Two new majors and four minors in the College this fall add to the growing number of faculty-led programs of study introduced for undergraduates in recent years, responding to students’ interest and leveraging faculty research and expertise.
Below we outline the new fields of study in Archaeology, Climate and Sustainable Growth, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Kreyòl and Haitian studies.
Archaeology
UChicago has a strong tradition of advancing the study of ancient civilizations. The new Archaeology major and minor will allow those interested in digging deeper to better prepare for careers in the field.
“Studying the past is an immensely fun and productive way to learn about the incredibly diverse ways of being that human communities have come up with over the course of the human career,” said James Osborne, associate professor of Anatolian Archeology. “The practical learning that this will provide is just as important as, and often more rewarding than, learning about culture in the classroom.”
The degree programs were born out of student demand, as well as a desire to leverage the wealth of expertise of UChicago faculty, many of whom have done research around the world as part of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) and departments including Anthropology, Art History, Classics, East Asian Languages and Civilizations and Middle Eastern Studies.
“Geographically, archaeological faculty at UChicago represent research conducted on every continent besides Australia, and in time periods that stretch from the earliest evidence for settled life in deep antiquity to living memory in the very recent past,” said Osborne. “The fact that archaeology faculty across campus were willing to come together to create this program is an exciting shift toward creating a campus-wide archaeological community.”
Students pursuing a major or minor will take Introduction to Archeology, Archaeological Theory, Archaeological Data Sets and World Archaeology; which will be followed by electives, method classes and fieldwork for undergraduates pursuing a major. Interested students can check out the new Archaeology program website here.
Climate and Sustainable Growth
UChicago founded the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth last year with a goal of educating future leaders on the various ways they can advocate for climate study on both a scientific and policy level.
“A strong background in science is crucial for understanding the facts of climate change, but on its own, it doesn’t help us tackle the tough choices we face,” said Conor Carney, Senior Instructional Professor for both the Institute for Climate & Sustainable Growth and the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics. “Real solutions require us to think about opportunity costs and the tradeoffs that come with balancing climate goals and economic growth. That’s why our program brings together science, economics, policy and the humanities. We want students to develop both the technical knowledge and the ability to weigh competing demands so they can address climate challenges in the real world.”
The Climate and Sustainable Growth major and minor are the first offerings to come out of the Institute, with plans to launch additional degree programs in the future.
Students will learn how to cover climate studies from all angles by taking courses such as Climate Change: Laws and Ethics; The Economics of Climate Change and Energy; and Energy Science, Technology and Human Usage. However, they will also be able to specialize their experience by focusing on one of three tracks—Climate Science and Technology; Politics, Economics and Society; and Finance.
In addition to classroom learning, all majors participate in a September term course that takes them around the globe where they engage directly with real-world energy and climate challenges. This hands-on experience, which Prof. Carney describes as essential, helps students step beyond the classroom and understand the diverse perspectives and competing priorities that shape climate and sustainable growth issues around the world.
“We're not just trying to give students expertise in one area,” said Carney. “We're encouraging them to see how their work, whether it's in science or economics or engineering, fits into a much bigger picture. When our graduates go out into the world, we want them to feel confident making decisions that take into account the complex connections between climate, growth and society. That's how real leaders approach the kinds of challenges facing us today.”
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor—led by the Booth School of Business—gives undergraduates an opportunity to blend liberal arts learning with entrepreneurial skills. Open to undergraduate students from all majors, the minor emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, encouraging connections between entrepreneurship and students’ areas of study.
“The entrepreneurship minor is designed to help students master the mindset and tools needed to innovate and create value,” said Starr Marcello, deputy dean for MBA and master’s programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. “Beyond learning how to start a company, students will explore problem-solving strategies, risk management, the basics of building and scaling new initiatives, and how to think creatively within organizations.”
The minor is composed of up to three foundational courses and three electives. Out of those electives, students can choose from classes that focus on topics like accounting, operations management and competitive strategy.
“Entrepreneurship has been the most popular concentration at the MBA level at Chicago Booth since 2014,” said Marcello. “The minor was developed after listening to many stakeholders from across the university, including students and faculty, to ensure that it would prepare students for today’s dynamic professional environment.”
The goal of the new offering is to prepare students to navigate and contribute to an increasingly interdisciplinary and interconnected world, wherever they may land.
“I want students to leave the program with the confidence and curiosity to pursue big ideas and ask meaningful questions,” Marcello said. “Ultimately, I hope they build lifelong networks and continue to think entrepreneurially, shaping their own careers and making positive impacts in their communities.”
Kreyòl and Haitian studies
The newest minor in foreign language studies was born out of an existing College program. The Kreyòl program was established in 2021 and has become popular enough to see the advent of a dedicated minor.
“In recent years, Kreyòl courses at the University of Chicago have been completed by a wide range of students, including heritage and non-heritage learners, as well as speakers of other Romance languages, starting at different levels of proficiency,” said Gerdine Ulysse, assistant instructional professor in French and Kreyòl in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. “Students started to inquire about a minor that would officially acknowledge their learning experience with Kreyòl and Haitian culture which helped create the new program.”
Students will start by taking foundational courses to learn about languages and cultures before being allowed to take upper-level language, literature or culture classes that pertain to Francophone Caribbean Culture, Haitian Culture and Society or Creolophone Communities.
“We have been thrilled to see ways that students are able to use Kreyòl after their studies,” Ulysse said. “Some students have been able to speak with family members or other Kreyòl speakers in diverse communities including Chicago. Other students have expressed ways that Haitian studies courses have shaped their understanding of creolephone and francophone societies and their overall learning experience at UChicago.”
Ulysse hopes the minor will help more students build awareness of these cultures.
“We hope that students realize that Kreyòl is crucial to truly understand Haitian life and culture through literature, history, music and current events. Participating in the program is an effective way to improve francophone, creolophone and Caribbean sociocultural awareness.”