Liberal Arts Major

Goals

The Liberal Arts Program allows students to pursue majors not otherwise available at Niagara University by combining two or three disciplines in the university’s College of Arts and Sciences in order to pursue some topic or theme of interest.

There are two broad options within LABA. The first is to follow one of the already-established paths defined by the program’s Model Majors. On the other hand, the program also offers students the opportunity to design individualized majors especially suited to their own particular interests or career goals. Working closely with faculty from each of the relevant disciplines and the Office of Career Development, these students plot their own course of study around some core problem, topic, or theme that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Beyond guiding students to a sophisticated understanding of their program topic, the central goals of the LABA Program are to produce independent, critical thinkers:

who are able to find and to understand the interconnections between academic disciplines;
who can synthesize diverse types of knowledge; and
who are self-conscious about the relationship between their studies and their career goals.

In this way, the Program aims to create graduates who are well prepared for life after college, whether in graduate studies or employment in any number of fields depending upon their topic of study.

Program

Individualized Majors

The Individualized Major Program offers students the opportunity to design interdisciplinary majors especially suited to their own particular interests or career goals. Working closely with faculty from each of the relevant disciplines and the Office of Career Services, these students plot their own course of study around some core problem, topic, or theme that is of special interest to them and that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries. As with the Model Majors, Individualized Majors involve major course work in either two or three disciplines.

The Liberal Arts Major Program culminates in the completion of a Senior Thesis, an extended, in-depth study or project that uniquely integrates the methods of the disciplines studied.

Students pursuing an Individualized Major must complete twelve major courses chosen from two or three disciplines within the College of Arts and Sciences and eight advised electives in addition to Niagara University’s General Education requirements. At least two of the major courses must be at the 300 or 400 level, not including the Senior Seminar.

Individualized Majors that involve two disciplines will normally require the completion of six courses in a primary discipline and five in a second discipline, plus the Senior Seminar (LAM 499 Senior Seminar). Majors that involve three disciplines will normally require the completion of five courses in a primary discipline and three courses in each of the second and third ones. Honors students need only take a total of ten such courses since they are required to complete Honors Thesis I and II in place of the Senior Seminar. The only course required of all Individualized majors is the capstone course taken in the Senior year: either the Senior Seminar (LAM 499 Senior Seminar) or, for Honors Students, Honors Thesis I & II (LAM 403 Honors Thesis I/LAM 404 Honors Thesis II).

Courses

LAM 255 — Intro Develop for Non Profits (3 credits)

This introductory course will provide an overview of the role that development plays in the financial health of an organization. Topics will include cultivating and soliciting donors; the annual appeal; grant writing; corporate sponsorships; membership; volunteer coordination; special events; planned giving and capital campaigns; and the roles of development staff, including the CEO.

LAM 351 — Grant Writing (H) (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the process of applying for grants in their area of specialization using research and documentation skills. Students gain practice analyzing the mission, values, and priorities of philanthropic and other funding institutions, and apply that knowledge to their organizational and/or individual ethos. This course culminates in a grant proposal, requiring extensive persuasive and analytic writing.

LAM 403 — Honors Thesis I (WI) (3 credits)

An integrative, reflective capstone course requiring students to synthesize research from the several disciplines they have studied in the Liberal Arts program or to conduct research on a question or problem that integrates the several disciplines. The course will be conducted as an independent research effort guided by the student's adviser. Students will be required to write a senior thesis in which they apply their acquired skills to a central topic, theme, or question

LAM 404 — Honors Thesis II (WI) (3 credits)

Prerequisite Must have taken LAM*403;

LAM 493 — Liberal Arts Internship/Co-op (LA) (0 credits)

A junior or senior work study program providing relevant employment experience. Registration will occur at the beginning of the experience. The object of the program is to integrate classroom theory and practical work experience, thus lending relevancy to learning, and providing the student with a realistic exposure to career opportunities. Students interested in taking an internship or co-op should talk to their adviser.

LAM 494 — Liberal Arts Internship/Co-op (LA) (6 credits)

LAM 495 — Liberal Arts Internship/Co-op (LA) (3 credits)

LAM 496 — Liberal Arts Internship/Co-op (LA) (1-3 credits)

A junior or senior work study program providing relevant employment experience. Registration will occur at the beginning of the experience. The object of the program is to integrate classroom theory and practical work experience, thus lending relevancy to learning and providing the student with a realistic exposure to career opportunities. Students interested in taking an internship or co-op should talk to their adviser.

LAM 499 — Senior Seminar (WI) (3 credits)

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