UWW Interdisciplinary Studies Area of Concentration Definition List

Review this list of common areas of concentration (AOC) with their definitions, or work with your faculty advisor to craft your own AOC title and definition.

Concentration Title	Definition
American Studies	The study of United States life and culture in historical and modern times. This concentration requires understanding of dominant cultural patterns, as well as the diversity of cultures in the United States through the social sciences and the humanities. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies; Comparative Literature; English, History; Journalism; Political Science; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Applied Psychology	The study of theory, research, and practice regarding human cognition and emotions, as well as social and individual behavior. This concentration requires an understanding of ways to prevent and relieve suffering and maximize human potential in a multicultural world. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Psychology, Education, Public Health, and Sociology.
Arts Education	The study of the arts and ways to convey information about the arts to diverse students. This concentration requires an understanding of producing art, as well as pedagogical ideas for conveying information about the arts and teaching students to produce art. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Art, Music, Theater, Humanities and Fine Arts, Psychology, and Education. UMass Amherst currently offers limited online instruction in the arts.
Arts Management	The study of the application of management and leadership principles to arts organizations, programming and events. This concentration requires an understanding of the creative process, program development in the arts, fundraising, financial management, and arts education. Courses are drawn from such departments as Business, Humanities and Fine Arts, Management, and Marketing.
Black Studies	The study of the history, culture, and politics of Black Americans and people of African descent throughout the diaspora. This concentration requires understanding of diverse aspects of Black experience including history, literature, and politics. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies, Comparative Literature, English, History, Political Science, and Sociology.
Business Studies	The study of the generic processes that support for-profit and non-profit organizations in the attempt to move products, resources, and services to the marketplace. This concentration requires an understanding of basic management, leadership, economic, organizational, administrative, customer, employee, ethics, policy, and technological issues. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Business, Economics, Management, Marketing, and Psychology.
Child Advocacy Studies	The study of the theory and practice of providing support to children whether through direct work with children or through working on their behalf within the legal, criminal justice, mental health, social service, or political sphere. This concentration requires knowledge of issues facing children including cultural diversity; child abuse; psychopathology; poverty; substance abuse; and cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities. Courses are drawn from such departments as Education, Legal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology.
Child and Youth Services	The study of the theories, principles, and practices of providing services to individuals and communities, organizing communities for social action, and furnishing information, instruction, and assistance to people in need. This concentration requires understanding of the causes of human service needs, the social context within which supports are provided, and interventions. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Education; Legal Studies; Management; Psychology; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Children’s Learning and Development	The study of how children learn and grow, and the services and policies needed to facilitate their healthy development in and out of school. This concentration requires understanding of children from a range of backgrounds who have a variety of needs. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Education, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Counseling in Criminal Justice	The study of the counseling methods and approaches best suited for working within the criminal justice system with adults and minors. This concentration requires understanding the functioning of the courts and criminal justice system, as well as counseling techniques, mental health issues, and victimology. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Psychology, and Sociology.
Criminal Justice	The study of the legal and judicial system, and how it operates though the fields of law enforcement, the courts, and the corrections system. This concentration requires understanding of the social and legal context within which crimes are committed, criminals are adjudicated, and incarceration and prisoner rehabilitation occur. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Psychology, and Sociology.
Developmental Disability Services	The study of the individual and social causes of developmental disabilities, and of the various ways in which individuals with developmental disabilities are educated, rehabilitated, supported, and discriminated against in our society. This study requires consideration of the social and political context within which developmentally disabled persons are supported, as well as policy and management issues related to the delivery of supports. Courses are drawn from such departments as Education, Management, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Early Childhood Education Administration	The study of the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development of young children, and also the areas of business and supervision necessary to administer an early child care center. This concentration requires understanding of early education pedagogy, individual and classroom behavior management strategies, cultural diversity, and differentiated instruction. Courses are drawn from such departments as Education, Management, Marketing, Psychology, and Sociology.
Early Education and Care	The study of the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical stages that children proceed through from birth to age five, and the best approaches to teaching and caring for young children. This concentration requires understanding of social interactions, literacy, numeracy, individual and classroom behavior management strategies, cultural diversity, and differentiated instruction. Courses are drawn from such departments as Education, Human Development, and Psychology.
Film and Media Studies	The study of the history, theory, practice, criticism, cultural and political influence and impact, aesthetics, and production of film and media. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies; Communication; Comparative Literature; English; Film Studies; Journalism; Political Science; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Financial Administration	The study of the financial and accounting systems employed by profit and non-profit organizations and businesses. This concentration requires the development of accounting skills, as well as an understanding of the relationship of accounting and financial systems to organizational structures and managerial decision making processes. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Accounting, Economics, Information Technology, Management, and Mathematics.
Food Studies	The critical examination of food and its contexts within science, art, history, and societies. This concentration requires familiarity with various aspects of food theory, politics, consumption, and production. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Anthropology, Geography, History, Nutrition, and Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
Global Studies	The critical study of global issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. This concentration requires understanding of political and social changes, resource use, global health, human rights, poverty, globalization, and global safety. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Anthropology; Communication; Economics; Geography; Political Science; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Health Administration	The study of conceptual and practical aspects of the health systems field, with specific attention to the development of analytical and problem-solving skills. This concentration requires understanding of the specialized language and constraints of healthcare, issues shaping health and illness for a variety of populations, and management issues. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Communication, Kinesiology, Management, Marketing, Nutrition, Psychology, and Public Health.
Health Education and Promotion	The study of principles and strategies for educating individuals and groups about health and illness. The concentration requires understanding of human health and illness, as well as principles of education and communication for reaching diverse people. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Communication; Education; Kinesiology; Management; Nutrition; Psychology; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Health Studies	The study of health and illness and those services and policies aimed at improving health at the level of individuals, families, institutions, communities, or public policies. This concentration requires an understanding of the social determinants of health and the factors and programs which can protect against illness. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Kinesiology, Nursing, Nutrition, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology.
Holistic Health	The study of the interconnectedness of physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being. This concentration often integrates aspects of Eastern and Western medicine to promote, maintain, and optimize wellness. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Anthropology, Education, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology. UMass Amherst currently offers limited coursework online in Holistic Health.
Human Resource Development	The study of the effective and efficient use of the human resources of an organization. This concentration requires an understanding of the traditional Human Resource areas such as compensation administration and personnel management, as well as emerging fields such as employee assistance and counseling, career counseling, diversity, and workforce education. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Business, Education, Management, and Psychology.
Human Services Administration	The study of the theoretical and practical aspects of managing an organization that provides human services supports. This concentration requires understanding of the non-profit, state-funded, and highly regulated environment within which human services organizations typically operate. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Education, Legal Studies, Management, and Psychology.
Human Services Studies	The study of the theories, principles, and practices of providing services to individuals and communities, organizing communities for social action, and furnishing information, instruction, and assistance to people in need. This concentration requires understanding of the causes of human service needs, the social context within which supports are provided, and interventions. Courses are drawn from such departments as Education; Legal Studies; Management; Psychology; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Information Systems Administration	The study of the role of information technology in an organization and the development and administration of information systems. This concentration requires an understanding of information technology, management and leadership, employee training, and organizational change. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Information and Computer Sciences, Management, and Psychology. UMass Amherst currently offers limited coursework online in Information Technology.
Journalism in the Digital Age	The study of the theory and practice of various kinds of journalism, with a concentration on digital media. This concentration requires an understanding of the creation and influence of websites, blogs, digital photography and videography, and the impact of journalism on public opinion and policy. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Art, Communication, English, History, Journalism, Political Science, and Sociology.
Journalism Studies	The study of the theory and practice of gathering, processing, and delivering news. This concentration requires an understanding of news writing and editing, photojournalism, and the impact of journalism on public opinion and policy. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Communication, English, History, Journalism, Political Science, and Sociology.
Labor Studies	The study of work and workers’ organizations with an emphasis on labor policy and movements. This concentration is multidisciplinary and requires knowledge of theory and practice of labor and labor organizing. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Economics, History, Literature, Management, Political Science, and Sociology.
Leadership Studies	The study of theories and practices applied in various settings to influence others to achieve short and long-term goals. This concentration requires understanding not only of traditional leadership roles in management, but also of the skills needed to transform, teach, create, guide, coordinate, and participate in various situations and relationships, and negotiate multiple interests. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Education, History, Management, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Liberal Arts Studies	The study of knowledge across the humanities, the arts, and the natural and social sciences. This concentration requires an understanding of analytical and problem-solving methodologies that explore complexity, diversity, and change in intellectual thought. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies; Anthropology; Biology; Comparative Literature; Economics; English; History; Mathematics; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Marketing and Sales	The study of communicating information about an organization, products, services, or ideas to targeted customers and/or the public at large. This area of concentration requires an understanding of buyer behavior, market trends, advertising, pricing theory, strategic planning, and teamwork. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Communication, Management, Marketing, Psychology, and Sociology.
Mental Health in a Multicultural Society	The study of the causes, prevention, and treatment of various forms of mental illness with a focus on the influences of ethnic culture, discrimination, and poverty on well-being. This concentration requires understanding of the field of applied psychology as well as the social factors that impact the well-being of individuals and communities. Courses are drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies; Education; Psychology; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Mental Health Studies	The study of the causes, prevention, and treatment of various forms of mental illness. This concentration requires understanding of the field of psychology as well as the supports and safeguards needed to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities, their families, and the broader community. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Education, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology.
Non-Profit Administration	The study of management and leadership in non-profit organizations. This concentration requires understanding of management and leadership theory, and the public policy, human resources, legal, and community relations issues that are commonly encountered in non-profit organizations. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Business, Communication, Management, Psychology, and Sociology. UMass Amherst currently offers limited coursework related specifically to non-profit organizations.
Organizational Psychology	The study of workplace behaviors and interactions, with the goal of improving workplace productivity, morale, and creativity. This concentration requires understanding of human resource maximization, organizational assessments, creativity and leadership cultivation, and workplace equity issues. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Education, Management, and Psychology.
Organizational Studies	The study of the structures, behaviors, and interactions that exist within and among organizations. This concentration requires understanding of how to utilize an organization’s material and human resources, how to evaluate an organization’s performance and its potential, how to communicate information about an organization and its products to customers and constituents, and how to develop organizations and change them in response to evolving conditions. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Communication, Information and Computer Sciences, Legal Studies, Management, Psychology, and Sociology.
Social Justice Studies	The study of social change, justice, and the organizing of social movements. (Students may elect to focus on social justice issues in general or on a particular social problem or rights movement such as poverty, women’s rights, anti-racism, immigrant rights, labor, GLBT rights, environmental justice, or others.) Courses may be drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies; History; Legal Studies; Political Science; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Studies in (Subject Area)	The study of (Subject Area) and acquiring the skills to convey this information in the classroom to diverse students. This concentration requires in-depth understanding of (Subject Area), pedagogy, and child development. Courses may be drawn from such departments as (departments pertinent to students’ area of interest), and relevant courses in Education, Psychology, and Sociology.
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation	The study of addictions and ways to rehabilitate people affected by them. This concentration requires understanding of the social, psychological, and biological causes of substance abuse and addiction, its effects on the lives of individuals and their communities, and interventions for people with addictions issues and their families. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Biology, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology. UMass Amherst currently offers limited coursework in this area.
Sustainability Studies	The study of practical solutions for creating a sustainable future in specific regions and on the planet. This concentration integrates knowledge and methodologies from the sciences, the humanities, and the arts to provide a roadmap that can be applied to the design, selection, and implementation of policies, practices, technologies, and strategies. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Management, Political Science, Public Health, Sociology, and Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
Sustainable Entrepreneurship	The study of businesses that are consistent with the principles of sustainable living, including profitability, interactions with employees and the community, and the natural environment. Areas of interest include ecology, business, green building, sustainable agriculture, holistic health, and sustainable energy. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Accounting, Biology, Geosciences, Management, Marketing, and Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
Sustainable Food Systems	The study of sustainable agriculture, food production, and food distribution systems. This concentration examines the impact of large-scale industrial food systems on the environment, on the treatment of animals, and on public health and explores alternative, sustainable approaches to food production and distribution. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Management, Nutrition, and Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
Translation and Interpreting	The study of theories, principles, standards, ethics, and practices of providing spoken language translation and interpreting services. This concentration requires high proficiency in English and at least one language other than English, development of translation and interpreting skills in different contexts, knowledge of specialized terminology in different fields, and an understanding of the role of language and culture in cross-cultural mediation. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies; Communications; Comparative Literature; English; Legal Studies; Philosophy; Political Science; Public Health; Sociology; Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies; and other departments related to the student’s concentration.
Urban Studies	The study of urban institutions and the forces influencing urban social, cultural, and political life. This concentration requires understanding of the theory, history, economics, and planning of urban environments, including the politics and economics of urban government and services. Courses are drawn from such departments as Afro-American Studies, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Landscape Architecture, Political Science, Public Health, and Sociology.
Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention	The study of the causes of psychological, physical, and sexual violence against women, as well as prevention strategies and interventions. This concentration requires understanding of individual, interpersonal, and societal vulnerabilities which create situations in which some women become victims of interpersonal and collective violence, as well as psychological and public health prevention and intervention strategies. Courses are drawn from such departments as Education; Psychology; Public Health; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Women's Studies	The study of women's contributions and positions in individual, community, national, and global contexts. This concentration requires an understanding of feminist theory as well practical issues faced by women across geographies and history. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Anthropology; Comparative Literature; Education; History; Political Science; Sociology; and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies.
Writing and Literary Studies	The study of theories and practices of writing and literature across genres and disciplines. Students focus on developing writing skills, reading across a range of narrative approaches, achieving an understanding of the role of writers in society, and learning how to promote their work. Courses may be drawn from such departments as BDIC, Communication, Comparative Literature, Education, English, and Journalism.
Writing for the Media	The study of the theory and practice of writing for various print, broadcast, and electronic media. This concentration requires that students develop their writing skills and achieve an understanding of the demands of different media, such as the web, television, film, theater, radio, and print. Courses may be drawn from such departments as Communication, English, Journalism, and Sociology.