Critical and Creative Thinking, MA
The Master of Arts in critical and creative thinking (MA CCT) embodies the College of Arts and Sciences’ ongoing commitment to personal enrichment as well as to the practical application of analytical skills and knowledge in a diverse array of both for-profit and nonprofit professional environments. This interdisciplinary degree provides a unique opportunity to pursue both breadth and depth within the rich and diverse landscape of the liberal arts and sciences. Students pursuing this degree will enhance their career potential by developing advanced skills and abilities necessary for critical thinking, creativity, and leadership.
Program Related Information
Program Contact
casgradonline@unomaha.edu
402.554.4121
Program Website
Fast Track Program
The Office of Latino and Latin American Studies has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. With Fast Track, students may count up to 9 graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program.
Program Specifics:
- This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Latino and Latin American Studies desiring to pursue a Master of Arts in critical and creative thinking.
- Students must have completed no less than 60 undergraduate hours.
- Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
- Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course.
- Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good standing.
- Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
- Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. The application fee will be waived, the applicant will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code.
- Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program.
- The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.
- Students seeking this option should work with their advisor to select appropriate graduate level courses.
Admissions
General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
- Spring 2026: October 31
- Summer 2026: March 1
- Fall 2026: July 15
Other Requirements
- All applicants must have the equivalent of a four-year undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution of higher learning or the equivalent international institution with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 in undergraduate courses related to major.
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English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.
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Internet-based TOEFL: 100, IELTS: 7.5, PTE: 68, Duolingo: 130
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Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| CACT 8000 | INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING 1 | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Select one area of concentration. | 12-15 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 9-12 hours of elective courses. Student selecting a 12 hour concentration may count 9 hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | 9-12 | |
| Exit Requirement | ||
| CACT 8090 | CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING GRADUATE PROJECT 2 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
This course must be completed within your first nine (9) hours of study.
- 2
The graduate project, CACT 8090, is a two semester process. Early in the semester prior to planned enrollment and completion of the graduate project (fall for a spring graduate project completion or spring for a fall graduate project completion), the student identifies a faculty member from their concentration to serve as their primary advisor and another graduate faculty member from the program or from outside the program to serve as the second reader. At the end of this semester the project proposal is due. Upon receipt of the final project proposal, the student will be able to register or CACT 8090 for the semester in which they will complete the project. Enrollment in the graduate project is not available in the summer.
At least 15 hours of the MA CACT program must be done at the seminar level (courses ending in zero).
Concentrations
Cultural and Global Analysis Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 hours from the following: | ||
| CACT 8100 | GLOBAL CINEMA | 3 |
| CACT 8106/PSYC 8536 | CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| CACT/BLST 8110 | GLOBAL SOCIAL ISSUES: CREATIVE AND CRITICAL ANALYSES | 3 |
| CACT 8116/GEOG 8556 | GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD ECONOMY | 3 |
| CACT 8186/LLS 8786 | URBAN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| CACT 8420 | MEXICO AND THE U.S. BORDERLANDS: TWO HISTORIES, ONE DESTINY | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 12 hours of elective courses. Students may count nine hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | ||
Ethics and Values Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 hours from the following: | ||
| CACT 8200/PSCI 8300 | SEMINAR IN POLITICAL THEORY | 3 |
| CACT/RELI 8206 | COMPARATIVE RELIGIOUS ETHICS | 3 |
| CACT 8215 | VALUES AND VIRTUES | 3 |
| CACT 8216 | PUBLIC HEALTH, RELIGION, AND HUMAN RIGHTS | 3 |
| CACT/RELI 8226 | VIOLENT CONFLICTS, PEACEBUILDING, AND THE ETHICS OF INTERVENTION | 3 |
| CACT 8650 | WRITING ACROSS DIFFERENCES: RHETORICAL THEORY FOR PERSUASION AND PUBLIC ADVOCACY | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 12 hours of elective courses. Students may count nine hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | ||
Interdisciplinary Security Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BSAD 8336 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| CACT 8506/PSYC 8656 | CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN ORGANIZATIONS | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8610 | PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL WRITING | 3 |
| ISQA 8546 | COMPUTER SECURITY MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| PSCI 8256 | INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Electives | ||
| Students will select nine hours from the following courses | ||
| MANAGING COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT | ||
| MANAGERIAL NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES | ||
| GLOBAL SOCIAL ISSUES: CREATIVE AND CRITICAL ANALYSES | ||
| VIOLENT CONFLICTS, PEACEBUILDING, AND THE ETHICS OF INTERVENTION | ||
| INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND CITIZENSHIP | ||
| SEMINAR ON INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY | ||
| ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP | ||
| COMMUNICATION LEADERSHIP AND POWER AND ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| NATURE OF CRIME | ||
| TERRORISM | ||
| HUMAN TRAFFICKING | ||
| SEMINAR IN FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| POLITICAL VIOLENCE, INSURGENCY, AND TERRORISM | ||
| ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
International Migration, Development and Citizenship Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 hours from the following: | ||
| CACT 8400 | A HISTORY OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND LAWS | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8410 | IMMIGRATION, MIGRATION, AND DIASPORA: CRITICAL APPROACHES AND THEORIES OF MOVEMENT IN LITERATURE | 3 |
| CACT 8416/SPAN 8156 | LITERATURE/CULTURE: CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 1898-2000 | 3 |
| CACT 8420 | MEXICO AND THE U.S. BORDERLANDS: TWO HISTORIES, ONE DESTINY | 3 |
| CACT/LLS 8436 | INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND CITIZENSHIP | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 12 hours of elective courses. Students may count nine hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | ||
Organizational Science and Leadership Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 hours from the following: | ||
| CACT/SOC 8500 | COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS | 3 |
| CACT 8506/PSYC 8656 | CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN ORGANIZATIONS | 3 |
| CACT 8510/PSCI 8120 | SEMINAR IN LEADERSHIP | 3 |
| CACT 8520/PSYC 9421 | POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP | 3 |
| CACT 8530 | PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP | 3 |
| CACT 8540/PSCI 8220 | SEMINAR ON INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Elective | ||
| Complete 12 hours of elective courses. Students may count nine hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | ||
Sustainability and the Environment Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 hours from the following: | 12 | |
| CACT 8216 | PUBLIC HEALTH, RELIGION, AND HUMAN RIGHTS | 3 |
| CACT 8306/PSCI 8296 | INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABILITY | 3 |
| CACT/ENVN 8316 | OUR ENERGY FUTURE: SOCIETY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8310 | ECOLOGICAL WRITING AND ANALYSIS | 3 |
| CACT 8326 | ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HUMAN HEALTH | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 12 hours of elective courses. Students may count nine hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | ||
Writing and Critical Reflection Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 hours from the following: | ||
| CACT/ENGL 8310 | ECOLOGICAL WRITING AND ANALYSIS | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8610 | PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL WRITING | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8630 | DIGITAL RHETORIC | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8640 | CREATIVE NONFICTION IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS | 3 |
| CACT/ENGL 8650 | WRITING ACROSS DIFFERENCES: RHETORICAL THEORY FOR PERSUASION AND PUBLIC ADVOCACY | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 12 hours of elective courses. Students may count nine hours outside the CACT program with advisor approval. | ||