Curriculum

The curriculum is the major statement a university makes about itself, about what it can contribute to the intellectual and moral development of its students, and about what it thinks is important in its service to society.

Since its foundation, Niagara University has presented a balanced curriculum. In the 1860s the university provided a curriculum in “the learned languages and in the liberal and useful arts.” Today, Niagara offers to every undergraduate student a liberal arts education coupled with career and professional education.

The General Education core curriculum consists of nine foundation courses common to all Niagara University bachelor degree programs and a one-credit seminar course for first-year students, and 11 distribution courses which ensure that every student is exposed to the content, tradition, and methods of the principal areas of knowledge:

  • the natural sciences
  • social sciences
  • humanities
  • analytical skills
  • mathematics
  • cultural diversity

Within these requirements, there is also room for a minimum of four free electives reserved to every student.

Such breadth is a counterweight to concentration. It provides students with a threshold of common knowledge which facilitates communication among themselves and with instructors in different disciplines. It also affords an opportunity for students to explore several subject fields in the selection of a major.

General Education

Niagara University’s mission drives the general education program, which is committed to preparing students for a successful and fulfilling academic, professional, and personal life. Niagara University’s general education curriculum was designed specifically to develop the skills — critical thinking, information literacy, communication, and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups — as well as the ethics and values that will enable students to succeed and make a difference in the lives of others. Students will develop these skills and values through nine foundation courses, 11 distribution courses, courses in the major, electives, and extracurricular activities. Faculty will assist students with choosing general education courses that link to their major and thus help them to achieve their career goals.

Critical thinking skills will enable students to

  • Weigh evidence, evaluate facts and ideas critically, and think independently.
  • Use mathematical or statistical analysis in problem solving.
  • Understand core principles in different fields of study as well as in their major.
  • Understand the roots of key political, economic, diplomatic, social and scientific developments that are shaping the 21st century and explore their potential implications.
  • Appreciate the Western/American heritage in literature and art.

Information literacy skills will enable students to

  • Analyze a problem.
  • Conduct appropriate research.
  • Differentiate between facts and popular misconceptions.
  • Synthesize a solution.
  • Ethically attribute sources of information.
  • Integrate emerging technologies into research and communication.

General education courses that develop communication skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups will enable students to

  • Write and speak effectively, communicate across cultural boundaries, and function effectively in group settings.

Students will also strengthen their ethical and values foundation by learning about

  • The religious and philosophical foundations and evolution of Western/American heritage.
  • Cultural diversity, the validity of other cultures and the social and political ramifications of cultural integration globally and at home.
  • Religions including Catholicism, and of the philosophical and religious basis of Catholic values.
  • The philosophical foundations of ethics.
  • Current professional ethical norms or expectations.
  • St. Vincent de Paul, the Vincentian tradition and corresponding values.
  • Social justice and what students can do on behalf of those in need to create positive community change.

Niagara University is committed to academic excellence and service in both the liberal arts and professional education and prepares students to think and act in the world as engaged citizens and responsible leaders. Emphasizing active, integrative learning, the general education curriculum develops in students the intellectual and ethical foundation that will enable them to search for, create, and assess solutions to real-life problems in the local and global community.

Credit Requirements

While most degrees require a minimum of 41 course units and 120 semester hours, many require additional hours, which may result in an overload tuition charge during one or more semesters. All Niagara University students entering as freshmen are required to take the one credit Niagara University Beginning seminar course (NUB 102 NU Beginnings).

Majors and Credits

  • B.B.A. Accounting — Business Administration    127
  • B.B.A/M.B.A. Accounting — Business Administration Professional Accountancy    156
  • B.B.A/M.B.A. Accounting — Professional Accountancy    150
  • B.A. Adolescence Education, English 7-12    123
  • B.A. Adolescence Education, Mathematics 7-12    121
  • B.A. Adolescence Education, Social Studies 7-12    120
  • B.A. Adolescence Education, Spanish 7-12    123
  • B.A. Adolescence Education, French 7-12    123
  • B.S. Adolescence Education, Biology 7-12    126
  • B.S. Adolescence Education, Chemistry 7-12    124
  • B.A. Adolescence and Special Education English 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    126
  • B.A. Adolescence and Special Education Mathematics 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    127
  • B.A. Adolescence and Special Education Social Studies 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    123
  • B.A. Adolescence and Special Education Spanish 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    123
  • B.A. Adolescence and Special Education French 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    123
  • B.S. Adolescence and Special Education Biology 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    126
  • B.S. Adolescence and Special Education Chemistry 7-12 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 7-12    124
  • B.A. Art History With Museum Studies    121
  • B.S. Biology – Arts and Sciences — Recommended for preprofessional students    134
  • B.S. Biology — Arts and Sciences — Concentration in biotechnology    134
  • B.S. Biochemistry – Arts and Sciences — Recommended for premedical studies    123
  • B.S. Biochemistry/Bioinformatics — Arts and Sciences    123
  • B.S. Biology/Bioinformatics — Arts and Sciences    133
  • B.S. Biology/Environmental Studies — Arts and Sciences    134
  • A.A.S. Business — Business Administration    63
  • B.S. Business and Marketing Education, 5-12    123
  • B.S. Chemistry — Arts and Sciences    127
  • B.A. Chemistry — Arts and Sciences    125
  • B.S. Chemistry/Computational Chemistry Arts and Sciences    127
  • B.S. Chemistry/Environmental Studies Arts and Sciences    127
  • B.A. Chemistry/Environmental Studies Arts and Sciences    125
  • B.A. Childhood Education, 1-6    120-123
  • B.A. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and English 5-9    123
  • B.A. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and Mathematics 5-9    123
  • B.A. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and Social Studies 5-9    123
  • B.A. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and Spanish 5-9    123
  • B.A. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and French 5-9    123
  • B.S. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and Biology 5-9    126
  • B.S. Childhood and Middle Childhood Education Childhood 1-6 and Chemistry 5-9    124
  • B.A. Childhood and Special Education Childhood 1-6 and Teaching Students with Disabilities 1-6    123
  • B.S. Commerce — Business Administration    127
  • B.A. Communication Studies    121
  • B.S. Computer and Information Science Arts and Sciences    121
  • B.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.A. Developmental Disabilities    124
  • B.A. Early Childhood and Childhood Education, B-6    123-126
  • B.S. Economics    126
  • B.S. Economics — Business Administration    127
  • B.A. English — Arts and Sciences — General English concentration    120
  • B.S. Finance    127
  • B.S. Finance — Business Administration    127
  • B.A. French — Arts and Sciences    120
  • A.A. General Studies — Arts and Sciences    60
  • B.A. History — Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Management    123
  • B.A. International Studies — Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.A. Liberal Arts — Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.A. Life Sciences — Arts and Sciences    125
  • B.A. Mathematics — Arts and Sciences    124
  • B.S. Mathematics — Arts and Sciences    124
  • B.S. Management    127
  • B.S. Management — Business Administration    127
  • B.S. Marketing    127
  • B.S. Marketing — Business Administration    127
  • B.A. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education English 5-9 and 7-12    123
  • B.A. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education Mathematics 5-9 and 7-12    124
  • B.A. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education Social Studies 5-9 and 7-12    120
  • B.A. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education Spanish 5-9 and 7-12    123
  • B.A. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education French 5-9 and 7-12    123
  • B.S. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education Biology 5-9 and 7-12    131
  • B.S. Middle Childhood and Adolescence Education Chemistry 5-9 and 7-12    134
  • B.S. Nursing — Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.A. Philosophy — Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.A. Political Science — Arts and Sciences    120
  • B.A. Political Science/Environmental Studies Arts and Sciences120
  • B.P.S. Bachelor of Professional Studies 123
  • B.A. Psychology — Arts and Sciences 120
  • B.A. Religious Studies — Arts and Sciences 120
  • B.A. Social Sciences — Arts and Sciences120
  • B.S. Social Work — Arts and Sciences120
  • B.A. Sociology — Arts and Sciences120
  • B.A. Spanish — Arts and Sciences120
  • B.S. Sports Management123
  • B.A. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages — With teacher certification in TESOL pre-K-12123-129
  • B.A. TESOL K-12123
  • B.F.A. Theatre Studies — Arts and Sciences120
  • B.F.A. Theatre: General — Arts and Sciences122
  • B.F.A. Theatre: Design Tech — Arts and Sciences 122
  • B.F.A. Theatre: Performance — Arts and Sciences128
  • B.S. Tourism and Recreation Management123

Minors

College of Arts & Sciences

  • Actuarial Science
  • Africana/Black Studies
  • American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Black Families Study
  • Catholic Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer and Statistical Analysis
  • Computer Crime
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Dance
  • Design Technology
  • Digital Media Production
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fine Arts
  • Forensic Science
  • Fraud Examination and Economic Crime
  • French
  • Gerontology
  • History
  • Information Security and Digital Forensics
  • Information Systems
  • International Studies
  • Italian Studies
  • Justice and Peace Studies
  • Latin American Studies
  • Law and Jurisprudence
  • Leadership
  • Mathematics
  • Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
  • Military Science
  • Natural Science
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public History
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Studio Arts
  • Theater Studies
  • Vincentian Poverty Studies Minor
  • Web Design
  • Women’s Studies
  • Writing Studies

College of Business Administration

  • Accounting
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Fraud Examination and Economic Crime
  • General Business
  • Human Resources
  • International Business
  • Leadership
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Technical Marketing

College of Education

  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Literacy

College of Hospitality and Tourism Management

  • Hotel Management
  • Restaurant Management
  • Sport Management Tourism Management