Undergraduate Programs
Exciting, compelling, innovative, engaging, challenging, immersive, collaborative — these are just some of the words graduates use to describe the Liberal Arts undergraduate programs at UL Lafayette.
We pride ourselves on preparing the best thinkers, speakers, writers, and doers in Louisiana. Our students and alumni think beyond boundaries and push the limits of their profession in new and exciting ways. That's what makes liberal arts graduates special; they’re ready to grab the future and make it theirs. Last year over 500 students graduated from a College of Liberal Arts undergraduate program and embarked on a wide variety of careers.
Find out which of our exciting programs is right for you.
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Anthropology is global and timeless because it seeks to understand people and the cultures they create. Anthropologists study both prehistoric peoples and emergent literate civilizations, as well as contemporary and even future societies. Using tools derived from all the social sciences, anthropologists delve into such diverse fields as forensics, genetics, phenotypes, personality development, and language and linguistics, as well as cultural, social, and political adaptation. The four major subfields of anthropology are cultural (or socio-cultural) anthropology, physical (or biological) anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology.
Human Development and Family Science
Human Development and Family Science provides the tools for understanding and working with children and families in a variety of settings. The program focuses primarily on the various stages of human growth and development over the life span, families in society, diverse relationships within families, human sexuality, family resource management, parenting, family law, and public policy. Students in this program are trained to integrate knowledge of child and adolescent development, adult life stages, and human relations into service-oriented assistance in a variety of challenging careers and settings.
Speech Pathology and Audiology
Speech pathology and audiology are two separate but closely related professions that study communication disorders, which may occur from infancy through old age. Communication disorders are categorized into articulation, language, fluency, voice, and hearing impairment. Each disorder may be learned, psychological, or physiological. A speech pathologist evaluates individuals referred for screening for possible communication disorders. If one is found, the speech pathologist works with the client, the family, and others to design an individualized remediation program. An audiologist assesses hearing and balance functions, often working closely with physicians to determine medical and non-medical treatment options.
Criminal Justice
Crime poses a serious multi-dimensional challenge to American society. Students in the Criminal Justice Department meet this challenge by developing insight into law enforcement, ethics, police systems, the courts, corrections, forensics, and criminal investigations, as well as criminal psychology and behavior. The criminal justice program is interdisciplinary, drawing on all the social sciences while preparing future leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate an effective and humane system of justice.
Political Science
Political science is the study of politics and power from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives. It entails understanding political ideas, ideologies, institutions, policies, processes, and behaviors, as well as interest groups, social classes, government, diplomacy, law, strategy, and war. A background in political science is valuable for citizenship and political action, as well as for future careers in government, law, business, media, or public service. In studying these topics, political scientists use philosophical, historical, legalistic, and quantitative methods. In addition to political science, students also have an opportunity to prepare for careers in one of two areas of concentration: Pre-Law or International Relations.
Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind, including thought, feelings, and interactions. It is also the study of human and animal behavior and the psychological, social, and biological processes related to that behavior. The psychology curriculum at UL Lafayette offers an array of courses representing major areas in psychology including clinical/counseling, cognitive, developmental, industrial/organization, learning, personality, physiological, and social. Coursework also emphasizes research methods, statistics, writing in APA style, and professional development. Participation in the research process is encouraged for psychology majors. The Psychology department offers a Pre-Med concentration for students interested in applying to medical school and becoming physicians.
Sociology
Sociology focuses on human behavior in the context of culture and society. It seeks to understand human beings and social groups -- what they do and why they do it. Sociologists bring into focus the familiar and the mysterious behavior of people and make the behavior understandable through systematic observation and analysis. Sociology offers the adventure of acquiring an understanding of human behavior beyond the point we reach in our usual day-to-day existence. Students learn about people as social beings and gain an understanding of the relationship between society and the individual. Given that such an understanding is essential to successful social interactions—whether in business, leisure, or personal relations—sociology is an important facet of a college education.
Mass Communication
Broadcasting
Mass communication plays a major role in today’s society. Radio, television, newspapers, social media, magazines, and advertising inform, entertain, and educate the public. The Mass Communication program at UL Lafayette studies the processes and environment of this vast and rapidly changing field. Students may choose a concentration in Broadcasting, Media Advertising, or Journalism.
Journalism
Journalism is part of the Mass Communication major and prepares students for journalism careers in digital, as well as traditional media. Students are schooled in journalistic techniques that remain essential in the digital age, with emphasis placed on journalistic ethics and on receiving a broad, liberal arts background.
Strategic Communication
Advertising
You will learn to examine advertising from several perspectives: creative, psychological, economic, business, marketing, research, social, ethical, legal, etc. Classes on advertising creative strategy, electronic media advertising, and media planning consolidate your preparation in creating advertising that is not only aesthetically appealing, but can also deliver a strategic message.
Leadership Communication
Virtually every human process today involves an organization of some sort. How these organizations communicate determines their effectiveness, and the pathologies they do or don’t exhibit. Leadership Communication studies the dynamics of human communication in organizations. Graduates in Leadership Communication can help to improve the exchange of information and human understanding between groups and individuals in an organization. Undergraduate majors learn the dynamics of communication between individuals, groups, and cultures and their application to the media. Pursuit of this curriculum develops students’ skills in small group communication, problem solving, analysis, platform speaking, and argumentation.
Public Relations
Public relations is concerned with managing the relationships between an organization and the public upon whom the organization depends for its success and survival. The public relations curriculum at UL Lafayette prepares students for the professional practice of public relations in diverse organizations. Numerous specialties are offered, ranging from managing media relations for a small dot com company to managing relations with investors for a Fortune-500 corporation. Emphasis is placed on excellent written communication skills. Students work closely with an accomplished faculty to develop the ability to effectively represent a company or institution in an increasingly complex, global society.
Humanities
English
English offers a broad and deep humanistic education, allowing students to immerse themselves in the world’s most significant literary legacies while developing skills in communication and analysis that are an excellent foundation for civic and business life. English courses introduce the student to unfamiliar worlds and exciting new ways of thinking. An undergraduate education in English enables students to read critically, to think analytically, to persuade effectively, and to readily understand different people’s cultures and values. Areas of concentration in UL Lafayette’s English Department include Creative Writing, Folklore, Linguistics, Literature, and Professional Writing.
History
History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be. It gives us a way of understanding how people and societies develop and behave, while providing our best clues to what the future holds. The study of History at UL Lafayette provides a broad and diversified curriculum to stimulate cultural awareness and refine personal perceptions of the cultural conditions of humankind. History also serves as a foundation for successful careers in law, education, private nonprofit organizations, or public agencies, to name a few. Because history and other liberal arts graduates develop important analytical and communication skills, they are increasingly attractive to private businesses and many other organizations. Concentrations are available in American, European, Latin American, and Public History.
Moving Image Arts
Moving Image Arts focuses on the study, production, and creative uses of moving images. The scope of study includes film and television, animation, video games, and interactive media. Moving Image Arts is designed to prepare students for creative careers blending art and technology. Students receive instruction in media history, aesthetics, theory, and technique. They develop interpretive and critical thinking skills, learn about media history and forms, and acquire the practical skills called for in advanced work in film writing, criticism, and scholarship. They will also gain experience with the techniques involved in film, video, and new media production.
Modern Languages
The Department of Modern Languages is a focal point for intercultural communication and language learning. Studying other languages expands the student’s world view and brings other ways of life and culture into sharp focus, removing barriers to understanding. Globalization has increased the need for professionals well trained in modern languages, and the Department of Modern Languages at UL Lafayette meets this challenge with an updated curriculum. Today, the Modern Language Department offers majors in French and Spanish, as well as minors in Arabic Studies, French, German, Spanish, and Cajun & Creole Studies. Undergraduate language majors complete coursework in the language, literature, culture, and applied linguistics; French majors have the opportunity to study a wide range of areas of the Francophone world, including France and Louisiana. Spanish majors learn about Spain and Hispanic cultures in the Americas.