The
Opportunity to Pursue Areas of Special Interest
The
CPCS curriculum and competency methods allows students the chance
to craft a learning plan in which they can pursue issues that
are particularly meaningful or relevant to them. Some of the different
ways in which students may do this are called Streams and Themes
and Programs of Study.
Streams
and Themes: Competencies are defined areas of skill or
knowledge. Often, the competency represents "generic" skills that
could be applied to many different content areas. For instance,
in working on the Participation in Government competency, one
class might look at Gay Marriage, another class might look at
Campaign Finance Reform, and a student working independently might
be more interested in looking at the budget process as it relates
to higher education. The required skills are the same across the
board, but the content and issues you focus on can vary. Faculty
may present learning activities over a few semesters, addressing
different competencies, but tied together by a theme. Students
who develop a particular interest in an area may also cluster
competencies together through classes and independent work in
ways that allow them to pursue their interest in-depth and from
different vantage points. This opens up many possibilities for
students to craft a plan for themselves that allows them to pursue
issues that are particularly relevant or engaging for them.
Intercollegiate
Programs of Study: Programs of student generally defined
as cross-disciplinary programs consisting of 18 credits (six competencies)
that have a particular subject-area focus. These programs give
students the option of pursuing a particular focus within the
required 40 competencies. Because these are intercollegiate programs,
courses in the programs of study may be offered by CPCS faculty
or by faculty from other colleges at UMass Boston. Classes generally
enroll with a mix of CPCS and non-CPCS students.
CPCS
currently offers and helps to support three intercollegiate
programs of study:
Asian
American Studies Program
Latino Studies Program
Philosophy
and Law Program
