Master of Science in Engineering

at Arkansas State University USA

The program in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health will provide a comprehensive and quality education to students wishing to become occupational safety or environmental health practitioners in a variety of industries represented in the lower Mississippi Delta region, the state of Arkansas, and beyond.  The program curriculum will encompass a wide variety of basic areas of study including science, mathematics, statistics, and communication followed by more specialized coursework in occupational safety and environmental health topics.  Students will also have the opportunity to gain relevant experience in partnership with community private or public sector industry in an internship towards the end of their graduate career.  Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to enter their respective fields as general practitioners and be prepared to complete certification exams necessary for career advancement.  This program will give students the necessary background to develop and lead occupational and environmental safety and health programs and aid organizations in maintaining compliance with applicable environmental, health and industry safety regulations.

Program Prerequisites

• Completion of the A-State admission process with acceptance
• General education requirements must be complete
• Completion of program support coursework with a “C” average or better.

The M.S. Mathematics degree program provides advanced study in the theoretical and applied aspects of mathematics and statistics.  Students gain a deep foundation and core competency in at least three sub-disciplines of mathematics and broad exposure to other areas through elective courses in pure and applied mathematics or statistics.  Students graduating with the M.S. Mathematics degree are prepared for a number of possible objectives, including careers in industry and government; teaching at two-year and four-year colleges; or further study toward a Ph.D. program.  Through the thesis option, students gain experience in advanced problem solving through research in the mathematical sciences.  Upon completion of the program, many of our students go on to earn doctoral degrees and conduct research in a variety of fields in pure and applied mathematics and statistics.

The Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science focuses on the basics of computer problem solving applicable to the science disciplines.  The program builds a strong foundation in programming, software development, algorithms, computer organization, operating systems, networking, and database systems.  

In addition, a broad exposure to mathematics and the sciences provide an understanding of problem solving using the scientific method.  Students will gain skills in several programming environments and software applications through laboratories and classroom assignments.  Electives are part of the program and allow students to explore various topics in artificial intelligence, distributed systems, graphics, compilers, and advanced programming.

The M.S.E. degree in Social Science is rooted in a solid core of History and Social Science, along with 9 credit hours in Education.

M.S.E. graduates find rewarding careers in teaching and administration in public and private secondary schools.

Curriculum

• Curriculum and degree requirements can be found in the most current Graduate Bulletin.

Traditionally, mechanical engineers have been involved in fields as diverse as aeronautics, biomechanics, environmental science, manufacturing, power generation, and robotics to name just a few. However, as national and global needs change, engineers are being asked to apply their problem solving skills to address medical, business, and policy issues that confront our society.

Mechanical Engineering at A-State
The Mechanical Engineering Programs at Arkansas State University are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.  

The A-State mechanical engineering program includes a strong general education component, traditional engineering science courses, exposure to manufacturing processes and automation, and multi-course sequences to provide proficiency in Thermal and Mechanical system design.

We provide our students with a broad and well-rounded educational foundation and stress the necessity to engage in lifelong educational efforts to cope with the ever-changing landscape of science and technology. In addition, students have the opportunity to conduct research and to take courses in other disciplines such as business, mathematics, agriculture, and biological or physical sciences based on their individual career goals.

Program Educational Objectives
The Program Educational Objectives for the Mechanical Engineering Program, which pertain to program graduates 3 to 5 years after completing the program, are:

• Graduates have successfully advanced in mechanical engineering practice as evidenced by their achievements and contributions to their employers and the greater engineering community.
• Graduates have pursued graduate degrees or completed professional development activities in continuing to advance their knowledge base in mechanical engineering or related professional fields.
• Graduates have made a broader contribution to the local and national economic development by providing a mechanical engineering perspective to the challenges and opportunities of society.

The Student Outcomes for each of the Arkansas State University undergraduate engineering programs are:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
• An ability to communicate effectively;
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
• A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning;
• A knowledge of contemporary issues;
• An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; and
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

Management is getting work done through other people. Managers perform a wide range of workplace activities, from establishing organization goals and ensuring progress towards those goals to organizing when and how activities and resources should be grouped together. Managers are asked to solve challenging workplace problems, often with limited human and financial resources. The Management major prepares students to design rewards for improved performance, set goals that motivate workers, and build an environment to create and sustain a competitive advantage.

Emphasis
Management majors choose between three emphases of study:

• General Management
• Hospitality Management
• Human Resource Management
• International Business

Arkansas State University offers the Bachelor of General Studies degree through Undergraduate Studies. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to develop a personalized program of study to meet their professional, academic, and personal aspirations. Through a multidisciplinary curriculum, the program attempts to provide a unique, rigorous, and flexible learning pathway for that segment of student population with specific educational and career interests that would not otherwise be met by a traditional degree track or major.

By tailoring the major, students develop a plan of study that provides curricular opportunities to explore multiple disciplines (department and/or college) and increase skills in critical analysis, problem solving, and professional competencies. The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program equips students with the aptitude needed to be successful in an array of professional settings and provides an essential academic undergraduate foundation for those seeking to pursue a graduate- level degree for career advancement.

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at A-State is to educate generalist practitioners who will work to enhance intellectual growth, and to enrich lives through social justice and service specifically with rural populations. It employs a problem-solving process and relies on critical thinking.

Bachelors level social workers work with a variety of clients in many settings. The skills learned in the curriculum include interviewing skills, assessment skills, and intervention skills. The BSW qualifies the student to sit for the state exam at the Licensed Social Worker level. The state licensing law outlines the level of practice at this level. This is referred to as the Generalist Practice level.

Generalist practitioners work within an organizational structure in which they use appropriate supervision and assume a wide range of professional roles (DuBois & Miley, 1996). These roles include broker, enabler/counselor, mediator, educator, evaluator, case manager/coordinator and advocate/activist (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 1999). Empowerment oriented social workers focus on clients’ strengths and adaptive skills as well as clients’ competencies and potential. They work collaboratively with their clients.

Empowerment joins personal power and political power so as to increase an individual’s ability to control his or her destiny and “...to alter systems, redistribute resources, open up opportunity structures, and reorganize society” (Hartman, 1990; Lee, 1994 cited in DuBois & Miley, 1999, p. 28).

The strategic communications program prepares students to use advertising, public relations, social media, and organizational communication to build mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its key stakeholders.

Students graduating from this program will know and understand how to use advertising, public relations, social media, branding, crisis communication, media relations, research methods and evaluation tools to help organizations communicate and build relationships with their publics.  They will be prepared to work for advertising and public relations agencies, companies big and small, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations such as universities, hospitals, museums and NGOs.

Degree Emphasis
You can emphasize your studies in one of these areas:

• Advertising
• Public Relations
• Social Media Management

The Arkansas State University MBA Program is a professional degree program designed to prepare students of all educational and professional backgrounds for management positions in all types of organizations. As such, the program stresses the development of analytical, problem-solving and decision making competencies for the dynamic, complex global organizational and social environments.

Finance - Concentration
The MBA with a Concentration in Finance is designed to allow students to complement their studies in business administration with in-depth coverage of the core components of ?nance, including corporate ?nance, ?nancial markets and institutions, and investments. Students will complete the 27 hours within the MBA core and 9 additional hours of graduate level ?nance coursework.