Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences (STEM)

at EDUCO - University of Nebraska - Lincoln USA

A political science major combines the analytical and communication skills of a liberal arts degree with an in-depth understanding of governments and political processes. Your political science major prepares you for virtually any career path—from government to law, journalism to business. Courses in political science examine government and politics in the United States and around the world.

Horticulture requires a broad education including knowledge of production, management, improvement, distribution, processing, and utilization of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and turf. Horticulture relies on an understanding of the basic sciences and involves competence in communication, aesthetic appreciation, and an awareness of consumer needs.

What you will learn
Horticulture is the science and art of growing and using trees, shrubs, flowers and other landscape plants, along with fruits and vegetables to enhance our living environment and to diversify human diets. It includes landscape design, organic farming, entrepreneurship, research, and crop production in greenhouses, fields, and nurseries.

An actuary is a mathematically-oriented business person who will most likely be a manager or supervisor at some point in their career. A major in actuarial science is an excellent educational background for prospective actuaries.

The actuarial science program is designed to prepare students for the current industry demands. Because the demands change on a regular basis, oftentimes the number of hours, the sequencing of courses, and the specific requirements change for this major. Students should continue to consult with the department for the appropriate selection and listing of course requirements.

All actuarial science students are encouraged to visit the actuarial science program’s website and an actuarial science program faculty advisor for more information about the program, including the Actuarial Science Club, sequencing of courses, scholarship opportunities, and the requirements for achieving professional actuarial designations.

The mechanized systems management (MSYM) major prepares students for delivery, management, and technical support of engineered systems for agriculture, food, energy, and water. Students will develop technical, systems analysis, and management skills. This major is ideal for students interested in working with machinery and equipment systems from a practical perspective. The MSYM program includes hands-on coursework in power and machinery systems, processing and handling equipment, and sensors and controls combined with coursework in business, management, agriculture, and natural sciences that prepares students for a wide range of careers in a variety of industries related to agriculture, food, energy, and water. The program offers four options for specialization:

• Production Option
• Business Option
• Technical Option
• Processing Operations Option

Students in the MSYM major benefit from small classes and personalized faculty advising. Students have the opportunity to work part-time in the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory and numerous departmental research projects. Students are encouraged to participate in student clubs such as the Mechanized Systems Management Club, the Tractor Restoration Club, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Quarter Scale Tractor Team.

The graphic design major prepares students to integrate creativity with visual communication to create a wide variety of print and digital products. The School of Art, Art History and Design offers two undergraduate degrees for this major. Both include a solid base of knowledge in the principles and history of art and design. The bachelor of arts (BA) degree, with nearly fifty percent of its courses in the major, requires students to complement this foundation with another area of study. The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree expands on the basic coursework by providing additional experience in graphic design and related studio art areas. This intensive degree holds seventy percent of its courses in the major and is intended for those who want to work in a design career or pursue graduate study in graphic design.

Construction management (CNST) is a complete undergraduate degree program available to students within the Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction located at Nebraska Hall on the Lincoln City Campus and at the Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI) on the Scott Campus in Omaha. Construction is one of the largest and most diversified industries in the country, accounting for approximately four percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). The key professional in this vast enterprise is the “constructor,” a term given to leaders and managers in the construction industry who are responsible for planning, scheduling, and building the projects designed by architects and engineers. These highly-specialized efforts are indispensable in meeting the country’s growing need for new structures, infrastructure and environmental controls that are of high quality and are cost effective, efficient and sustainable.

Construction firms vary in size from large corporations to small proprietorships and partnerships. These are often classified according to the kind of construction work they do—general contractors, heavy and highway contractors, specialty contractors—including mechanical and electrical—and residential builders and developers. Many firms engage in more than one category of work. Some larger companies incorporate the architectural and engineering design functions as part of their role as a design/build firm. Collectively, constructors manufacture our entire built environment—buildings for housing, commerce and industry, highways, railroads, waterways, airports, power plants, energy distribution systems, military bases and space center complexes. Thus, the construction management field is broad, requiring a unique educational background for its professional practitioners.

Although the range of construction activities appears wide and diverse, the general education requirements for construction management are universal regardless of a particular firm’s area of specialization. Since construction is primarily a business enterprise, the graduate must have a sound background in business management and administration as well as an understanding of the fundamentals of architecture and engineering as they relate to project design and the actual construction process in the field. Professional expertise lies in the fields of construction science, methods and management. A working knowledge of structural design, mechanical and electrical systems, methods and materials, soil mechanics and construction equipment is also essential.

What you will learn
Professionals in construction management make up the most diversified industry in the nation. As constructors, these individuals provide leadership for managing, coordinating, and supervising the construction processes during the concept development, design, and construction and facility management stages. Students will spend time at a building site as well as managing the contracts, execution of the building plans, and quality assurance. As part of the college's Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, students will also enjoy innovative research and hands-on opportunities outside the classroom. There is a high demand for UNL graduates in this area.

The College of Architecture also administers the interior design program. The four-year interior design program consists of a one-year foundational (d.ONE) program and a subsequent three-year bachelor of science in design (BSD-Interior Design) major. After completing d.ONE, students apply for admission into the College of Architecture’s interior design program. This interior design program is fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). The interior design program also offers a post-professional MS degree through the Graduate College.

What you will learn
Creative, exciting, challenging, ever-changing: Interior Design is a creative profession working for the benefit of the individual and society. Using a combination of art, psychology, and science, interior design adds to our quality of life.

A diverse and experienced faculty of art historians help art history scholars explore the history of the visual arts from ancient to modern art and the theoretical and critical literature associated with the cultures producing a given art style. Students attain proficiency in the practice of art and knowledge of the history of art in addition to general college education with about one-fourth of the coursework in the major.

What you will learn
Art history provides a humanistic foundation for understanding the visual arts.

Emphasis is placed on the social, political, historical and religious contexts of art while also analyzing the form and style of artworks.

Theoretical and critical literature on interpreting art is an important part of the field, with contributions often coming from fields such as:

• History
• Anthropology
• Philosophy
• Archaeology
• Literature
• Philosophy
• Sociology
• Religious studies

The discipline requires the development of critical writing and research skills.

The degree program in water science is designed to educate students in basic and applied sciences related to water resources. The goal is to educate individuals to gather and synthesize information from several disciplines, to formulate rational and broadly informed solutions to complex water related problems, and to effectively implement various water-based programs.

The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students who intend to pursue careers in public and private organizations that conduct scientific water research or manage water resources, in private consulting companies that offer water research or management services, in agencies that form or implement water related policy, and in a broad range of nonprofit institutions that are interested in water resources. The program also provides students the opportunity to prepare for graduate study in water/hydrological sciences and water resources.

Your major in computer science will encompass software experience to prepare you to develop the compilers and operating systems of the future, hardware experience to design the next generation computer chips in Silicon Valley and theoretical studies to advance into research in academia.

Over half of your coursework involves computer science software and hardware, mathematics and the natural sciences, leaving time and flexibility to explore your specific interests. Imagine yourself in elective courses such as:

• Computer Organization
• Embedded Systems
• Programming Language Concepts
• Software Engineering
• Operating Systems Principles
• Database Systems
• High-performance Computing