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Morrissey College programs span the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The range of undergraduate and graduate offerings invites students to experience many approaches to the disciplines, expand their vision, and engage with the world in new ways.
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Find Your Undergraduate Program
African and African Diaspora Studies
Major Requirements
The African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) major consists of a minimum of 31 credits, equivalent to at least 10 full-semester courses. AADS majors can have a second major as long as the student stays in compliance with the University’s regulation that, in order to earn a major, a student must have at least 27 credits in the major program that are not used to fulfill requirements for another major or minor.
Sample Courses
Where #BlackLivesMatter meets #MeToo
Festival, Carnival, and Masquerade
Black Church, Black Protest
History of Black Nationalism
Contemporary Race Theory
Medicine and Public Health in the African Diaspora
The African and African Diaspora Studies Program considers the history, culture, and politics of Africans on the continent and African-descended peoples in the U.S., the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Covering vast historical periods and geographies, AADS acquaints students with the multiplicity and diversity of the African Diaspora and the world in which we all live. Using interdisciplinary and comparative approaches, the program draws on a broad range of methodologies in English, history, sociology, philosophy, theology, communication, and theater.
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Art History
EXPERIENCE ART HISTORY
Boston College is home to the Charles S. and Isabella V. McMullen Museum of Art, a critically acclaimed gallery that hosts exhibitions, education programs, concerts, lectures, and more. Student and faculty have access to the McMullen's extensive collection that includes Gothic and Baroque tapestries, Italian paintings of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and American paintings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
SAMPLE COURSES
Art: Renaissance to Modern Times
Art and Myth in Ancient Greece
Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture
American Icons: Nineteenth Century Images of National Identity
Chinese Visual Culture
Age of Rembrandt
In the Art History program students develop visual literacy and critical thinking capacity through their study of both Western and non-Western cultures. Art History majors gain the ability to evaluate material evidence, to study the cultural contexts in which this evidence was discovered, and to critically assess the various interpretations works of art have elicited. The program prepares students to link specialized knowledge of visual artifacts from all historical periods to other modes of intellectual inquiry.
Fine Arts Sales Consultant, Renjeau Galleries
Analyst, Barclay's Capital
Promotions Assistant, WGBH
Corps Member, Teach for America
Graduate studies in Art History at New York University, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, Case Western Reserve, and Soethby's Institute of Art
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Biochemistry
EXPERIENCE BIOCHEMISTRY
Biochemistry Majors take literature-based advanced electives offered both in the Biology and the Chemistry departments. They also have opportunities to engage in undergraduate research projects for academic credit, in the laboratories of extramural funded Biology or Chemistry faculty. Their experiments are often published in top-ranked scientific journals, and can be presented as a thesis under the auspices of the Honors Program.
SAMPLE COURSES
Introduction to Genomics
Biological Chemistry
Biochemistry I/II
Chemical Biology: Structure and Function
Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary major, administered jointly by the Biology and Chemistry Departments. The Biochemistry program provides students with a broad background in fundamental concepts in both chemistry and biology with a focus on the chemical processes active within living organisms. This major is intended for those interested in the more chemical and molecular aspects of the life sciences.
Research Assistant, UCLA Medical Systems
Associate Scientist, Biogen Idec
Business Analyst, Deloitte Consulting
Clinical Research Assistant, Massachusetts General Hospital
Graduate studies in Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine, Law, and Pharmacology
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Biology
EXPERIENCE BIOLOGY
Students majoring in biology take Advanced Experience courses to engage in data analysis and develop critical thinking skills that are fundamental to experimental science. These courses may be small group topical seminars or project-derived research lab courses. Students also have opportunities to do research in faculty laboratories providing them with exposure to the larger scientific community of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and research professionals.
SAMPLE COURSES
Introduction to Neuroscience
Principles of Immunology
Viruses, Genes, and Evolution
Genomics and Personalized Medicine
Students enjoy a unique atmosphere in both the laboratory and the classroom that is defined by a mixture of academic rigor and personal relationships. The faculty is committed to teaching and advising undergraduate students as well as advancing cutting-edge research. Courses are designed to promote scientific literacy and a sophisticated understanding of complex biological systems.
Clinical Research Assistant, Massachusetts General Hospital
Research Data Specialist, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Laboratory Manager, Harvard Medical School
Graduate studies in Biology, Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, and Public Health
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Chemistry
EXPERIENCE CHEMISTRY
The Chemistry Department is committed to engaging undergraduate students in exciting, faculty-supervised research, as early as the spring of sophomore year. The department offers diverse opportunities in scientific investigation within the areas of organic, biological, physical, or inorganic chemistry. Student researchers receive mentoring from faculty members, as well as opportunities to present and publish their work. B.C. students are well prepared to compete for many prestigious fellowships.
SAMPLE COURSES
Honors Organic Chemistry
Advanced Methods in Chemistry
Introduction to Computational Chemistry
Principles of Chemical Biology
The Chemistry Department at Boston College offers students a challenging, yet nurturing environment. In addition to gaining a solid foundation in chemistry through lecture and laboratory coursework, undergraduates have the opportunity to collaborate with teams in the Chemistry Department, as well in other disciplines, and conduct cutting edge research in modern, state-of-the-art facilities. Chemistry faculty are active in research in organic and organometallic chemistry, chemical biology and biochemistry, and physical, nanomaterials, atmospherics, and theoretical chemistry.
Research Chemist, Novartis Institutes of BioMedical Research
Analytical Chemist, Chemic Laboratories, Inc.
Patent Law Clerk, U.S. Fairsky, LLP
Business Development Coordinator, The CDM Group
Graduate studies in Chemistry, Engineering, Medicine, Education, Forensic Science and Pharmacy
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Classical Studies
EXPERIENCE CLASSICAL STUDIES
Classical studies students have access to the department’s own library and seminar room in the new Stokes Hall humanities building. In addition to the department’s and the University’s resources, Classical Studies courses take advantage of Boston’s rich variety of cultural institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts. Students have the opportunity to study in Greece or in Italy, especially the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome and the College Year in Athens programs. In recent years, students have had opportunities to take part in archaeological digs in the summer.
SAMPLE COURSES
Latin Love Elegy
Advanced Greek: Sophocles' Oedipus
Roman History
Classical Mythology
Culture of Athenian Democracy
Art and Archaeology of Homer and Troy
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Major in Classical Studies - The major in Classical Studies is designed to give mastery in ancient Greek and/or Latin and a knowledge of Greek and Roman history, civilization, and culture.
Minor in Ancient Civilization - The interdisciplinary minor in Ancient Civilization focuses on the art, archaeology, history, and culture of the classical world, without the requirement of learning Latin or Greek. It makes a good complement to majors such as History, Philosophy, Theology, Political Science, and Fine Arts.
The art, philosophy, and history of the ancient Greeks and Romans serve as the foundation for much of Western culture. Students of Classical Studies read and analyze ancient texts in Greek and Latin and learn about the history and culture of the ancient world. The Classical Studies department offers language and advanced reading courses in Latin and ancient Greek along with a range of courses on ancient cultures. The Classical Studies major focuses on the classical languages, but courses are also offered in English, making the Classical Studies program accessible to all students, regardless of their prior experience.
Athens
Caesar
city
comedy
drama
empire
gender
literature
Mediterranean
multicultural
Odyssey
Plato
poetry
political
politics
religion
sexuality
Sparta
theater
tragedy
Vergil
Virgil
war
women
art history
rhetoric
barbarians
sex
power
wealth
Law Clerk, U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals
Clinical Research Coordinator, MGH Psychiatry Department
Buyer, wayfair.com
Graduate studies in Classics, Philosophy, and Law
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Communication
EXPERIENCE COMMUNICATION
Students majoring in Communication put the theory learned in the classroom to practical use in a variety of ways. The department has a media lab and robust internship program. Internship placements include major market media outlets, print journalism, non-profits, advertising and public relations firms, hospital public affairs, government relations, political campaigns and law firms. Students interested in journalism may take a variety of courses under the American Studies minor, as well as advertising and PR courses offered as university electives.
SAMPLE COURSES
Survey of Mass Communication
Studio Television Production
Globalization and the Media
Gender Roles and Communication
Race, Law, and Media
Crisis Communication
The ability to persuasively and coherently communicate ideas is among the most important skills sought by employers. Communication, the third most popular major at Boston College, specializes in the study, criticism, research, and teaching of the principles of communication through a variety of perspectives. After receiving a foundation in communication research and theory through a series of introductory courses, students are able to specialize in areas such as interpersonal communication, media and cultural studies, and rhetoric and public advocacy.
Account Executive
Manager, Communications
Assistant Marketing Manager
Business Analyst
Law Student
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Computer Science
EXPERIENCE COMPUTER SCIENCE
Computer Science students have access to faculty members who are active researchers, as well as lab facilities, including the Computer Architecture Lab, the Machine Learning Lab, the Security and Distributed Systems Lab, and the general department lab. These facilities feature state of the art equipment and are administered by experienced faculty members.
SAMPLE COURSES
Web Application Development
Programming Languages
Distributed Systems
Natural Language Processing
Data Mining
Computational Complexity
GPU Computing
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Provides a solid foundation in the fundamentals of computer science. Includes exposure to the mathematical foundations of the field, as well as experience with contemporary computing systems and software.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Provides a more thorough background in computer science and is well-suited for students considering graduate study or careers in sciences or engineering.
Minor - Covers the basics of computer science, for students who would like a taste of the field within a select set of courses.
Computer Science is the science and engineering of data and algorithms. It enables modeling and solving problems in complex systems, from social networks, to health care, to consumer behavior, to biological processes. The Computer Science Department offers undergraduate programs leading to either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Courses span a number of areas, including software systems, programming languages, machine learning, distributed systems, mathematical and algorithmic foundations.
iPhone Team, Apple Computer
Business Technology Analyst, Deloitte Consulting
Software Engineer, Zynga
Founder, CTO, Sync OnSet
Co-founder, WePay
Graduate study in Computer Science, Biostatistics, Bioengineering
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Earth and Environmental Sciences
Earth and Environmental Sciences
B.S. Environmental Geoscience
B.S. Geological Sciences
SAMPLE COURSES
Exploring the Earth
Climate Change and Society
Earth Materials
Environmental Hydrology
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
Introduction to Geophysics
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences explores the way the Earth works and the processes that shape our evolving planet. Two major programs prepare students for careers in a wide variety of fields, from environmental consulting and research, to law, teaching and business. Research opportunities are available for students to work with our faculty studying the Earth’s complex systems and the interrelations among the solid earth, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the atmosphere. Our students learn to be scientifically literate citizens of planet Earth, well prepared to address the challenges and opportunities of maintaining a habitable planet for future generations.
Environmental consulting
Geotechnical engineering
Resource management
Environmental law
Oil, Gas, Mining industry
Government and private research labs
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Economics
EXPERIENCE ECONOMICS
Economics majors can tailor their experience to best fit their skills and interests. They can concentrate their electives on public policy issues, data analysis, global finance and international trade, macroeconomics, business, or any combination of these topics. Course offerings include: Health Economics, Development Economics, Education Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Economics of Immigration, Public Finance, Sports Economics, Evolutionary Economics, Market Design, Law and Economics, Game Theory, International Trade, International Finance, Forecasting, Financial Economics, Computational Investing, Industrial Organization, and Machine Learning, among others.
Majors gain a solid preparation for graduate study in a variety of fields from business to public policy, from data analytics to law.
SAMPLE COURSES
History of Financial Crises
Health Economics
Public Policy in an Aging Society
Environmental Economics
Sports Econometrics
Economics is vital for making informed decisions in many areas of modern life, from healthcare to education, from sports to finance. The Economics major, now the most popular program of study at Boston College, provides training in the economic theory essential for solving problems creatively and the statistical tools necessary for analyzing policy issues in today’s data rich environment. After taking a common set of required courses, students choose from elective courses in a wide range of fields, including money and banking, international trade and finance, economic development, and industrial organization.
Associate Consultant, Bain and Company
Business Analyst, Target Corporation
Economist, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Investment Banking Analyst, JP Morgan Chase
Graduate studies in Economics, Mathematics, Law, Medicine, Management, Public Policy, and Education
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Engineering
EXPERIENCE HUMAN-CENTERED ENGINEERING
Students enrolled in the HCE program will develop a strong foundation in a wide range of engineering topics through the year-long Fundamentals of Engineering Studio course before determining an area of concentration based on their interests. As juniors and seniors, students will have the opportunity to broaden their experiences internationally, either through their capstone projects or by collaborating with faculty on global research.
SAMPLE COURSES
Introduction to Human-Centered Engineering
Engineering for Society
Engineering Fundamentals Studio
Quantitative Sustainable Design
Water Quality Engineering
Biomedical Imaging
Introduction to Statistical Data Analysis and Machine Learning
Collaborative Service Engineering Project
Senior Impact Project
The Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) program integrates BC's core liberal arts curriculum with courses in foundational and advanced engineering with an emphasis on societal responsibility. Through project-based assignments, students will be challenged to apply their engineering knowledge to complex problems related to health, energy, and the environment.
Product Design Engineer in Healthcare Sector
Environmental Policy Consultant
Engineer at Alternative Energy Startup
Technical Analyst at Social Impact NGOs
Graduate Student in Engineering
Program Manager in High-Tech Sector
English
EXPERIENCE ENGLISH
Students can submit their work to a variety of campus publications, including Stylus, Boston College’s literary magazine and The Heights, the biweekly independent student newspaper. The English department also offers a number of annual prizes for outstanding prose, poetry, and essay writing, and partners with the Lowell Humanities Lecture Series to bring internationally renowned writers to campus for readings, colloquia, and guest workshops.
SAMPLE COURSES
Digital Dubliners
The City in Literature and Film
Popular Fictions in the Americas
Jane Austen and Her Contemporaries
Writing Workshops (in three genres at three levels)
Global Englishes
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Creative Writing Concentration - Students can focus their major on writing with a series of practice-based workshops, often led by currently published authors, that supplement their literature courses. Students in the concentration also attend monthly social gatherings to read new work and share news about literary activity on campus.
Journalism Minor
The Journalism minor at Boston College is an interdisciplinary program that brings the liberal arts into direct, ongoing conversation with the wider contemporary world. Open to undergraduates from all across the university, the program is designed expressly as a minor in a liberal-arts setting, providing craft skills and a critical understanding of the history and traditions of journalism to students in all majors and schools.
The English major teaches critical thinking by exposing students to a wide range of expression in the literary traditions of the past and present. English majors gain the ability to write clearly and coherently, to interpret and analyze texts and other cultural media, and to recognize the variety of critical approaches to literature and culture.
Production Assistant, ABC News
Reporter, The New York Times
Reporter, Dow Jones News Service
Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton
Writer, The New Yorker
Senior Editor Boston Magazine
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Environmental Studies
EXPERIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
The Environmental Studies major and minor programs provide students with hands-on research experiences that develop skills in project management, data analysis, and presentation. Environmental Studies student research projects address a wide range of topics including water conservation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon footprints, food waste, urban green spaces, biodiversity, environmental justice and human health.
Enrollment in the Environmental Studies major is limited, and is determined by competitive application at the end of freshman year.
B.A. Environmental Studies (Interdisciplinary Major)
SAMPLE COURSES
Environmental Systems: Climate Change
Environmental Systems: Quantitative Methods
International Environmental Science and Policy
Sustainable Agriculture
U.S. Environmental History
Environmental Ethics
The Environmental Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum to students interested in sustainability. The major is an integrated approach to the complex ecological, geological, social, and cultural systems that affect the environment. Students can concentrate their studies on themes such as food and water sustainability or climate change and adaptation, or focus on a certain discipline like history, political science, or sociology.
Senior Coordinator for Sustainability & Employee Engagement, SunGard
Outreach & Development Associate, Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound
Sustainability Analyst, FMC Corporation
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Film Studies
EXPERIENCE FILM STUDIES
The Film Studies department is home to the Jacques Salmanowitz Program for Moral Courage in Film, which is devoted to encouraging the production of film concerned with acts of moral courage, providing role models for youth worldwide. The program provides consultation and funding for travel and production expenses to aspiring producers of documentary films and maintains an archive of past student films. Student films are often showcased at the annual Boston College Arts Festival.
SAMPLE COURSES
Digital Non-Linear Editing
History of European Cinema
Adaptation: Fiction into Film
Cinema of the Greater Middle East
Maverick Hollywood Directors
The Film Studies major offers a broad-based education in the history and theory of film in the United States and abroad, as well as concrete skills in filmmaking and editing that enable students to produce their own films. Research-based studies in American and world cinema explore the influence of film throughout the world, and the diverse cultures and historic periods that have shaped the medium. Students are encouraged to widen and deepen their understanding of film through additional courses in art history, studio art, theatre, and communication.
Film industry roles, including: Film Producer, Director, Editor, Screenwriter, Talent Facilitator, and Art Director
Research Assistant, Federal Reserve Board
Corps Member, Teach for America, City Year
Graduate studies Education, Law, Sacred Music, and Journalism
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German Studies
EXPERIENCE GERMAN STUDIES
Students in the German Studies department have a long record of success in earning Fulbright Fellowships, a prestigious scholarship that offers a full stipend for a year of postgraduate study at a foreign university. In 2014, five of Boston College’s nine Fulbright winners were headed to Germany or Austria. In 2007, the German Studies department had 13 Fulbright winners.
SAMPLE COURSES
Triumphs and Failings of Modern Man
German Composition and Conversation
Music and the Word: The German Musical Heritage
Knights, Castles, and Dragons
German Business and Trends in Europe
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Minor in German - Students from other majors may pursue in-depth language study with a minor in German. The minor encourages an international focus and study abroad opportunities.
Minor in German Studies - The minor in German Studies differs from a minor in German in that it offers an interdisciplinary approach to the language and cultures of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The faculty and staff in the German Studies Department are always thrilled to meet new students who speak German, and are equally enthusiastic to greet those who are just beginning to learn the language. First Year students at all levels of German proficiency can start, or continue, learning German at Boston College, can study abroad in a German-speaking country, and can graduate with a versatile and marketable degree in German and German Studies.
German Studies students receive a comprehensive education in the language, culture, business, and history of Germany from the Middle Ages to the present, personal contact with professors, individualized mentoring, and internship opportunities. Through the Stammtisch (weekly conversation hour) and the German Club, the department encourages students to speak German outside the classroom. Boston College offers study abroad programs in Germany and Austria (for beginning, intermediate and advanced students of German proficiency), as well as programs tailored specifically to the needs of students in the Carroll School of Management.
Financial Management Analyst, Bank of America
Associate, Gerson Lehrman Group
Paralegal, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton and Garrison
Teacher, Boston Latin School
Associate Consultant, LEK Consulting
Fulbright Fellow, Institute of International Education
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/German-Studies
History
EXPERIENCE HISTORY
Boston, which in various stages of its development has been known as “a city upon a hill,” “the cradle of liberty,” “the Athens of America,” and “the most Catholic city in America,” is a wonderland of historic sites and historical societies. But not only is it a place for sightseeing, it is also a place to learn by doing, through internships at the various organizations dedicated to keeping the past alive for the present.
SAMPLE COURSES
Asia Pacific War
Odysseys in the Western and Islamic Traditions
The Credit Nexus: The Secret History of the Economy in Britain, 1600s–1900s Multiculturalism in the Roman Empire
Celluloid Salvation: Redemption in American History and Film
The Plains Indians
The War on Terror
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Fifth-Year B.A./M.A. Program - Juniors may apply for a fifth year to earn a Master of Arts degree in History.
The History Major at Boston College not only acquaints our students with a past that helps illuminate the present, but also equips them with the research methods, analytical tools, and writing skills that prepares them for a future in a variety of professions. Our diverse course offerings, sometimes chronological, sometimes topical, but always challenging, provide our majors with the multi-cultural perspective so crucial to advancing one’s way in an increasingly complex and interrelated contemporary world.
Museum Administration
Equities Traders/Wall Street
Lawyers (in private practice and in public agencies, e.g., US Department of Labor)
U.S. State Department, CIA, FBI, and Secret Service
National news organizations
Teachers at all levels of educational institutions
Government
Journalism
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/history
Interdisciplinary Programs
African and African Diaspora Studies
Islamic Civilization and Societies
Medical Humanities (Interdisciplinary Minor)
An interdisciplinary program offers undergraduate students an integrated framework of study that encompasses related disciplines.
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International Studies
EXPERIENCE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
The interdisciplinary nature of International Studies provides comprehensive familiarity with how different disciplines approach a given set of questions, while also developing depth of knowledge in specific fields, including methodological techniques of those fields. With department support, students frequently pursue internships and study abroad opportunities to enrich their academic experiences. Sixty percent of students will study abroad, often opting to take their full course load in the native language for a true immersion experience.
SAMPLE COURSES
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
International Environmental Science and Policy
Globalization and the Media
International Economic Relations
International Law
International Studies offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that teaches students to understand the international elements of complex problems facing society today. The major includes a broad set of core requirements and a disciplinary base in which students focus their study: economics, political science, ethics and international social justice, or global cultural studies. Enrollment in the International Studies major is limited; students can apply after their first year at Boston College.
Consultant, Charles River Associates
Analyst, Deutsche Bank
Corporate Risk Solutions Analyst, Royal Bank of Scotland
FBI, Intelligence Analyst
Financial Management Program, GE Healthcare
Project Analyst, The American Chambers of Commerce in Finland
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/international-studies
Islamic Civilization and Societies
EXPERIENCE ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION AND SOCIETIES
Al-Noor, Boston College's undergraduate Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies journal, aims to promote a discourse about the diverse opinions, myriad cultures, histories, and perspectives that comprise the Middle East. Published twice a year, Al-Noor is entirely student-run and provides a forum for student research, opinion, and photography about the Middle East.
SAMPLE COURSES
Islam and Liberal Democracy
Rise and Rule of Islamic States
Art of the Silk Road
Encountering the Quran
History of Modern Iran
Music and Culture in the Middle East
The interdisciplinary nature of the Islamic Civilization and Societies program allows students to gain an appreciation for the complexities and nuances of the Islamic world through coursework in political science, history, fine arts and theology, among others. Students will attain proficiency in Arabic or another language related to the Islamic World. Enrollment in the Islamic Civilization and Societies major is limited to 15 students a year. Students can apply in the fall semester of their second year at Boston College.
Political Affairs Officer for Egypt, U.S. State Department
Fulbright Research Scholar, Jordan
Journalist, CNN
Middle East Analyst, U.S. Department of Defense
Peace Corps Youth Development Volunteer, Jordan
Communications Coordinator, Brookings Institution - Doha
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Linguistics
EXPERIENCE LINGUISTICS
In addition to courses on various theoretical aspects of Linguistics, students work with data from both current rare languages and ‘dead’ languages. The program encourages the acquisition of working abilities in languages from the rich offerings at Boston College as well as from study abroad or summer linguistics institutes.
SAMPLE COURSES
Syntax and Semantics
Sanskrit
Old Irish
Psycholinguistics
Language in Society
The Language of Liturgy
Language and Ethnicity
The program in Linguistics, housed in the Department of Slavic and Eastern Languages & Literatures, examines what makes languages tick, what makes them the same, and what makes them different. With close faculty guidance students build a program tailored to individual emphases and goals. A linguist doesn’t just learn languages, but, much more importantly, learns how to analyze them. Typical areas of approach include philology (the historical and structural study of languages), psycholinguistics, and language acquisition.
North American Language and Cultural Assistant, Spanish Ministry of Education
Software Engineer, LexisNexis
Language Analyst, Google
Fulbright Fellow, Computational linguistics and speech recognition research
Graduate studies in Linguistics, Speech Pathology, Law, and Education
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/linguistics
Mathematics
EXPERIENCE MATHEMATICS
The Mathematics Department at Boston College is home to an ongoing conversation on the latest concepts and theories in mathematics. Boston College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology co-host a Joint Number Theory Seminar, featuring important advances in modern number theory. The department also hosts an ongoing Geometry/Topology Seminar, a Distinguished Lecturer in Mathematics Series, and a Mathematics Education Colloquium.
SAMPLE COURSES
Introduction to Abstract Algebra
Introduction to Number Theory
Mathematical Programming
Euclid's Elements
Topology
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - This is designed to give students a rigorous and thorough mathematical experience, one that includes connection to another area of scholarship in which mathematics is an essential tool. In particular, the program is strongly recommended for those who wish to pursue graduate study in mathematics.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - The B.A. program is designed to provide a solid foundation in the main areas of mathematics and mathematical applications. Coursework is offered in preparation for careers in the actuarial profession, applied areas of government and industry, and education.
Minor in Mathematics - The minor in mathematics allows students majoring in other disciplines to reinforce their quantitative and reasoning skills.
Scientific Computing Minor - This interdisciplinary minor emphasizes the methodologies that have been developed for empirical research, and stresses the cross-fertilization of research methods across disciplines like the natural sciences, economics, mathematics, and finance.
The complexities of our computerized, globalized world have made a deep understanding of mathematics crucial to a wide range of fields. Students in the Mathematics department will receive a thorough education in mathematical concepts and applications, preparing them for graduate study in many disciplines, as well for professions where math is applied, like finance, economics, the natural sciences, and education. Mathematics students have access to year-round tutoring as well as academic advising within the department.
Actuarial Associate, Fidelity Investments
Research Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Quantitative Research Associate, Cambridge Associates
Reporting Engineer, Epic Systems
Product Management Development Program, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Corps Member, Teach for America, World Teach
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/mathematics
Music
EXPERIENCE MUSIC
The Music department along with the Bands Program and Student Affairs gives students the chance to perform in a wide variety of ensembles, from large groups—like the Symphony Orchestra, University Chorale, University Wind Ensemble or Voices of Imani Gospel Choir—to smaller groups like Chamber Music Society, Opera & Music Theater Workshop, Flute Ensemble, Pop Styles Ensemble, or a variety of student-run a cappella groups.
SAMPLE COURSES
Fundamentals of Music Theory
Jazz Harmony and Arranging
Medieval and Renaissance Music
Beethoven
Music and Culture in the Middle East
Music and America
Beethoven, the Beatles, opera, jazz, Irish folk music, Middle Eastern music—the Music Department offers a broad-based education with opportunities for specialization in areas of composition, performance, music history, and cultural studies. The department’s liberal arts framework helps students understand music in these broad perspectives while preparing them to continue in composition, performance, scholarship or simply personal appreciation. The department offers voice and instrument lessons for students of all skill levels, and provides opportunities for students to perform in any of Boston College’s many vocal and instrumental ensembles.
Band Director, Dedham, MA
Sound Design, Eastern Acoustic Works
Broadway Pit Orchestra, South Pacific
Graduate studies in Composition, New England Conservatory
Graduate studies in Performance, Carnegie Mellon University
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/music
Philosophy
EXPERIENCE PHILOSOPHY
Dianoia is the undergraduate philosophy journal of Boston College. Founded in 2011, this entirely student-run journal seeks to publish thoughtful, original, and creative essay-style papers on any philosophical idea or topic. Recent editions have included essays such as “Banksy: Dissident Artist”; “Beyond Chiroptophobia: Capital Vision in Batman Begins”; and “Dostoevsky on Human Freedom: Responding to the Gift of Freedom in Modern Society.”
SAMPLE COURSES
Perspectives on Western Civilization
Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of Imagination
Classical and Contemporary
Asian Philosophy
Does God Exist?
Philosophies of Dissent
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Major in Philosophy – In keeping with the view of philosophy as a way to diversify one's education as a preparation for a variety of professional careers, the Philosophy major allows for the pursuit of several tracks rather than a one-size-fits all approach. Each Philosophy major is assigned an advisor from the department who helps the student construct a rigorous and coherent major. Students interested in pursuing graduate work in philosophy take a broad spectrum of electives in ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy. The Director of Undergraduate Studies organizes a program of advisement including annual workshops devoted to evaluation of various graduate programs and preparation of graduate applications. Our best students are regularly accepted into first-rate Ph.D. programs.
Minor in Philosophy – The minor in Philosophy gives students several thematic options corresponding to the traditional divisions of philosophical inquiry: ethical and political philosophy, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and the history and philosophy of science.
Fifth-Year B.A./M.A. Program - Select juniors may apply for a fifth year to earn a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy.
The Philosophy department offers a balanced program of courses regarding the history and problems of philosophy in areas such as continental European philosophy, medieval philosophy, social and political philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Philosophy students can pursue one of several tracks toward a major, including systematic philosophy; science, ethics, and humanity; philosophy and religion; international studies/public policy; economics/justice; philosophy and the arts; or the Perspectives interdisciplinary track.
Sustainability; Employee Engagement Coordinator, SunGard
Academic Administrator, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Associate Media Planner, Digitas
Partners In Learning Manager, Microsoft
Program Coordinator, Children’s Hospital Boston
Graduate studies in Philosophy, Theology, Ethics, Law, and Biotechnology
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/philosophy
Physics, Applied Physics
EXPERIENCE PHYSICS:
The Physics department guarantees that 100 percent of undergraduates that seek a research position will get one. Current research interests in the department include the physics of strongly correlated electrons, electromagnetic metamaterials, novel photovoltaic materials, and heat transport in nanostructures.
SAMPLE COURSES
Introduction to Physics
Electricity and Magnetism
Quantum Physics
The Physics of Conventional and Alternative Energy
Optics
Students who study physics or applied physics at Boston College receive rigorous preparation in the basic aspects of physics through a combination of class work, laboratory courses, independent research projects, and extracurricular activities. Physics majors are taught to understand and articulate current prominent research questions in physics, structure and implement independent inquiry, and communicate research results in a scientifically appropriate manner. A four-to-one student-to-faculty ratio ensures that students will have access to professors for mentorship and guidance.
Client Services, Algorithmic Trading Management
Consultant, Exeter Group
Apprentice Software Developer, BitFountain
QA Analyst, Eze Software Group
Financial Counselor, Goldman Sachs
Graduate studies in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Law, and Education
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/physics
Political Science
EXPERIENCE POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy routinely hosts world-class experts in political science for lectures and symposia. The Center offers a junior fellows program for undergraduate students interested in pursuing studies in constitutional democracy, as well as a civic internship grant to subsidize unpaid work in the public and non-profit sectors.
SAMPLE COURSES
The American Presidency
How to Rule the World
Rights in Conflict
Comparative Politics and Development
Politics and Institutions of International Economics
Students will learn about the most important methods and works of political inquiry, gain an understanding of how the social sciences approach the theory and practice of politics, and analyze the economic and political relations among nations. Students receive introductory instruction in the fundamental concepts of political science before taking elective courses in four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political theory. A degree in political science provides a strong foundation for careers in politics, public service, and many other fields, as well as further graduate study.
Associate Consultant, Bain and Company
Legislative Aide, U.S. Congress
Research Associate, Eduventures
Commercial Leadership Program, General Electric
Community Ambassador, United Way
Graduate studies in Political Science, Law, International Relations, Education, and Public Policy
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/politica-science
Psychology
EXPERIENCE PSYCHOLOGY
Students become integrated into the department in many ways: participating in independent research, clinical internships, and senior theses; partaking in departmental colloquia and workshops; contributing to outreach events; and showcasing their knowledge at the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference.
SAMPLE COURSES
Emotion
Language Acquisition and Development
Mind and Brain
Neurobiology of Eating and Eating Disorders
Psychology of Morality
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Bachelor of Arts Psychology (B.A.)
Bachelor of Science Psychology (B.S.)
Bachelor of Science Neuroscience (B.S.) (Can be declared after September 1, 2019.)
Clinical Psychology concentration - The Clinical Psychology concentration is designed for Psychology B.A. or Psychology B.S. majors with a particular interest in careers in clinical or counseling psychology or clinical social work.
Fifth Year B.A.-B.S./M.A. program - Selected juniors may have the opportunity to apply for a fifth year to earn a Master of Arts in Psychology.
The Psychology department offers majors that encourage intellectual growth, foster critical thinking and scientific literacy, and enable a deeper understanding of the human condition. Each degree option is designed to introduce students to a broad range of topics in the field, while also giving students the opportunity to specialize in areas of particular interest to them. All options allow students to gain research experience working in one or more of Boston College’s psychology or neuroscience labs.
learning
memory
neuroscience
anxiety
depression
psychosis
psychiatry
mental
clinical psychology
emotion
morality
emotion
personality
behavior
brain
mind
cognition
Analyst, BlackRock
Clinical Research Assistant, Massachusetts General Hospital
Research Coordinator, Cambridge Health Alliance
Residential Counselor, Vinfen Corporation
Sales Representative, Oracle
Graduate studies in Psychology, Neuroscience, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Law, Education, Business, and Social Work
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/psychology
Romance Languages and Literatures
EXPERIENCE ROMANCE LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
The undergraduate majors and minors in RLL are designed to help students attain a broad interdisciplinary insight into the literature and culture of other nations, while achieving a high linguistic proficiency in one or more Romance languages. Students can major or minor in French, Hispanic Studies, or Italian and courses range from elementary language to advanced seminars in languages, literatures, and cultures. The major offers solid preparation and guidance for students interested in teaching or in graduate studies, as well as in fields such as law, medicine, interpreting, and international business (see our Language Careers page). The minors serve as a useful adjunct to a wide range of academic specializations.
SAMPLE COURSES
Eighteenth Century French Novel
The French New Wave
Immigrant Voices in Contemporary Italy
Michelangelo and His World
The Colonial Immigration: History and Identity in Spanish America
Contemporary Latin American Writers
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Minor in French
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Minor in Hispanic Studies
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Minor in Italian
Master of Arts (M.A.) in French
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Italian
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Hispanic Studies
The Romance Languages and Literatures department offers an immersive language and cultural experience in French, Spanish, and Italian. Students achieve a high linguistic proficiency and a deep insight into the literature and culture of global nations. Courses are available from the elementary to the expert level, and most courses—including literature and theory classes—are conducted in the target language. Romance Language students have many opportunities to study abroad at one of 18 schools partnered with Boston College in France, Italy, and Spain.
AdWords Associate, Google Global Online Advertising Team
Fulbright Fellow, Institute of International Education
Teaching Assistant, French Government
Business Analyst, Deloitte Consulting
Financial Analyst, JP Morgan Chase
High school / prep school instructor of French, Italian, and Spanish
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/romance-languages
Russian & Slavic Studies
EXPERIENCE SLAVIC AND EASTERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
The highly cosmopolitan Department of Slavic and Eastern Languages & Literatures also offers courses in languages not offered anywhere else in the University, including Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Persian, and Turkish. The department also participates in a number of study abroad programs in China, Israel, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, and Russia, as well as the International Summer Seminar for Bulgarian Studies in Veliko Turnovo, which is tuition-free for Bulgarian–language students.
SAMPLE COURSES
Early Slavic Linguistics and Texts
Introduction to and Continuing Bulgarian
Post Soviet Russian Literature
Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
Russian Literature of the Fantastic
The Avant-Garde, the Silver Age, and Modernism in Russia
Russian Cinema
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and minor in Russian - Russian majors and minors can take courses in grammar and composition, literature, and linguistics.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Slavic Studies - The interdisciplinary major in Slavic Studies provides broadly-based training in scholarship about Russia and the nations of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In addition to language and literature and linguistics, students can work in related areas such as philosophy, theology, economics, political science, history, education, art history, or film studies. The Department also supports a related interdisciplinary minor in East European Studies.
Minors:
Study Russian or Slavic Studies in the Department of Slavic and Eastern Languages & Literatures department, which also houses programs (minors) and courses in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and in East Asian Languages and Civilizations, as well as a B.A. program in Linguistics.
Corps Member, Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Fulbright Fellow
Graduate studies in Russian Area Studies and Education
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/russian-slavic
Sociology
EXPERIENCE SOCIOLOGY
The Sociology department at Boston College has strong capacity in the field of Environmental Sociology. Studying environmental issues from a sociological perspective means exploring the social dynamics that shape our interactions with the natural world. The Sociology department features a number of courses meant to introduce students to this field and prepare them for upper-level coursework and independent thesis study on the topics of sustainable agriculture, consumption, environmental health, environmental justice, and global issues.
SAMPLE COURSES
Sociology for Health Care Professions
Deviance and Social Control
Technology and Culture
Inequality in America
Society and Environmental Transformations
Race, Class, and Gender
Doing Well and Doing Good
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Fifth-Year B.A./M.A. Program - Junior Sociology majors may apply for a fifth year in which they can earn a Master of Arts in Sociology degree.
Fifth-Year B.A./M.S.W. Program - Sophomore Sociology majors may apply for a fifth year in which they can earn a Master’s degree in Social Work.
Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. At Boston College, sociologists conduct methodologically sophisticated and theoretically engaged research on many of the most serious challenges facing the world today, making the sociological experience here not only rigorous and creative but socially relevant and engaged. Our faculty and students have wide-ranging interests, but we have particularly strong concentrations of expertise in the areas of: Aging and the Life Course; Advanced Statistical Methodology; Economic Sociology; Environmental Sociology; Family and Carework; Gender; Global and Transnational Sociology; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Race; and Sociology of Development
Account Executive
Manager, Communications
Assistant Marketing Manager
Business Analyst
Law Student
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/sociology
Studio Art
EXPERIENCE STUDIO ART
The Arts Festival is a four-day celebration of the arts. The Art Club is student run and organizes events and exhibits around campus. The Undergraduate Research Fellowship program allows advanced students to work closely with faculty and assist them with their projects.
SAMPLE COURSES
Issues and Approaches to Studio Art
Alternative Approaches to Drawing
Ceramics
Digital Diaries
Pandora's Box
Layered Image
In our increasingly image-laden society, visual intelligence and visual literacy are paramount skills. The studio program addresses this prerequisite and provides students with exciting, opportunities for creative exploration in painting, drawing, photography, video, ceramics and digital media. After gaining a broad, hands-on grasp of the foundations of studio work, students then pursue their particular medium in depth. They are encouraged to connect their interests, experience, and other fields of study with their studio practice. The studio program emphasizes the importance of linking a skillful handling of materials with an understanding of the conceptual issues at stake, and an ability to view their own work in an art historical context. It is about having the hand, eyes, brain, and heart working in unison.
Our studio faculty are professional artists who are fully engaged with their work. They represent a variety of points of view, as well as different approaches to art making. As teachers they bring their expertise and passion for their practice to the campus studios. Studio classes are moderate in size and one-on-one exchanges with the professors are the norm.
Founder and Creative Director, Artiac Innovative Mosaic
Artist-in-Residence, Google Glass Explorer Program at Metropolitan Museum of Art
Founder and Director, Participant Inc Art Space
Graduate studies in Art at University of Chicago, Yale School of Architecture, School of Visual Arts, School of The Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/studio-art
Theatre
EXPERIENCE THEATRE
Boston College is home to a thriving theatre culture, with numerous productions staged by the Theatre department and student groups. The Robsham Theater Arts Center features the 591-seat Main Stage, as well as the smaller black-box Bonn Studio, a flexible space that can seat up to 150. Students have the opportunity to act, design, stage manage, write scripts, use technology, or direct in as many as eight productions each academic year.
SAMPLE COURSES
Acting, Meisner techniques
Dance for Musicals
Makeup Design for the Stage
Theatre for Youth
Playwriting
Stage Design
The Theatre Department offers a full spectrum of courses in theatre production and performance and an extensive selection of courses in dramatic literature and theatre history. Theatre students will learn to analyze dramatic texts, theatrical events, and experimental forms of theatre. Students will also develop the ability to articulate the role of theatre in society through collaboration with others and participation in the various elements of theatre production. By the end of their studies, students will be proficient in one or more theatrical disciplines, including acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage management, and technical production.
scenography
Professional Dancers & Actors
Associate Artistic Director
Assistant, Boston Red Sox
Financial Specialist, Bank of America
Graduate studies in Acting, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Playwriting, Musical Theatre, Economics, and Law
Senior Producer
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/theater
Theology
EXPERIENCE THEOLOGY
Boston College offers unusual resources for a Catholic and ecumenical study of all the areas of theology. Not only is the Theology department in itself one of the foremost such departments in the country, but the city of Boston is one of the richest environments in the world for the study of theology. The major in Theology has proven to be excellent preparation for careers and professions requiring careful reasoning, close reading, clarity in written expression, the ability to make ethical decisions, and a broad understanding of cultures. It provides a solid background for graduate study in the humanities and for such professional schools as medicine, business, and law. Many students now also elect theology as a second major or as minor to balance and broaden their education and to provide perspective on other disciplines in the natural or social sciences and the humanities.
SAMPLE COURSES
Law, Medicine, and Ethics
Buddhist Ethics
Mystery of God
God and Science
Belief in Modernity
Bible and Ecology
DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Theology - The Theology major currently offers two different curricular tracks:
The Standard Theology major is relatively unstructured and flexible, easily tailored to various motivations and goals for theological study and adaptable to the diverse paths and timetables by which students come to the major. It offers a theological enrichment and complement to a student’s Boston College education and works well as a 2nd major.
The Honors Theology major is designed for Theology as a 1st major, especially for students interested in further study of theology or related fields. Both rigorous and comprehensive, it provides an integrated introduction to the discipline and a broad foundation for post-graduate study. With its comprehensive distribution requirements across all areas it exposes students to the entire breadth of the theological discipline. With more credit hours and an optional thesis, it allows students to focus on a particular sub-discipline in which to pursue and demonstrate scholarly excellence. As an Honors Program it fosters the kind of academic recognition that facilitates admission to the next level of study.
Minor in Theology - Like the standard Theology major, the Theology minor is a relatively unstructured and flexible program of study, which offers a theological enrichment and complement to a student’s Boston College education.
Faith, Peace, and Justice Minor - This interdisciplinary minor offers students the opportunity to reflect theologically on the intersection of faith, peace, and justice in the contemporary world.
Fifth Year B.A./M.A. Program - Select juniors majors may apply for a fifth year to earn Master of Arts degree in Theology.
Drawing on an internationally recognized faculty, the Theology Major allows students to pursue rigorous and disciplined understanding of Christian faith within the Catholic tradition, in dialogue with contemporary disciplines and with other faith traditions.
Theology
Religious studies
History of Religion
Scripture
Bible
Ethics
Moral Theology
Ecclesiology
Christology
God
Contextual Theology
Method
Hermeneutics
Old Testament
New Testament
Comparative Theology
World Religions
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Islam
Confucianism
Research Assistant, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Audit Associate, Bank of America
Business Analyst, Deloitte Consulting
Corps Member, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Peace Corps
Graduate studies in Theology, Pastoral Ministry, Law, International Human Rights, Hebrew Bible, Art History, and Law
bc:schools/MCAS/program-browser/search-tag/theology