This page serves as an introduction to the areas listed and make no claim to be all inclusive. See department coordinator, counselor or advisor for more complete information.
| College/School/Department | Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences |
| Name of Program Emphasis | Bachelor of Arts Field Major |
| Counselors | Departmental Advisors according to area of primary emphasis, and Liberal Arts and Sciences advisors: Dee Anne Byer, Larry Callis, Janelle Darr, Jean Elliott, Natalie Grant, Gerry Lichti, Phil Ladwig, Marilyn Ryan, Bob Rozzelle, Elia Salas, Joan Snodgrass, and Salyi Vu. |
| Overview | The Field Major emphasizes flexibility and breadth. It allows the student to combine areas of interest, even crossing departmental and college lines to craft a degree that fits the student's needs. The student will develop a plan of study with the assistance of an advisor in the department of primary interest. Advisors in the LAS Dean's Office can also offer assistance. Students might choose this major after deciding that combined areas of concentration are the best preparation for their unique academic and career goals. |
| Places for Employment (Examples) |
Graduates with a
Bachelor of Arts Field Major are prepared to enter
positions which require a broad background of knowledge
and flexibility. That can be a real advantage in today's
job market. A Field Major also provides a generalist's
background if you plan on continuing your education with
an advanced degree. The language requirement adds
strength to the overall degree plan. Career experts inform us that roughly 70% of all first jobs for college graduates do not require a specific degree. Often employers are most concerned about communication skills, people skills, analytical and problem solving skills, and an educational background that enables one to learn quickly and adapt to changes as they occur. |
| Specializations in the
Field |
The possible
combinations of areas of study that could be used to put
together a Field Major are unlimited. The objective is to
construct a degree that offers the skills and breadth of
knowledge that will match your career goals.
Collaboration with faculty and academic advisors and the
Office of Career Services can accomplish this match. To illustrate, here are but three examples of the literally thousands of ways a Bachelor of Arts Field Major might be structured to help students toward their goals: Emphasis: Computer
Science Internet Entrepreneurship Emphasis: Technical
Writing Emphasis: Prepare for
Masters in Social Work There is almost no course of study that cannot be put together at Wichita State via the Bachelor of Arts Field Major or the Bachelor of General Studies (See under its own page at this site.) |
| Personal Qualifications | The willingness to take responsibility, with the help of faculty and advisors, to construct an academic program that is right for you. |
| Undergraduate Internships/Cooperative Educations & Job Opportunities |
Internships are available to Field Major students depending on their areas of emphasis. Wichita State has one of the strongest experienced-based educational programs in the country. A student works with Cooperative Education and the academic departments to obtain these positions. |
| Future Outlook | Interdisciplinary majors such as the Bachelor of Arts Field Major are growing in popularity because of the flexibility in matching one's interests and career goals with an appropriate course of study. |
| Quotes | Judy Strickland works
for Raytheon Aircraft Corporation as a Technicalwriter in
the Engineering Department. She creates and revises
Policy and Procedure Manuals individually or through the
team process. Additionally, she provides assistance as a
centralized source of information for Engineering and
associated departments. She says: “The Bachelor of Arts Field Major was an essential element in my selection by Raytheon. As a returning, working adult, I knew I needed a degree that would effectively move me toward my next educational goal, a master's degree. The breadth and level of education these two degrees afforded me were what Raytheon was looking for.” |
| More Information & Resources |
See also the program emphasis page on Bachelor of General Studies—another interdisciplinary major. The primary difference is that a Bachelor of Arts degree requires a foreign language. |
| General Programs Core |
A Bachelor of Arts Field
Major is composed of a minimum of 36 hours, including a
primary and two secondary departments, one of which may
be in a department outside of Liberal Arts &
Sciences: Primary area (Liberal Arts & Sciences
department): 18 credit hours Secondary area (Liberal Arts & Sciences department): 9 credit hours Secondary area (Any department): 9 credit hours The Bachelor of Arts Field Major requires a foreign language. |
| As a Graduate with a Bachelor of Art Field Major |
A student will have the background and flexibility to enter a wide variety of fields and occupations. Successful Field Major graduates are easily found in Wichita and Kansas, employed in a diverse range of fields, from CEO's to physicians, from social workers to entrepreneurs—really anywhere people earn their living. |
| As a Student majoring in Field Major at WSU |
Among all WSU students, you will have the maximum freedom to create a plan of study that meets your needs. That can be exciting and challenging. Departmental advisors and LAS Dean's Office advisors will help you in this process. The Office of Career Services is also ready to help Bachelor of Arts Field Major students develop a plan of action during their WSU years that will prepare them to compete successfully for employment after graduation. |
Current
|
“The Field Major
helped me because of its flexibility. My areas of
concentration were sociology, psychology, and music
performance. I didn't want too narrow a focus. The degree I put together was more representative of who I am as a person.” --Melissa Hunter, Bachelor of Arts Field Major |
| Notice of Nondiscrimination |
Wichita State University does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260-0145; telephone (316) 978-3371. |