McMicken College of Arts & SciencesUniversity of Cincinnati

Why Students Choose McMicken College

The McMicken College of Arts and Sciences provides a world-class education and so much more - from a dynamic first-year program designed to help students become a successful university scholar to opportunities to work side by side with professors, study all over the world, earn money and gain job experience all while pursuing a degree. Here are some of the programs and opportunities that we have to offer!

Your First-Year Experience in A&S

McMicken's First-Year Experience Program is comprised of six areas designed to help students succeed at UC their first year. Students can pick and choose the right components to fit their needs.

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Undergraduate Research

Not all learning takes place in the classroom. Faculty in Arts & Sciences are active researchers. Not only do professors understand the textbooks, they may have written them. These leaders influence the direction of their disciplines and they are excited about involving students in their quest.

McMicken student are involved in hands-on learning. They can participate in research projects with outstanding faculty and become involved in science labs, field work, or collaborative projects. For example, some current students participate in archeological digs, explore glaciers, write with accomplished authors, participate in polling surveys, traverse the Himalaya and research Cincinnati's Freedom Trail. You may even have the opportunity to design your own project and present it to other students nationally.

The following are examples of recent research opportunities:

Chemistry
Collin Wetzel, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, is doing microfluidics research with Dr. Patrick Limbach while fulfilling the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He finds the problem solving aspect of chemistry research interesting and fun! "Chemistry research has made me want to be a chem major more than classes," Collin says. His current research involves fabricating and testing microfluidic devices from polydimethylsiloxane, which will be coupled to mass spectrometry. "From the outside looking in, research might seem nearly impossible or that you have to be extremely smart, but you really just need to work hard, be creative, and apply what you learn." Collin intends to continue research until he graduates and hopes to have a first author publication before he graduates.

English
The McMicken English department offers an advanced composition course for undergraduates. Students are involved in a Children's Defense Fund sponsored program called "SHOUT" (Student Health OUTreach Program). This program trains student volunteers, connects them with community-based projects and agencies in the Cincinnati area, and seeks their involvement in a national effort to help provide children with free and/or low-cost health benefits. Each student performs community service for children living in disadvantaged circumstances and then complete various reading and writing assignments based on the different aspects of this theme.

Geology
Since 2000, Geology majors have attended summer field camp in a variety of locations including northern Italy, Hawaii, Utah, the Bahamas, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, California and Alaska. One departmental highlight has been trekking the Himalaya with fellow graduate students, faculty and alumni. You can read more about this adventure in the 2006 McMicken Magazine.

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Internships & Co-ops

Organizations today are looking for employees with real life, practical experience. The University of Cincinnati has supported and provided experiential learning programs to give students these experiences since it began the Co-operative Education program in 1907. McMicken College of Arts and Sciences offers experiential education opportunities for students through co-op and internship positions in a number of fields. These opportunities benefit the student, faculty and organizations that choose to get involved.

What are some of the opportunities that exist?

  • Some African American Studies students intern in the Black community by tutoring children at the Mallory Center for Community Development.
  • Many Communication students co-op at various businesses and industries; alternating quarters between school and at these jobs.
  • Environmental Studies students have worked as interns in Washington D.C. with the Wilderness Society and in Northern Maine at Baxter State Park. Others worked in Yellowstone and at the Cincinnati Zoo.
  • Political Science and International Affairs students have been congressionalinterns in Washington D.C.

Whatever your major, there are lots of co-op and internship possibilities!

What are the benefits to being an intern or co-op?

  • Work in Cincinnati or out of town: We have many intern and co-op opportunities outside the Tristate area.
  • Earn credit and money simultaneously: Most internships and all co-ops are paid positions. Put money in your pocket as you earn credit!
  • Build your resume & help secure a future job: Program graduates have many advantages when seeking career employment. They have real-world experience, which many students don't have when they graduate.

More detailed information is available in our Real World Experience section.

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Study Abroad

Going to college - whether in your hometown or far from home - is truly a broadening experience. Deciding on an arts and sciences education further expands your horizons.

But if you want to go further, study abroad. Study Abroad offers you the opportunity to see and experience other customs and cultures; brings to life all of those places and people you read about in your courses; gives you a chance to sharpen your language and communication skills and prepare you to become a member of the global community. You get all this plus academic credits that may apply toward your graduation requirements.

And don't think Study Abroad is beyond your pocketbook. It's more affordable than you think. There are lots of inexpensive programs and courses, as well as financial awards and aid to help you pay for it.

Students participate in wide variety of study/travel opportunities. Ranging from short week-long art or culture tours to quarter long adventures. Students have the opportunity to enhance their Arts and Sciences education with a study tour in all of our programs. In addition to the numerous opportunities to travel with student groups, each year dozens of McMicken students pursue individual programs of study abroad with a minimum duration of one quarter. Last year 33 students from 12 majors participated in such programs in six countries (Mexico, Spain, Germany, France, Czech Republic and Japan).

Your first step toward study abroad should be to UC's International Programs Office. They can help you. Contact them at 513-556-4278; e-mail at global@uc.edu or visit their Web site. You'll find loads of info and helpful links.

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The UC Advantage

One of the biggest decisions you will ever make is where to go to college. The school you choose should offer you more than just the opportunity to earn a degree. At the same time you are looking at degree programs, you should be looking at the opportunities the school offers. Small schools can't compete when it comes to the opportunities a big school can offer. What exactly are the advantages of a major uban university? We'll tell you!

Competitive Sporting Events
As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Conference USA, there are plenty of Division I varsity sports you can attend to cheer on your fellow Bearcats. However, if you prefer to participate rather than cheer, UC offers students the opportunity to become involved in one of the many recreation sports. Or, you can simply work out in one of our state-of-the-art facilities.

The Greek System
The University of Cincinnati hosts 32 social sorority and fraternity chapters, each with a broad emphasis on scholarship, leadership, community service and the personal development of its members. Chapters have active schedules, ranging from service projects to weekly meetings, social events to member retreats. The Greek community joins together to sponsor activities like Greek Week, Order of Omega Honorary, educational speakers and the Adopt-A-School service project.

Cultural Events
UC's College Conservatory of Music is a $93 million performing arts and electronic media complex where CCM students and faculty fill this fabulous new facility with more than 1,000 performances a year. These performances include everything from CCM student performances of Opera, Musical Theatre, and Drama to performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra. No matter what the occasion, you're sure to be entertained.

Lecture Series
The Charles Phelps Taft Research Center sponsors a program of conferences and public lectures. Visit the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center Web site for more information. The Ropes Lecture Series occurs each winter quarter through the English department. It brings a number of prominent writers -- both creative and scholarly -- to campus to present public lectures and participate in graduate seminars. Finally, The James C. Kautz Speakers Program in Political Economy organizes lectures on issues of social justice and political economy, all aimed for undergraduates. Speakers also attend undergraduate classes and interact with students.

Student Organizations and Activities
Student Organizations and Activities are an important way for UC students to be involved around campus while attending the university. There are more than 200 student organizations, as well as a full range of activities and cultural programs for students. Examples include: student government, community service, college tribunals, campus media, and a variety of professional, special interest and cultural clubs. Whatever your interest, UC's range of student organizations and activities is sure to please.

Great Facilities
To say the university has great facilities is an understatement. UC was rated one of the "Most Wired Campuses" by Yahoo Internet Life magazine last year. Our nine computer labs, 16 libraries, state-of-the-art sports rec. center, smart classrooms, signature architecture, and more than 500 degree programs are sure to meet any student's needs.

University Honors Scholars Program
The University Honors Scholars Program serves students from all UC colleges. The curriculum is highly flexible, broad in scope, and designed to provide you with the opportunity to learn in a manner associated with a small college, but with a range of intellectual activity that can only be found in a large university. If selected as an Honors student, your rewards for being an outstanding student are many: smaller classes and an enriched curriculum, honors housing, special advising, social and cultural events organized for Honors students, and scholarships worth up to $60,000 over four years.

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Ask-a-Student

Lots of incoming students have questions about college, like "How will I find my way around campus?" and "Is it hard to register for classes?" Sometimes, these questions are best answered by current students who can tell you about their own personal experiences.

Use a special e-mail - ask.a.student@uc.edu - to contact a current McMicken student. They are standing by to answer your questions and be your helpers. They'd love to share with you what they know about UC.

Good luck & see you at UC!

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