Master of Social Work

at California State University - Monterey Bay USA

Want to establish broad knowledge, communication skills, creative talents, critical thinking abilities and multicultural awareness that will make you widely employable? Looking for an incredibly interdisciplinary and adaptable major that combines dozens of traditional fields of study?

Humanities & Communication majors gain broad knowledge, multicultural communication skills, creative talents, and outstanding writing and critical thinking abilities for the 21st-century workplace. Our major integrates traditional disciplines within humanities and communication with contemporary fields and explores how these fields interrelate.

You will study across the various disciplines in order to gain an integrated understanding of world issues and problems, and you will apply your knowledge ethically, critically, and creatively toward the fulfillment of concrete personal and social goals and needs.

Business Administration prepares you for careers in business and social enterprise and government sector where management, ethics, technology, critical thinking, and communication skills are essential. Our graduates’ entrepreneurial and leadership traits, combined with their business skills and knowledge, have enabled them to launch their own businesses or move into high-potential jobs.

Our goal is for you to graduate with not just a solid foundation in business knowledge and skills, but also with the behavioral attributes that give you a competitive advantage in either your chosen career path or graduate school. We promote our students’ success in their chosen careers with business knowledge and skills developed through engaged teaching and learning. We provide integrated, hands-on education and responsible engagement with real-world challenges.

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) program is an innovative and rigorous degree program designed to prepare future practitioners to serve our local communities through a variety of interdisciplinary settings. The program focuses on a thorough understanding of human communication and its disorders. MS-SLP students are trained to be ethically responsible professionals through the use of evidence-based practices, community partnerships, and innovative technologies.

The Visual and Public Art major challenges and supports you as you develop enduring skills and perspectives. The curriculum combines studio work and public art processes. Theory and practice cover artistic production, exhibition, ethical interpretation, visual literacy and reciprocal community engagement. Through a rich interdisciplinary curriculum comprised of painting and mural techniques, sculpture and installation, integrated media and photography, arts educations and museum studies, you will graduate prepared to engage in individual and collaborative art methodologies.

The Master of Arts in Education prepares strong education professionals to have an informed understanding of complex learning; the knowledge and skills to promote such learning; and the disposition to advocate effectively for the learning, living and growth of students, especially those who bring cultural, linguistic and other diversity to schools. The program coursework challenges educators to analyze and improve their instructional practice to better serve students with diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as students with special needs.

Emphasis
Students must select one of the following emphases and complete the requirements.

• Curriculum & Instruction
• Special Education
• Preliminary Teacher Credential
• Education Administration

In the CS program, you will learn fundamental computer science concepts while applying your knowledge to solve real-world problems. Collaboration, team work, and communication skills are infused into the learning experiences with heavily project-based courses in a state-of-the-art technological environment.

You’ll begin by taking a set of common core courses to establish a strong foundation in computer science, followed by coursework in one of four concentration areas: Software Engineering, Network and Security, Data Science, or Game Development. The curriculum provides you the opportunity to learn concepts and develop skills in more than one concentration, helping you to become a well rounded computer science professional.

In the Psychology major, you’ll develop a solid understanding of human behavior and mental processes using a scientific approach. You’ll explore the ways in which human biology, psychological experience and cultural contexts combine to influence our actions and thoughts.

The ability to communicate with Spanish speakers and appreciate Hispanic cultures gives you a tremendous advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Spanish language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the inter-dependent global community.

You will attain an advanced level of proficiency in Spanish according to the criteria of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) guidelines. You will also acquire a reasonable understanding and knowledge of Hispanic cultures through the study of literature, history, art, social science, philosophy, etc. in a variety of courses taught in Spanish and English. As you plan your program, you will be able to select a specific area of concentration (literature, culture, linguistics) in which to acquire a deeper knowledge relative to your particular interests and goals. Additionally, you will engage in real-life learning via your service-learning experiences where you will have opportunities to work with public and private agencies on projects that integrate your language skills with community needs. Finally, in your Senior Capstone project, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate thorough understanding of a topic of interest to you.

The program prepares you for successful professional careers in teaching, business and technology, travel, tourism, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and for graduate study in Hispanic languages and literatures, Chicano/Latino studies, linguistics, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management and business.

The Human Development & Family Science major focuses on human development from infancy through old age. Students will examine how family and community dynamics affect the development of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences. Through fieldwork, program evaluation, and service-learning, students become prepared to work with children, youth, families, and elders in education or social service programs.

To learn more about the major, visit the Human Development and Family Science Department.

The Liberal Studies (LS) B.A. program is designed for students who desire to become elementary or special education teachers. There are different pathways to choose from, depending on your interests:

LS BA Traditional Pathway - This pathway is for the Liberal Studies BA degree only. Upon graduation, students on this pathway may pursue a credential at CSUMB or another institution.