The program uses an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, integrating the fields of Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology to equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand the dynamics of human behavior and related issues in the context of the Filipino psyche, society and culture.
BA Development Studies was instituted in 1980. It is a multi-disciplinary social science program, combining economics, political science and cultural studies. Its objective is to provide the students with the theories and skills in the social, economic, political and cultural development of people. The program places emphasis on the Philippine situation, though it has subject on the problems of development of other countries, particularly in the Third World.
The graduates of Development Studies easily find careers in the undertaking and supervision of socio-economic projects both in the local and international scenes, in government institutions, in the Foreign Service, non-government organizations and in the academe. The course also offers opportunities in business particularly in the fields of economic and financial analysis and managerial work. It could also serve as a preparatory course for taking up law studies.
BA Organizational Communication seeks to address the ever-increasing demand for expertise in modern communication as related to organizations in the Philippines. The program aims to present a holistic perspective of organizational dynamics in the modern-century by focusing on organizational-related communication skills.
Because communication is a complex process in itself and a vital factor in the shaping of human ecologies, the importance of strengthening efficiency and effectiveness in communication cannot be overemphasized especially in organization structures where needs are highly technical. Thus, the entire program concentrates on an integration of written-oral skills and just not the mastery of either oral delivery or writing style as separate abilities. Furthermore, the audio-visual component in the curriculum aims to encourage the students to employ all the modern persuasive tools that make for effective communication.
The program is specifically geared to serving organizations where English and Filipino languages are used as major instruments of communication thus, a bilingual approach shall be adopted for classroom dynamics. This is to train the students to be articulate not only in English but also in Filipino for them to be truly effective in the Philippine organizational setting.
BA in Philippine Arts focuses on the study of Philippine art within the context of national culture and history, with special attention to its contribution to the definition and formation of a national identity and the role it plays in social transformation. The program provides rich sources of information and insights into Filipino consciousness and values that are essential to the student’s appreciation of his/her cultural heritage and understanding of himself/herself and his/her relationship with society.
The program has two (2) areas of concentration Program A prepares a student for a career in teaching and research; Program B prepares a student for career in arts management.
The courses allow the student a comprehensive view as well as a detailed analysis of Philippine art in its various forms – literary, visual and performing arts, and aspects of production, and consumption. They emphasize the intrinsic value, content and history of Philippine art as well as the dynamic processes involved in their creation, reception and development.
The approach is multi-disciplinary and emphasizes a balance between theory and practice. The program also uses the experimental approaches particularly in its workshop and internship courses.
The BA Political Science program is multidisciplinary and covers the traditional study of politics, emerging issues on health social science, Islamic and other religious movements, peace and conflict resolution, human rights, gender studies, sustainable development and the environment, community development and organizing, ethics to people’s diplomacy, from the statist approach to the civil society approach.
The BA Political Science program has been a course offering since the UP extension division days, before UP Manila was granted full autonomy as an academic unit.
The program offers career opportunities in law, teaching, research, advocacy, and Foreign Service and international affairs.
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Area Studies) is a multi and trans-disciplinary program that studies specific geographical and cultural areas, in particular the Philippines and Asia, utilizing the different social science disciplines of history, politics, economics, geography, anthropology and sociology. It employs a multidisciplinary approach using the various theories, methodologies and approaches to the study of the social sciences. It requires a comprehensive but integrative perspective in the study of the history, geography, politics, economy, culture and society of the Philippines and Asia within the context of current world developments.
The program prepares the students for careers in teaching, research, policy studies, advocacy works, and employment in NGO, government and private offices, and in civil society sector. It is also a very good preparation for law school and graduate in any field of the social sciences. With its extensive social science preparation and basic knowledge of a non-English foreign language, the degree also serves as an excellent preparation for a career in the diplomatic service or in a multi-cultural work environment.
A minimum of 145 units is required to graduate in the program.
The Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics (Health Physics Concentration) will be a four-year undergraduate program that provides a basic science curriculum with emphasis on the fundamental concepts and principles of physics and their applications in health and medicine.
BS Biochemistry is a degree program which provides students understanding of physiological processes at the molecular level. It is offered as a 4-yaer course with 2 summers. Graduates of the program may option to:
- Pursue a career in industry, specifically in the research and development (R and D) of the departments of pharmaceutical, food, and manufacturing companies as licensed Chemist. BS Biochemistry graduates can take the licensure examination for Chemistry and become licensed chemists.
- Pursue graduate programs (M.S., Ph.D.) leading to a career in research;
- Join research institutions;
- Join the teaching staff of institutions of learning;
- Pursue a medical career.
The BS Biology program aims to develop individuals equipped with scientific competence for future professional study and the social conscience that will motivate them to continuously seek ways and means to improve the living conditions of the Filipino people through science and technology.
The program allows diversified exposure to Biology based on the different aspects of the biological organization – – biochemical, cellular, physiological, and ecological. Aside from the prescribed basic courses in botany, zoology, cell and molecular biology, and biostatistics, the curriculum requires the student to pass the five core areas namely genetics, morphology, physiology, systematic, and ecology, prior to undertaking research methods for the undergraduate thesis. The thesis is designed to expose and teach the students methods necessary to solve problems in biology and to train them to conduct independent research. The student has the option of taking elective courses from specialized fields such as microbiology, embryology, histology, phycology, mycology, biogeography, radiation biology and others. Course strategies emphasize environment concerns as well as awareness of the impact of biomedical services on social order and Filipino values and attitudes.
Graduates of the program have been adequately prepared to pursue careers and/or specialized studies and research in botany, zoology, marine biology, microbiology, biochemistry, biophysics and physiology. The program is also applicable to health-related professions such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy and medical technology including other fields such as agriculture and wildlife management.
The BS Computer Science is a degree program that provides a solid technical background and experience in real systems to enable the students to handle various aspects of systems development, data management and scientific computing. In UP Manila, the BS Computer Science curriculum is geared towards development of software packages for the needs of the health sciences. It is offered as a 4-year course with one practicum taken during summer of the junior year. It further aims to produce highly capable graduates who will:
- Provide manpower expertise in developing software systems and databases for health institutions, biomedical researches, health statistics, medical computing, health informatics, and other computer industries and businesses;
- Pursue graduate studies in computer science or related fields.