Master of Arts in Communication Studies

at Arkansas State University USA

Animal Science involves study of the science and business of producing domestic livestock, such as beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry, sheep and goats.  An animal scientist applies principles of the biological, physical, and social sciences to the problems associated with livestock production, management, and welfare.  Animal Science is also concerned with human food (meat, milk, eggs, etc.) produced from domesticated livestock species.  The food processing industry is one of the largest industries in the U.S.  In addition, Animal Science includes aspects of companion animals (horses, dogs, cats, etc.), including their nutrition, care, and welfare.

Emphasis Areas:

• Equine Management
• Pre-veterinary
• Production and Management

Prerequisites
Students majoring in Animal Science must complete specific courses as part of their general education coursework. This list of courses, as well as other curriculum and degree requirements, can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin.

The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (BSIS) degree is designed to offer highly motivated and self-directed students the opportunity to design their own major. As an alternative to traditional majors, the BSIS Program allows students to pursue their educational goals in areas not available within existing departmental curricula. With the help of a faculty sponsor, students select courses on the basis of a unifying issue, topic, theme, culture, period, or question which is considered the thematic study. Approved thematic courses must be interdisciplinary in nature, pull from at least two fields or disciplines, and may not duplicate an existing major. Courses may be chosen from any of the departments within the University.

Experiential learning is strongly encouraged. Students may seek national exchange and study abroad opportunities, internships, and independent studies as part of their thematic coursework. Each student’s program of study is developed with the advice and approval of both the student’s chosen faculty sponsor and a BSIS advisor. Students seeking a minor must use classes independently of those used in an area of emphasis. Students seeking a double major concurrently with their Interdisciplinary Studies degree or students who have completed a degree and are returning to complete a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies may only apply their general education courses toward an additional second program of study.

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry (B. A.) is a flexible program designed to prepare the student for further study in a wide range of fields. With a minimum number of required courses, the Chemistry B. A. permits the student to design an undergraduate program uniquely suited to individual needs.

Emphasis Areas:

• Pre-Pharmacy

The public history emphasis focuses on teaching students to be historians who are strong academics but who also engage the greater public. Students are required to take 12 hours of history electives (global or US), 12 hours of public history, and 6 hours of thesis or internship. Accepted students who had not taken the Practice of History or an equivalent historical methods course as an undergraduate will have to take this course at a graduate level for additional credit hours. The Department of History will allow up to 6 credit hours from another institution. Graduates with a MA in public history often go on to pursue a PhD in public history or heritage studies, work at museums or heritage sites, or apply for careers in historic preservation or other public history-related professions.

The global history emphasis is for students who are interested in studying big questions, especially those pertaining to the processes, events, and people who have created an increasingly interconnected world. Students will engage with the works of important historians in the field, theory, and historiography while honing their ability to research and write as global historians themselves. This program is aimed at students who want to subsequently pursue global or non-US history PhD programs, who want to teach high school world history at an advanced level, who want to teach world history in community colleges, and who are interested in foreign service careers. Global history students are required to take Theory and Practice in Global History, Seminar in Global History, 9 hours of world history, 9 hours of history electives, and 6 hours of either thesis or additional history electives.

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies focuses on the ways that people make use of both verbal and nonverbal messages to generate meanings within various contexts, cultures, and media.
Why major in communication studies?

75% of a person's day is spent communicating in some way, so the importance of being able to communicate clearly cannot be overemphasized.  Communication skills are essential to personal satisfaction and academic success, as well as employment.

Coursework Overview
Courses provide a strong theoretical foundation in communication as well as an emphasis on improvement in practical communication skills.  Majors in Communication Studies have the flexibility to focus on specific areas of interest while obtaining a thorough understanding of communications.

The Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program, a one-year master’s degree plan consisting of 30 semester credit hours, is designed for all engineers on management career paths as well as for those charged with managing technology in engineering, manufacturing, and other high-tech organizations. The MEM degree program will also benefit engineers pursuing licensure in states where candidates for professional licensure are required to have an additional 30 semester credit hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in engineering. The curriculum consists of courses offered by the A-State College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The curriculum consists of courses offered by the A-State College of Engineering and Computer Science. Courses are offered on-line or in-class. Due to the flexible scheduling of our courses, the program accommodates working professionals seeking career advancement and/or career changes as well as recent graduates desiring to move into positions with management responsibility.

Program Outcomes
Program graduates will have:

• Graduates of the Master of Engineering Management program will be able to identify critical issues, formulate realistic solutions, evaluate alternatives, and solve technical problems.
• Graduates of the Master of Engineering Management program will be able to interpret statistical or deterministic models and concepts as well as apply them to technical problems.
• Graduates of the Master of Engineering Management program will be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to express alternatives and solutions dealing with technical problems.
• Graduates of the Master of Engineering Management program will be able to function effectively as a member or leader on a technical team.

The focus of the B.S. Mathematics degree program at Arkansas State University is to provide students with the opportunity and the direction to pursue the intellectual challenges of mathematics; and to provide the mathematical knowledge necessary to function competently in graduate school and/or in a career requiring mathematical skills.  Students graduating with the B.S. Mathematics degree will have a strong foundation in the fundamental notions of mathematics, including rigorous proof, and will possess valuable skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and the effective communication of mathematical concepts and models.  Coursework includes exposure to physics, programming, and electives that allow students to explore various topics in applied and pure mathematics and statistics.  The flexibility within the B.S. Mathematics degree allows for optimal preparation for graduate study in mathematics or statistics and prepares B.S. Mathematics students for pursuing careers as an actuary, mathematician, operations research analyst, or statistician; and for other jobs in business, industry, or government that have math as an essential job skill.

The Arkansas State University MAcc Program is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for careers in accounting and related fields. This program prepares students for advancement beyond entry-level positions, and provides an excellent avenue to obtaining the 150 credit hours required to sit for the CPA exam.

For students with an undergraduate accounting degree from an U.S. AACSB accredited university, the program usually requires 30 hours of course work. Students holding an undergraduate business degree in another field from an AACSB accredited university are required to take the accounting prerequisites.

The B.S. degree in Sport Management is designed to prepare future professionals the needed knowledge, skills and experiences interested in careers in intercollegiate and professional athletics organizations, sport facility management (arenas/stadiums), campus and community recreation programs, sports information/public relations, sport marketing and management agencies, sport news media, and sport merchandise. This is a fast-paced, challenging, highly regarded, behind-the-scenes, managerial, professional field that requires students to have the academic background, management experience, communication abilities, and leadership qualities to be successful.

As an interdisciplinary degree with content focused on life science, this program is amenable for those in teaching, medical technology, nursing, museum curatorial and other professions.
Advising committees are formed to assist students in developing a program tailored to their long term professional goals and interests.