Knox College

Africana Studies

The major in Africana Studies focuses critically on the contributions of African and Diasporan cultures and peoples to human civilizations, using an interdisciplinary and international approach with principal focus on Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States. Students learn to think critically about the role of race in the distribution of power, the construction of identities, and the impact of social structures.

American Studies

American Studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary program drawing its faculty and courses from across the Knox curriculum to examine crucial questions of American political, social, and cultural identity. The program provides students the flexibility to design an individualized course of study within a common intellectual experience.

Anthropology and Sociology

Anthropology and Sociology provide a comparative framework for interpreting and explaining human social behavior. The two fields draw from a common body of theory and research methods, and the department presents them as interdependent.

Art History

The Department of Art and Art History offers majors in Studio Art and Art History, each a rigorous program reflecting the goals and values of liberal arts education. Courses emphasize the contextual understanding of art and the relationships linking the material and visual aspects of art-making to the full spectrum of human experience.

Asian Studies

Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines training in Asian languages with study of the cultural, social, economic, and intellectual complexity of Asia's subregions, while allowing depth of study in a single discipline focused on Asia. The program's strength is East Asia, with established programs focusing on China and Japan.

B.A. in Self-Designed Major

Biochemistry (BA)

Biochemistry encompasses the chemical, molecular, and cellular events that sustain life, and is an essential foundation for more specialized fields such as genetics, immunology, virology, and medicine. Advances in biochemical knowledge lead to a better understanding of life processes and to treatments to prevent and cure disease.

Biochemistry (BS)

Biochemistry encompasses the chemical, molecular, and cellular events that sustain life, and is an essential foundation for more specialized fields such as genetics, immunology, virology, and medicine. The Bachelor of Science adds a biochemistry focus area to the core requirements of the major.

Biology (BA)

Biology investigates structure and function in the living world and considers how those structures and functions are adapted to specific environments, studying life at all levels of organization from the molecular to the total ecosystem. The questions biology addresses bear directly upon many of the problems that confront human society.

Biology (BS)

Biology investigates structure and function in the living world and considers how those structures and functions are adapted to specific environments, studying life at all levels of organization from the molecular to the total ecosystem. The Bachelor of Science requires additional advanced coursework beyond the Bachelor of Arts.

Business and Management

Knox offers a program in Business and Management grounded in the conviction that a broad liberal arts education provides the best preparation for careers in business in a rapidly changing world. The program develops fundamental business skills alongside the human values and behavior dimensions of the liberal arts curriculum.

Chemistry (BA)

At Knox, a major in chemistry serves scientific and professional interests equally well, offering a complete program accredited by the American Chemical Society. Chemistry is an experimental science centered in the laboratory, and the department strongly encourages collaborative research with faculty for all its majors.

Chemistry (BS)

At Knox, a major in chemistry serves scientific and professional interests equally well, offering a complete program accredited by the American Chemical Society. The Bachelor of Science requires additional advanced chemistry and physics coursework beyond the Bachelor of Arts requirements.

Classical Languages

Classics is the study of the languages, societies, history, art, and thought of ancient Greece and Rome and how those cultures have been received and remixed through the centuries. The department offers majors in Classical Languages and in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies.

Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Classics is the study of the languages, societies, history, art, and thought of ancient Greece and Rome within the broader nexus of ancient Mediterranean societies in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The department offers majors in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and in Classical Languages.

Computer Science (BA)

Computer Science teaches students to think precisely and abstractly in order to solve complex problems. With computational applications springing up in virtually every discipline, the programming and analytical abilities of the computer scientist are useful contributions to a modern liberal arts education.

Computer Science (BS)

Computer Science teaches students to think precisely and abstractly in order to solve complex problems across virtually every discipline. The Bachelor of Science requires four additional credits beyond the Bachelor of Arts, including advanced coursework and a foundational or applied course outside the department.

Data Science

Data Science is about turning large amounts of raw data into knowledge. The field spans computer science, mathematics, and statistics and has many applications in other areas such as business, economics, and the sciences and social sciences.

Economics

Economics is the study of the production and allocation of society's resources, with particular emphasis on markets, applying theoretical, empirical, and historical approaches. The curriculum includes core classes in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics along with electives in fields such as international trade, public economics, and labor economics.

Educational Studies

Educational Studies uses several disciplinary approaches to understand the educational process and what it means to be educated within larger personal, social, and historical contexts. The Educational Studies major focuses on educational theory and research for students who want to study education without earning a P-12 teaching license at Knox.

Educational Studies - Elementary

A teacher education major leading to Illinois state licensure, the Elementary major concentrates on elementary school teaching (currently grades 1-6). Completing the major does not by itself qualify students for certification; students must also be recommended by the department and meet Illinois State Board of Education licensure requirements.

Educational Studies - Secondary

A teacher education major leading to Illinois state licensure, the Secondary major focuses on secondary school teaching (currently grades 9-12) in a variety of content areas and requires completion of another major in an approved content area. Students must also pass the relevant Illinois licensure tests.

Educational Studies - Special Content Areas

A teacher education major leading to Illinois state licensure, the Special Content Areas major prepares students to teach art, music, or world languages (Latin, Spanish) in P-12 classrooms. It typically requires completion of an additional major in the teaching area of interest and passing the relevant state tests.

English - Creative Writing

The English department offers majors in Creative Writing and Literature. The Creative Writing major develops work across multiple genres through writing courses alongside literature, film, and theory electives, building analytical skills, close reading, and effective writing.

English - Literature

The study of literature and writing is essential to a liberal arts education, and the English department's courses emphasize analytical skills, close reading, literary theory, and historical and cultural frameworks. The department offers majors in Literature and Creative Writing.

Environmental Science (BA)

The program in environmental science allows students to focus on the scientific aspects of environmental issues and to gain practice in the collection and analysis of scientific data. Students gain a comprehensive background in the basic science needed to understand and engage with pressing planetary concerns.

Environmental Science (BS)

The program in environmental science allows students to focus on the scientific aspects of environmental issues and to gain practice in the collection and analysis of scientific data, preparing them for careers and graduate programs in the sciences. The Bachelor of Science requires additional science coursework beyond the Bachelor of Arts.

Environmental Studies

The environmental studies program allows students to study the complex relationship between human beings and the natural environment in a systematic way. Students develop an understanding of the scientific principles underlying ecosystem dynamics and become familiar with the historical, socio-political, and economic factors that have shaped current environmental dilemmas.

French

The program in French emphasizes language as a gateway to another culture and another mode of thought and expression. After establishing a foundation in basic language skills, French majors pursue the study of French literature and culture in depth.

Gender and Women's Studies

Gender and Women's Studies combines the field of women's studies with the study of masculinities, sexualities, and the intersections of gender with other social categories. Rooted in feminist scholarship, the program brings gender as a category of analysis to the study of society and culture.

German

The program in German emphasizes language study as a gateway to understanding another culture and another way to understand the world. Working with literature, film, and other cultural products, students engage with the wider political, social, and historical aspects implicit in every text.

History

A History degree provides students with the skills and knowledge to navigate the contemporary world and a global perspective on the problems we face and how past generations addressed similar ones. Upper-level students work as historians through archival research, oral traditions, and archaeological excavation.

International Relations

International Relations, offered through the Department of Political Science and International Relations, fosters understanding of international political, diplomatic, socio-cultural, and military behavior. Topics include war, peace, and revolutions; international organizations; human rights; and democratization and globalization.

International Studies

International Studies is an interdisciplinary major that provides preparation for understanding or participating in the international or global system. Students acquire sophisticated perspectives on the structure and processes of the contemporary global system and develop skills of analysis and communication, integrating theories of social science and history with practical mastery.

Journalism

Drawing on Knox's long relationship with the 'muckraking' tradition of fearless investigation and public advocacy, the journalism program combines a challenging liberal arts education with specialized courses and multi-platform presentation. Students investigate, report, and visually display real-life issues.

Latin American Studies

The major in Latin American Studies is designed to help students better understand and act in an increasingly interconnected world. Through courses and a final integrating project, students gain an appreciation of the culture, history, politics, economics, and literature of the region.

Mathematics (BA)

The Department of Mathematics offers a rigorous core curriculum that challenges students to think abstractly, recognize and generalize patterns, communicate ideas, and define and solve problems. Students begin with a foundation in calculus, linear algebra, and analysis and can explore areas such as game theory, machine learning, and cryptography.

Mathematics (BS)

The Department of Mathematics offers a rigorous core curriculum that challenges students to think abstractly, recognize patterns, communicate ideas, and solve problems. The Bachelor of Science requires additional theory and component coursework beyond the Bachelor of Arts.

Modern Languages

The Modern Languages major is a broad program of study that combines intensive study in one language with complementary work in another. The College also offers courses in self-taught languages not normally offered in a small college, often in preparation for off-campus study or advanced research.

Music

The Knox College Music Department offers both academic and performance opportunities for students regardless of major, minor, or previous experience. Academic offerings span musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, technology, and composition, complemented by ensemble participation and private instruction.

Neuroscience (BA)

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field uniting psychology, biology, and biochemistry (and at times chemistry, computer science, mathematics, philosophy, and linguistics) in the study of nervous system function. Research spans multiple levels of analysis and includes basic and applied problems.

Neuroscience (BS)

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field uniting psychology, biology, and biochemistry in the study of nervous system function across multiple levels of analysis. The Bachelor of Science adds an additional science curriculum requirement beyond the Bachelor of Arts.

Philosophy

As a source of synthetic vision, critical analysis, and self-knowledge, philosophy offers students methodological skills and occasions for examining presuppositions, values, and beliefs. Philosophy encourages independent thinking and creative argument and reaches out to all fields of study.

Physics (BA)

Physics has developed through the essential interplay of theory and experiment, and department programs emphasize this theme through progressively complex theoretical and laboratory work. The program develops skills valuable in almost any career in STEM fields.

Physics (BS)

Physics has developed through the essential interplay of theory and experiment, emphasized through progressively rigorous theoretical and laboratory coursework. The Bachelor of Science requires additional physics and mathematics coursework beyond the Bachelor of Arts.

Political Science

The Department of Political Science and International Relations leads students to a better understanding of the importance and complexity of political life. The curriculum includes introductory courses in each subfield and advanced work that builds on the theory and framework provided by the 100- and 200-level courses.

Psychology (BA)

The Psychology Department teaches students about theories and research concerning many areas of psychology and provides opportunities to use and apply this knowledge. Central to the major is education about the research process, culminating in students designing, conducting, and presenting their own research project during the senior year.

Psychology (BS)

The Psychology Department teaches students about theories and research across many areas of psychology and provides opportunities to apply this knowledge, with a research project central to the major. The Bachelor of Science requires additional coursework in science and logic/math beyond the Bachelor of Arts.

Public Policy

Public policy is the set of actions, or sometimes purposeful inaction, that public bodies undertake to address public problems. The major helps students understand how public policy comes to exist as it does, how it changes, and what the consequences of those processes are.

Self-Designed Program

Students cooperating with two or more faculty members may propose a self-designed major that combines work in several departments, indicated on the transcript by a specific title. This option is encouraged when a student has a keen interest in a substantial intellectual issue best studied through the integration of courses in different disciplines.

Spanish

The program in Spanish emphasizes the language as a means of expression and as a gateway to the many cultures that use it. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a full program for pursuing a major through the in-depth study of language, literature, and culture.

Studio Art

The Department of Art and Art History offers majors in Studio Art and Art History, each a rigorous program reflecting the goals and values of liberal arts education. The faculty are practicing artists and intellectuals committed to linking the material and visual aspects of art-making to the full spectrum of human experience.

Theatre

Knox offers a broad range of theatre courses at introductory and advanced levels in performance, design, and literature and history, integrated with extensive co-curricular opportunities. The study of theatre in a liberal arts context cultivates communication skills, aesthetic understanding, and creative problem-solving.