Liberal Studies, A.A.

American Studies

The Hillyer College American studies concentration offers students a multidisciplinary discovery of the American experience. This program provides students with an understanding of the literary, political, historical, and cultural foundations of American identity—where it has been, how it is changing, and where it may be heading. The American studies concentration provides an excellent background for the student who wants to pursue a career in history, literature, law, government, politics, or the environment.

The American studies concentration has a rich and varied curriculum that requires students to take five courses selected from a list of offerings in art, literature, history, government, and sociology. In these classes and others, students advance their understanding of both the United States and their individual identity. At the same time, students position themselves to succeed in future baccalaureate and graduate-level studies in the liberal arts and elsewhere.

Course requirements include one sophomore-level course in American literature, one course in American history, and three courses from approved electives.

Business Studies

Students entering the business studies concentration are interested in pursuing further studies in business at a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree level and are considering the possibility of future careers in business. Many go on to continue their studies at the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business.

As part of an effort to provide a seamless transition from Hillyer College to the Barney School of Business, the concentration is aligned with the Barney School and offers complementary courses, courses that will be transferable, and, for eligible students, an opportunity to take additional courses in the Barney School. Hillyer College also offers opportunities for business internships through this concentration.

Course requirements include any five courses from the following: Introduction to Business, Financial Accounting, Principles of Macro Economics, Quantitative Applications for Business, Business Statistics, and Ethics. Students must also complete one course from Global History I, Global History II, or Perspectives on Globalization.

Education Studies

The education studies concentration helps students achieve a career-focused foundation in the academic requirements needed to continue in the University of Hartford’s bachelor’s degree program in education.

Education studies works closely with the University of Hartford’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP) to offer a complementary course of study during the student’s first and second years and a seamless transition into the ENHP bachelor’s degree program in education. This program is unusual in that it emphasizes, early in the curriculum, career preparation and fieldwork. Students are required to spend 25 hours per semester, during their second and third semesters, at a service-learning site. These sites may include the two University-affiliated public magnet schools located on campus.

The education studies program requires students to take five courses that provide a background in psychology, history, and the theory and practice of education. The curriculum includes an overview of the rewards and challenges of teaching, the diversity of school populations, and the fundamentals of curriculum content. Courses also provide students with an understanding of the psychology of learning and of issues and practices in dealing with exceptional and special-needs students.

Of the five required courses for the education studies concentration, three are offered by Hillyer College and two by the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. A goal of the education studies concentration is to have students pass the national Praxis I exam by the end of their freshman year.

The three required courses offered within Hillyer College are American National Government, General Psychology I, and United States History. The two required courses offered within ENHP are Introduction to Education and Psychology of Exceptionalities.

For continuation in the College of Education, Nursing & Health Professions, students must meet all grade point average requirements for that particular program.

Environmental Studies

The goal of the environmental studies concentration is to offer Hillyer students the option to pursue interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to ecology, current and historical environmental issues, and the interrelationships between the natural and social worlds.

The environmental studies concentration brings together courses in sociology, biology, natural sciences, philosophy, and literature to provide students with a wide and varied perspective on environmental issues. The program also provides students with the background knowledge and critical-thinking tools needed to make environmental decisions both as individuals and as members of society.

Because of its interdisciplinary focus, the environmental studies concentration provides an excellent foundation for students wanting to continue working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts in the University of Hartford’s College of Arts and Sciences or toward a Bachelor of Science degree in the University’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, which offers an environmental concentration as part of its civil engineering major.

The environmental studies concentration requires students to take five courses from the following: Environmental Science, American Environmental Literature, Ethics, Studies in Social Problems, Urban Politics, and Sociology of the Connecticut River Watershed. Each year the program also offers a special-topics course that brings in-depth focus and potential fieldwork to a particular subject area. As an example, a special-topics course in Tropical Ecology includes a research trip to Costa Rica.

A number of courses in the environmental studies concentration emphasize service learning, fieldwork, research with students conducting special projects in Hartford-area rivers and watersheds. Students in the environmental studies concentration have helped identify Hartford-area river watersheds for permanent wetlands protection status; in kayaks and canoes they have studied the history and ecology of the Connecticut and Farmington Rivers.

Requirements of the concentration include Environmental Science and any four courses from the following: Environmental Literature, Ethics, Studies in Social Problems, Sociology of the Connecticut River Watershed, Urban Politics, and Special Topics in Biology.

Global Studies

The global studies concentration prepares students to better navigate and understand their own place in a world of accelerating global exchange. The concentration grounds students in the history and theory of globalization by providing them with an opportunity to grapple with the complex and multifaceted aspects of globalization from economic, political, cultural, and sociological perspectives. An integral part of this program includes the opportunity for international, faculty-led travel.

The global studies concentration requires students to take five courses and emphasizes academic preparedness for transfer into the University of Hartford’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Barney School of Business. It helps ready students for majors in the liberal arts, communications, or business. Today, a global perspective is important not only for these possible academic focuses but also for success in most business and professional careers.

In addition to giving students a foundation in global perspectives and history, the global studies concentration fosters a global viewpoint for its students by allowing them to choose from a wealth of courses on non-Western cultures. Some of these are offered by Hillyer College, while others are available through the College of Arts and Sciences.

Requirements for the concentration include (1) either Global History I or Global History II, (2) Perspectives on Globalization, and (3) three courses from an approved list that includes World Archaeology, World Music Survey, Global Pop Music, Literature across Cultures, Survey of Post-colonial Writers, Politics of the Third World, and Introduction to World Religions.

Students may also select from additional courses that focus on Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Non-Western courses are offered by both Hillyer College and the University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Health Science Studies

The health science concentration provides students with the foundation of scientific and mathematical knowledge they will need for successful pursuit of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a variety of health-related disciplines.

Students are increasingly interested in health science as an area of academic focus because of the potential career opportunities resulting from the demand for highly skilled, educated healthcare professionals. Students participating in the health science concentration are often interested in aspiring to studies in pre-medicine, physical therapy, or pre-dentistry.

To help students transfer into baccalaureate-level programs, the health science concentration is closely aligned with the University’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. The health science concentration consists of four required courses: three courses are in science and math, and the fourth is a literature class. Students are able to choose from a rich array of literature courses offered by Hillyer College.

Curriculum in the health science concentration is based on foundation courses in biology and mathematics. Students are required to take two biology courses, introducing basic concepts in inorganic and biological chemistry, cell structures, metabolic pathways, cell reproduction genetics, and the essentials of human anatomy and physiology. Laboratory work is an integral part of both biology courses.

Health science students must also take a course in first-level calculus. The course serves as a first step toward students’ attaining the mathematical competence they will need if they choose to pursue further studies in health science.

Requirements of the concentration include General Biology I, General Biology II, and First-Level Calculus. In addition, students must take one of the following literature courses: The Abnormal Personality in Literature, Literature across Cultures, American Environmental Literature, or African American Literature.

For continuation in one of the University’s health-related bachelor’s degree programs, students must meet all grade point average requirements for that particular program.