and Resistance

Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies

The global race, power, and resistance concentration within the ethnic studies major offers students a focus on transnationalism, diaspora, and migration processes highlighting the impacts of colonialism, racial and ethnic ideologies, and imperialism on a global scale. This concentration prepares students for positions in federal, state, and local government, working in public policy, NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) and international organizations like the United Nations, immigration reform, and policy. Students will apply critical thinking and theorizing of strategies to recognize, analyze, bring awareness, and organize around local, national, and international efforts to challenge hegemony.

Global Studies

International Studies

The Global Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program. In addition to several required international studies courses, students can choose 12 credits from across multiple fields such as history, languages and culture, economics, sociology, politics science, and environmental issues. Through these classes, students build an understanding of and appreciation for diverse cultures and people. This minor is relevant to any student (and any major) by providing critical cultural context for our world.

Global Studies

International Studies

This concentration familiarizes students with diverse cultures and peoples and with a broad, connective approach to contemporary global issues. It includes a choice of courses across a wide range of disciplines, emphasizing international and global history, politics, language and cultures, economics, and environmental studies. New for Fall 2021.

Graphic Design

Department of Art and Art History

Students in the undergraduate graphic design program learn the skills, techniques, and processes to be a designer in today’s ever-evolving visual communications practice. With projects in print and digital media, identity and branding, image-making, and professional design practices, students will create a foundation of curiosity and life-long growth. Technical exposure, guest speakers, practice-based projects, and numerous other opportunities will prepare students for the wide variety of design challenges throughout their careers.

The MFA program in graphic design focuses on the artist as an agent of visual communication in society. With emphasis on conceptual problem-solving and technical proficiency, graduate students are encouraged to create effective artistic expression in various print, digital, or interactive media. Graphic design theory, history, and professional practices are discussed regularly with faculty. Experimental solutions to student created goals are expected from participants in this program.

HistoryB.A.M.A.

Department of History

History majors improve and increase their knowledge of the past through traditional and project-based courses. Students develop historical empathy, the ability to ask historical questions, and the skills to research political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic topics. Courses emphasize critical thinking, digital skills, and written and oral expression. Many courses allow students to use historical knowledge to inform modern decision-making and solve real-world problems. The B.A. in History is available as an accelerated program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters.

Our graduate program prepares students for careers in public history with hands-on, project-based research and public engagement. Students can work with the Public Lands History Center that aims to use history to shed light on contemporary problems related to the management and protection of protected areas, historic places, and habitat.

Indigenous Studies

Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies

The Indigenous Studies minor provides students with a deep understanding of traditional and contemporary Indigenous cultural experiences and knowledge production. The minor is dedicated to foundational knowledge and awareness of Indigenous scholarship, priorities, and ways of engaging.

Information Science and Technology

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

The Information Science and Technology minor gives a broad foundation in information technology with courses from around the University. Students will study new communication technologies and the systems that make those technologies possible. Courses include web development, application design, digital photography, information graphics, and digital rhetoric and design.

Integrated Visual Studies

Department of Art and Art History

Integrated Visual Studies provides an opportunity for you to take knowledge from our foundational visual arts coursework, your study in another discipline, reflect on your experiences, and create a project that combines both of your interests.

Interdisciplinary Liberal ArtsB.A.

Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts

For students who have broad interests, the interdisciplinary liberal arts programs provides the opportunity to combine almost any area of curriculum  and gain advanced experience across multiple disciplinary areas of study. Courses from the humanities, languages, literature, the arts, and social sciences can combine to cultivate knowledge across multiple fields of interest, giving a core competency and deeper understanding of the world. By combining multiple interests into a versatile program, students gain the necessary skill sets of professional expertise, communication skills, and interpersonal competency.

The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts is available as an accelerated program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters.

International StudiesB.A.

International Studies

International studies majors have the unique opportunity to learn about the world through multiple different perspectives, communicating through different areas of our rapidly globalizing world. This major puts together various cultural and political issues while also educating students on a variety of liberal arts skills, including critical thinking, communication, and leadership. For students who have a broad range of academic interests, this major allows for the versatility both in school and after graduation, as many use these adaptable skills to pursue a wide range of career interests.

Students working toward a B.A. in International Studies can begin coursework for a Master of Public Policy and Administration during their senior year as part of an accelerated master’s program. The B.A. in International Studies is also available as an accelerated bachelor’s program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters. 

Italian Studies

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

The interdisciplinary Italian studies minor is offered to students interested in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of Italian culture, history, and language. As a language derived from Latin, Italian gives students in medical/scientific and legal fields valuable insights into the root words and meanings of common terms. Artistic fields are draw heavily from Italian culture, making this minor a great choice for performing and visual artists as well.

Japanese

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

There are many reasons to study Japanese: it helps you gain an enhanced perspective on your own language and culture; it builds brain power by fostering analytical, observational, critical thinking, and dexterity skills; it teaches an appreciation for everything from language to native craftsmanship to film and food; and it’s a valuable asset for future careers. In addition to a minor in Japanese, students can join the Japan Club, the Ramnime Club, and connect with the Japanese Student Association for opportunities to make friends, explore cultural activities, and participate in field trips.

Journalism and Media CommunicationB.A.M.S.

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

Undergraduate journalism and media communications students will engage in a powerful multimedia curriculum that invites creativity. Majors will first gain a strong foundation in writing, communication technology, and conceptual understanding. Later in their studies, students will choose career-specific courses in writing, reporting, editing, public relations, advertising, television, web design, and scientific or technical communication. The B.A. in Journalism and Media Communication is available as an accelerated program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters.

Master’s students will be prepared for careers in communication management of health; environmental, scientific, or technical information; new communication technologies; journalism; strategic communication; and academia. The M.S. is both a theoretical and applied program.

Language

Department of History

The language concentration encourages students to combine language learning with historical study. Students take courses that explore the history of the regions that traditionally speak the language(s) they are mastering. Students can choose from Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, ASL, and Russian.

Languages, Literatures, and CulturesB.A.M.A.

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Combine the study of language with the understanding of culture with a program in languages, literatures, and cultures. Students will be well-equipped to thrive in an increasingly diverse and globalized world. Undergraduate students may specialize in Spanish, French, or German. Graduate students may pursue advanced study of Spanish language and culture.

Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Department of Political Science

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies Interdisciplinary Minor seeks to broaden understanding of the languages, cultures, institutions, political and economic systems, and the processes of change in Latin America. The program offers courses in a wide variety of disciplines, enabling students to gain a broader and deeper appreciation of the diverse regions of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Latin American Studies

International Studies

A Latin American concentration allows students to study, engage, and interpret the cultural and political matters of Latin American societies. With a variety of versatile courses offered through history, political science, anthropology, literature, art, sociology, and three years of Spanish language skills, students graduate with a vast knowledge of interpreting the culture in different areas of Latin America.

Legal Studies

Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts

For students highly interested in legal or law-based fields of study, the interdisciplinary legal studies minor encompasses a wide range of law-focused courses designed to help students prepare for law school after graduation. This minor also helps students interested in the multiple professional fields outside of law school where legal studies is a valued knowledge, such as the media, different businesses, government services, and human resources. This specific interest provides students with a solid foundation regarding legal services and the law in the United States.

Liberal Arts

Department of History

Through small seminars and individual study, students learn historiography – the fundamentals of how people study history – and develop advanced research methods. CSU has special strengths in cultural and environmental U.S. History.

Lighting Design and Technology

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

In the lighting design and technology concentration, students take Drawing for Theatre, Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre, two levels of lighting design courses, Projection Design, Design Portfolio and Professional Prep, and are required to explore other fields of design (such as projection design, sound design, costume design, or set design) to better understand the collaborative effort of creating a world onstage. Students also take practicum classes where they put the skills learned in design courses to use, working on departmental productions and/or live events design teams.

Linguistics

Department of English

Focus on the study of linguistics and teaching English as a second or foreign language, as well as literature, writing, and education. You will learn about the characteristics of human languages, their sound systems, the construction of words and sentences, how meanings are represented and communicated, and how all of these vary and change.

Linguistics and Culture

Department of English

The Linguistics and Culture Interdisciplinary Minor is designed for students with a particular interest in language and its cultural interfaces. Students also gain a well-rounded foundation about linguistics and culture through studying philosophy of language, cultural anthropology, and non-verbal communication. Students can choose from any foreign language offered at CSU to personalize the minor to their language interest.

Literature

Department of English

Discover a curriculum featuring critical study of literature (from ancient to contemporary) in poetry, prose, and drama, through the study of American, British, and World literatures in the Literature concentration. Practice a number of different types of analytical and critical writing while you study major figures and forces, as well as non-traditional writers outside the established canon.

Study a wide range of subjects, methods and historical periods in the Literature M.A. program. Follow your own interests in fields such as contemporary cultural studies, ecocriticism, literature and the environment, critical theory, gender studies, and postcolonial theory. The program is designed to facilitate the intellectual growth of future teachers, scholars, and engaged public citizens.

Media CommunicationPh.D.

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

Graduate students pursuing the Ph.D. in Media Communication will focus on the historical, social, and cultural factors that shape the development of mediated communication, and the role of mediated communication in the public’s understanding of contemporary issues.

Ph.D. students are encouraged to pursue a concentration in one of the following: science communication; strategic communication; news, media and democracy; or digital culture and identities. Graduates will be well-prepared to teach and research at a university level.

Media Studies

Interdisciplinary Program

In a media studies minor, students learn the importance of how media impacts society on a large scale. Courses focus on topics like the history of media and film and the legal, ethical and social consequences of mass media on society. This minor offers an in-depth look into the good and bad effects of mass media across different cultures.

This minor is offered jointly by the Department for Journalism and Media Communication and the Department of Communication Studies.

Metalsmithing/Jewelry

Department of Art and Art History

Undergraduate students in the metalsmithing and jewelry concentration will learn a wide range of traditional metalsmithing techniques and processes, coupled with a contemporary approach to object making and design.  Students become stronger artists through challenging assignments, creative problem solving, constructive group discussions, and the integration of traditional and digital processes.

The first two years of the graduate program in metalsmithing and jewelry are marked by technical and conceptual exploration, critical investigation, and the cultivation of a creative approach that is relevant to each student’s intentions and sensibility. The third year is dedicated to the research and creation of a cohesive body of work, culminating in an MFA Thesis Exhibition held in the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art. Private studio space is provided as well as 24-hour access to the main studios and equipment year-round.

Middle Eastern-North African Studies

International Studies

The Middle Eastern/North Africa concentration gives students a chance to study the unique cultures of these African areas. Through multiple courses focusing on literature, history, religion/philosophy, art, and at least three years of Arabic language skills, students combine an array of tools to better understand and interpret the Middle East and North African cultures and societies.

MusicB.A.B.M.M.M.

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Undergraduate students can choose between a Bachelor of Arts in Music or a Bachelor of Music (with or without a concentration). The B.A. allows students to study music within a larger context of a liberal arts education. In comparison to majors leading to the bachelor of music (B.M.), less emphasis is placed on studies specific to music. In contrast, the B.M. is a professional degree to prepare students to become highly skilled music educators, music therapists, performers, composers, and conductors.

For graduate studies, the Master of Music will allow music professionals to advance their careers in performance, conducting, music education, and music therapy.

Music Education

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

The undergraduate major provides students excellent training to teach vocal and instrumental music in elementary and secondary schools. A feature unique to our music education curriculum is the countless hours of field experience, beginning in the first semester of study, that students receive throughout their coursework. Upon completion of the degree, graduates have met all requirements to sit the exam for licensure to teach in public schools in Colorado.

The graduate program in music education offers four options:
(1) program designed for licensed elementary, middle school, and high school music educators who want to become master teachers in the K-12 Music Education field
(2) program designed to students who hold a B.M. or B.A. in Music who want to earn a teaching licensure in K-12 Music while studying music education at the graduate level
(3) online program with an additional certification in Kodály music teaching gained from a summer residency
(4) online program for current middle school and high school choir, band, and orchestra directors seeking further knowledge

Music TherapyPh.D.

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

The undergraduate music therapy program is designed to prepare the student to work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, assisted living centers, and in special education settings. The curriculum has a strong emphasis in music, the neurosciences, and psychology.

The master’s degree program in music therapy is intended to provide Board Certified music therapists with advanced training in clinical skills and research. Our curriculum specializes in evidence-based practice and neuroscience of music therapy.

The Ph.D. in Music Therapy emphasizes research and scholarship, as appropriate for the music therapist who aspires to a career in research, college-level teaching, or advanced clinical practice.

Colorado State University is the only university in the central Rocky Mountain region providing undergraduate or graduate education in music therapy.

Music, Stage, and Sports Production

Interdisciplinary Program

For music, stage, & sports production minors, students will have the unique opportunity of completing hands-on work by creating television and audio recordings of events. For the duration of the minor, students gain knowledge both in the classroom and in real life experience, building an electronic portfolio along the way to present in future job opportunities. This minor is offered in six departments of the College of Liberal Arts: journalism and media communication, dance, communication studies, music, sociology, and theatre. This allows students to develop a strong background and experience in the entertainment business of production.

Musical Theatre

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Students in the musical theatre concentration practice incremental techniques and skills necessary for the art form of musical theatre – including singing, dancing, and acting – and musical theatre history, theory, and repertoire. Students train to analyze and perform contemporary and classical scripts as actors, to effectively deliver highly physical staging or dance, and to practice healthy habits that support a lifetime of vocal production for the stage, screen, and/or recording. As informed collaborators, students contribute to the creation, rehearsal, development, and future of musical theatre performance.

Students seeking the musical theatre concentration will need to audition for the program.

Painting

Department of Art and Art History

As an undergraduate student in painting, you will gain broad understanding of the foundational principles and techniques of painting through one-on-one guidance and deep exploration of historical and contemporary painting strategies. Once this foundation has been established you will move on to explore personal artistic research through alternative methods and materials, concept and form.

The graduate painting program is a contemporary painting program that encourages an intensive studio practice, experimentation, risk taking and an understanding of contemporary and historic art theory and trends. The program size is limited so that graduate students work closely with the faculty and their peers in a community that fosters the highest level of creative growth. Graduate students in the painting area have generously sized, semi-private studio spaces and have access to much of the department’s state-of-the-art facilities.

Performance

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Students entering the performance concentration will have the ability, aptitude, and stamina to pursue a program of study intended to provide rigorous professional training for a career as a performing artist within the context of a liberal arts curriculum, either as a professional actor or a creative collaborator with strong interpersonal communication and group problem-solving skills essential for success in the public sector.

Performance

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Undergraduate students pursuing a B.M. with a performance concentration have seven distinct options to choose from: jazz studies, orchestral instrument, organ, piano, piano pedagogy, string pedagogy, and voice.

Graduate students pursuing a M.M. with a performance option choose from orchestral instrument, saxophone, voice, piano, or organ.

PhilosophyB.A.M.A.

Department of Philosophy

Philosophy encourages us to think deeply, to question what we have presumed, and, broadly, to see the world from different perspectives. It approaches some of the deepest and oldest questions humanity has asked (e.g., “What is the meaning of life?”) and some of the most practical (e.g., “Should I eat meat?”). The Department of Philosophy provides a strong background in traditional philosophy and specializes in global philosophies and applied ethics (especially environmental and animal ethics).

Philosophy, Science, and Technology

Department of Philosophy

Focus on the philosophical underpinnings of scientific thought and practice through courses in the philosophy of science, metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and applied ethics (environmental ethics, sustainability, agricultural and animal ethics).

Photo Image Making

Department of Art and Art History

Students in Photo Image Making courses work with a variety of processes to explore the photographic medium, completing projects with digital cameras and inkjet printers, film cameras and darkroom work, and multiple alternative processes to create work on a variety of materials.

Place, Space, and Adaptation

Department of Anthropology and Geography

The anthropology Ph.D. program has a specialization in Place, Space, and Adaptation. This program builds on the diverse research interests of our faculty who specialize in cultural anthropology, archaeology, and biological anthropology as well as human and physical geography. The program will provide students with the conceptual expertise and skills to address research questions that:

• sit at the intersection of anthropology and geography
• apply geographic methods to anthropological questions
• critically evaluate the impact of place and space on human/ecosystem adaptation

Political Communication

Department of Political Science

Political communication is an interdisciplinary minor designed to help students better understand communication in the political process. Within political environments, the advanced understanding of communication of all sorts is vital to bettering society or learning how to fix it. This minor is focused on students who are primarily interested in law, communication, politics, public deliberation and a number of other professions specifically dealing with issues related to public political settings.

Political ScienceB.A.M.A.Ph.D.

Department of Political Science

The general Political Science major will give students a comprehensive look at five areas: public affairs, American politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. Undergraduate students can pursue a general political science major or choose to specialize with a concentration. The B.A. in Political Science is available as an accelerated program, meaning students can graduate in 3 or 3.5 years by enrolling in summer semesters.

Students are also eligible to participate in a sequential degree program that provides a pathway to earn a Master of Arts in Political Science in one year following the completion of the undergraduate degree. More information about this 4+1 option available on the political science department website.

Pottery

Department of Art and Art History

The Pottery curriculum introduces you to a range of processes and concepts present in contemporary ceramic art. You will develop critical, technical, and manual skills alongside a rigorous exploration of forming and decorating processes and technology.

Printmaking

Department of Art and Art History

As an undergraduate student in printmaking, you will have the opportunity to explore the rich historical traditions of various techniques as well as new innovative approaches to print media. Relief woodcut, Intaglio etching, lithography, screen-printing, handmade paper and post-digital applications will be explored during your coursework. Students who graduate with a degree in printmaking are confident in describing and explaining their work, and how to decipher historical prints in museums and galleries, and more broadly, how to consider new contemporary works from an interdisciplinary mindset.

During graduate study in printmaking, students are encouraged to zealously explore their own artistic path in depth, but also constantly question and critically examine their decisions throughout that process. While holding dear to the rich historical traditions of the medium, the dialogue surrounding what a print is will often be augmented by the investigation of what a print can be in the contemporary context. Graduate students are given large semi-private studio space across the hall from the main communal studio.

Projection Design and Technology

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

In the projection design and technology concentration, students take Drawing for Theatre, Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre, two levels of projection design courses, Design Portfolio and Professional Prep, and are required to explore other design fields/concentrations (such as sound design, lighting design, costume design, or set design) to better understand the collaborative effort of creating a world onstage. Students also take practicum classes where they put the skills learned in design courses to use, working on departmental productions and/or live events design teams.

Public History – Cultural Resource Management

Department of History

This graduate program specialization helps students develop a broad understanding of cultural heritage, including archaeological sites and historic landscapes. Using this understanding, students learn to identify and interpret historic and prehistoric resources held by public land agencies, such as the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

Public History – Historic Preservation

Department of History

Historic preservation is a broad interdisciplinary field that focuses on the identification, interpretation, and rehabilitation of the historic built environment including buildings, structures, neighborhoods, and landscapes. Graduate students in this specialization are trained to research and evaluate the significance of architecture to its historic context.

Public Policy and AdministrationM.P.P.A.

College of Liberal Arts

The Master of Public Policy and Administration is a professional degree that provides the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in public service. Classes are offered on online so professionally minded students can continue to work while completing their degree. Graduates of the MPPA program will be prepared to lead as executives, managers, analysts, and planners in a wide range of public sector agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Specializations available in:

• Public Management
• Public Policy
• International Policy and Management

Religious Studies

Department of History

Through the interdisciplinary religious studies minor, students study major world religions and how they have shaped histories and cultures around the world. The minor encourages students to study religions through the lenses of specific disciplines ranging from philosophical, historical, psychological, sociological, and anthropological. Students are also encouraged to view religious phenomena in the cultural context of music and the arts.

Russian Studies

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

The Russian studies interdisciplinary minor allows students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Russian culture through advanced foreign language abilities, historical context, and artistic expression. Students gain extensive knowledge of the culture allowing them to develop interpersonal and business skills for after graduation. The minor through the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures also gives students specialized education abroad opportunities to better develop a first-hand understanding of the Russian culture.

Science Communication

Department of Journalism and Media Communication

Communicating scientific ideas, methods, and knowledge in an accessible and useful way requires a special skillset. Learn how to communicate complex scientific research and processes to non-expert audiences.

Sculpture

Department of Art and Art History

In sculpture, undergraduate students are encouraged to experiment and innovate while exploring content in the areas of object making, installation, site-based work, performance, time-based art, and digital processes. The sculpture curriculum is designed to enable students to explore concepts and content relevant both in today’s contemporary society and in the art world.

The MFA program in sculpture is a rigorous program highly focused on the development of the individual in the context of the broad contemporary art world. This intimate program allows individualized attention for each student and ample graduate studio space steps away from the main sculpture studio. The program challenges students to experiment, broaden their technical expertise, take risks, and develop a sophisticated body of work, grounded in sculptural practice, theory, and art history, while relevant and challenging to the contemporary work of today.

Set Design

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Students in the Set Design Concentration explore creative concepts of set design for theatre, musicals, opera, dance, and industry, as well as production design and art direction for film and television, on a theoretical level in the classroom and studio while reinforcing their training through practical application in main stage productions of music, theatre, and dance. In addition to their course work, students will first work as assistants and then step into leadership roles as designers as they travel through the program.

Social Inequality, Social Justice, and Governance

Department of Sociology

Devise solutions for social change by studying social, economic and environmental inequality. Consider how crises impact diverse groups and how cultural, organizational, political, and legal frameworks affect the control of natural, social and cultural resources.

Social Studies Education

Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies

With a major in ethnic studies and a concentration in social studies, students are prepared to teach social studies in middle, junior, and high schools. Students will focus on content within the ethnic studies curriculum, such as classes in gender, racial inequality, and cultural history, and follow specific requirements for teacher licensure through the School of Education.

Social Studies Teaching

Department of History

This concentration is for students who plan to teach in K-12 education. History majors take courses that prepare them for the demands of Social Studies teaching and prepare them for the job market. These students must also complete the requirements for the social studies undergraduate teaching licensure in the College of Applied Human Sciences School of Teacher Education and Principal Preparation (STEPP).

SociologyB.A.M.A.Ph.D.

Department of Sociology

Learn how to affect change by gaining an understanding of how individual, group and societal social behaviors relate to social issues, equality, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, health, economics, and more. Become proficient at critical thinking, discussion, research, writing, and methodology. Fulfilling career paths are endless with this versatile degree.

Sound Design and Technology

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

In the sound design and technology concentration, students take Drawing for Theatre, Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre, two levels of sound design courses, Design Portfolio and Professional Prep, and are required to explore other design fields/concentrations (such as projection design, lighting design, costume design or set design) to better understand the collaborative effort of creating a world onstage. Students also take practicum classes where they put the skills learned in design courses to use, working on departmental productions and/or live events design teams.

Spanish

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Around 500 million people speak Spanish, the official language of 20 countries, and spoken in 44 countries. The US is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world (and is projected to become the first by 2050). Because of the language’s prevalence and importance, students with a degree in Spanish are prepared for careers in education, media, the economy, the government, the nonprofit sector, and international work.

The mixing of different cultures, brought about by the violence of colonialism, makes
The cultures and histories of Latin American countries and Spain are a fascinating and complex area of study as colonialism and the mixing of different cultures has brought about much variety: from the Roman and Arabic influences on the Iberian peninsula to the different indigenous, African, and European cultures in the Americas.

With faculty specialties in applied and theoretical linguistics, language pedagogy, translation, peninsular Golden Age theater and poetry, colonial literature and contemporary Spain and Latin America, especially the literatures and cultures of Mexico, the Caribbean, the Southern Cone, and Central America, students will study a wide variety of places and elements of Spanish language, literature, and culture. Outside of the classroom, students can participate in Spanish Club and join El Centro.

Sport Management

College of Liberal Arts

The Sport Management Interdisciplinary Minor provides students with an overview of the sports industry from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students in this minor will acquire skills in various aspects of the sports industry, including public relations, turf management, facilities and event planning, management and marketing, hospitality services, diversity and leadership. Students selected for the competitive minor track will have hands-on experiences through internships and practicum opportunities with regional professional sports franchises.

Sport ManagementM.S.M.

Department of Sport Management

Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language

Department of English

Cultivate practical, theoretical, and critical knowledge of methods for teaching English as a second or foreign language in various social and academic settings in the TESL/TEFL M.A. program. Courses are designed to promote reflective inquiry, provide the necessary tools for ongoing professional growth, serve as models of effective pedagogy, and introduce the various ways in which instruction can be enhanced by contemporary technologies. Enhance the connection of theory and practice through a variety of supervised teaching experiences, and the completion of a portfolio, project, or thesis.

TheatreB.A.

School of Music, Theatre and Dance

At CSU, faculty, staff, and professional guest artists – all with extensive experience on stages ranging from Broadway to regional theatres, and worldwide – provide students an experienced lens through which to study every aspect of theatre, including the theory and practice of acting, musical theatre, technical theatre, theatrical design, stage management, dramaturgy, theatre history, theatre for social change, storytelling, and playwriting.

Upon admission to CSU and declaration of the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre major, students choose a concentration to focus their studies.

U.S. Government, Law, and Public Policy

Department of Political Science

This concentration prepares students for careers in the public sector by focusing on the processes of the American government and the implementation of public policy in the United States. This concentration also serves as a good foundation for students interested in pursuing law school.

Women’s and Gender StudiesB.A.

Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies

With a mission to advance the goals of social justice and social change, a major in women’s and gender studies examines how people’s experiences with power, privilege, and difference are understood through the social categories of race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, age, ability, citizenship, and national origin. This framework for understanding women and gendered relations in culture and society can help identify the ways in which our institutions, organizations, and the economy are gendered, ultimately leading to ways to more directly and effectively address social change. Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary program that calls on a wide variety of classes ranging from anthropology to history to literature to sociology.

Writing, Rhetoric and Social Change

Department of English

Join a vibrant community of scholars who research the transformative potential of writing and rhetoric and analyze the social, cultural, economic and historical forces shaping writing and rhetoric in theory and practice in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Social Change M.A. program. Through analysis of and engagement with diverse contexts for writing, create and apply methods for addressing shared social problems in classrooms and communities.

Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy

Department of English

Pursue the study of theories and practices of writing and rhetoric in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy concentration. Practice writing for public audiences, digital writing, community literacy, non-profit advocacy or professional/technical writing. Engage writing and rhetoric with a focus on genre, audience, invention, and style. Explore the practice of writing and rhetorical approaches in social, cultural, and historical contexts.