Renaissance Program Minor

Introduction and Overview

The Renaissance Program is an interdisciplinary minor which provides students the opportunity to combine the distinct learning experiences of a concentration in a liberal or non-business related field with exposure to career-related studies and significant work experience. It is designed for students majoring in the liberal arts who want preparation for their career search.

Students who minor in the Renaissance Program elect a major field of study from any of the liberal arts disciplines–that is, from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and the like. Students who major in any of the Business fields or in Health and Human Performance are not eligible for the program.

The program’s requirements consist of coursework and an internship. Students choose a set of six courses (detailed below) from a broad range of pre-professional and professional areas. In their senior year, students take IDSC 333 Renaissance Program Studies, a capstone seminar that brings together the perspectives of economics, business, and the liberal arts. Students also complete an internship in a career-related field. A variety of options and opportunities are available through the Career Development Center; students are encouraged to be creative and to search for inventive ways of implementing a plan of practical work experience.

As part of its commitment to Renaissance Program students, the University of St. Thomas extends to graduates of the program the opportunity to take undergraduate business courses tuition-free, on a space-available basis. There is no limit on the number of such courses the student may take. Students may take these courses either for credit or as audits, but may not use the courses toward a major or minor in business.

Application for admission is made through the Renaissance Program director, Dr. Raymond MacKenzie, a faculty member in the Department of English. Application should normally take place during the second semester of the sophomore year, but may occur later.

The Curriculum

Four credits from the following:
ECON 251 Principles of Macroeconomics (4 credits)
ECON 252 Principles of Microeconomics (4 credits)
     Note: Other courses from the Department of Economics may be acceptable with the approval of      the director of the Renaissance Program.

Plus four credits from the following:
CISC 120 Computers in Elementary Education (4 credits)
CISC 130 Introduction to Programming and Problem-Solving Sciences (4 credits)
CISC 200 Introduction to Computer Business and Technical Applications (4 credits)
IDTH 200  Statistics I
    Note: Other courses from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences may be
    acceptable if the necessary prerequisites have been met and on the approval of the director of
    the Renaissance Program.

Plus twelve credits from the following:
ACCT 210   Introduction to Financial Accounting (4 credits)
ACCT 215   Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
BLAW 301  Legal Environment of Business (4 credits)
FINC 300    Finance for Non-Business Majors (4 credits)
MGMT 305 Management and Organizational Behavior (4 credits)
MKTG 300  Principles of Marketing (4 credits)
     Note: Other courses from the Division of Business may be acceptable if the necessary
     prerequisites have been met and on the approval of the director of the Renaissance Program.

Plus:
IDSC 330 Renaissance Program Internship (0 credit)
IDSC 333 Renaissance Program Studies (4 credits)
     Note: The prerequisite for IDSC 333 is permission of the director of the Renaissance Program or
     four other courses from this minor. Normally, students should enroll in IDSC 333 during their
     senior year. Another course that integrates themes involving the relation between the liberal arts
     and the world of work may be acceptable provided the necessary prerequisites have been met,
     and on the approval of the director of the Renaissance Program.