Bachelor of Arts in English

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The B.A. in Political Science provides students with a foundation in the liberal arts and social sciences. Courses in the degree plan cover fundamental questions pertaining to the governance of human societies, the origin and evolution of law and justice, the comparative performance of democracies and dictatorships, the exercise of political leadership, the origins of war, and the maintenance of peace. Students will analyze competing theories of human nature and political organization subjecting them to the test of reason, history, and experience. The political science major is appropriate for many students, including those seeking a professional degree in government and public service, specific expertise in international security and diplomacy, familiarity with political organizations, and preparation for employment in advocacy, corporate, education, or non-profit sectors.

The Pre-Law Specialization emphasizes core courses in American government, with attention paid to American political thought, constitutional law, and judicial politics. Students then take courses across a broad array of subjects, including political theory, as well as history, economics and business, philosophy, literature, communications, and statistics. The political science/pre-law major is appropriate for students seeking a pre-professional degree in law.

Effective communication is vital to the success of any organization. The Department of Communication empowers students to creatively manage professional communication challenges. Graduates learn to speak effectively, write clearly, communicate persuasively, solve problems, lead, and practice professional ethics. The program for majors in the Department of Communication consists of 39 credit hours.

Department students have been recognized in a resolution by the State of Florida House of Representatives, won the State Advertising Championship seven times, won more than 100 ADDY Awards for Creative Excellence, won a National Forensic Association Championship, received numerous accolades from the Southeast Journalism Conference, and been recognized with the Florida Public Relations Association's Golden Image Award multiple times. The Department of Communication provides students opportunities to extend their classroom education with hands-on skill-building through internships and involvement with The Voyager, UWF Forensics, and a multitude of community engagement opportunities.

The Exercise Science major is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the fitness industry, cardiac rehabilitation, clinically-related health fields, and graduate school. The program has specific courses (APK 4125 Exercise Testing and Prescription, APK 4114C Physiological Basis of Strength Development) that prepare students for certifications such as the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM EP-C) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (NSCA CSCS). The course work precedes a capstone course that allows students to receive valuable work experience just prior to graduating. The University of West Florida’s undergraduate degree program in Exercise Science is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and addresses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) needed to pass the ACSM Exercise Physiologist-Certified exam. The curriculum is endorsed by the NSCA for meeting their recommended educational guidelines.

The Anthropology Master of Arts program prepares graduates for a variety of professional positions and entrance into doctoral programs. The department’s approach combines a strong anthropological perspective, an active faculty, a vigorous research and contract program, flexibility, and many opportunities to obtain hands-on experience. The department has one of the largest and most active terrestrial and maritime archaeology programs and facilities in the Southeast. There is continuous on-going student-focused research and contracts in prehistoric, historic, coastal, and interior archaeological sites that include graduate students at all levels of responsibility.

Financial assistance includes many research assistantships in terrestrial and maritime archaeology through the Archaeology Institute, grants and contracts, internships, and the Marcus Fellowship for thesis completion.

This program requires a thesis. Students must complete all common core courses, but the remainder of their course work can be structured according to their interests with the approval of their advisor or committee. Up to 6 sh can be taken outside Anthropology.

The B.A. in International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that brings together courses from various academic disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, and business.  The program has the aim of training students to approach global issues from a variety of perspectives preparing them to be global citizens and workers in an interconnected world.  Upon graduation, International Studies majors may pursue opportunities in government, military, business, policy analysis, foundations, the media, humanitarian agencies, and organizations with a presence abroad.  International Studies students choose from three different concentration tracks of study: diplomacy and international affairs, security studies, or international business and economics.

The B.S.B.A. in Accounting is an included program in the University's accreditation by AACSB International. The B.S.B.A. in Accounting is designed to provide students with basic conceptual accounting and business knowledge as a foundation for career development. The Accounting Specialization also provides the traditional background in accounting and is the first step towards state designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

The M.S. in Environmental Science provides advanced research and educational opportunities in the earth and environmental sciences. Departmental areas of concentration include coastal science, paleoclimatology, landscape ecology, geographic information science, aquatic biogeochemistry, and soils science. The program includes both thesis and non-thesis tracks. The non-thesis track provides a foundation for employment in the private and public sectors of the environmental fields. In addition, the thesis track prepares students for advanced study leading to the doctoral degree. Contact the department for information regarding the graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The goal of the baccalaureate degree program is to prepare students to embark upon a professional career in Mechanical Engineering or to begin a graduate study. Graduates will be known for their accomplishments in the early stage of their careers and they should:

• Develop mechanical engineering solutions individually and through interdisciplinary teams within a global and societal context.
• Professionally and ethically engage in technical or business activity through engineering ability, communication skills, and knowledge.
• Continue professional growth through post-graduate education, continuing education, or professional activity.
• Contribute to the Northwest Florida regional economic development.

Mechanical Engineering is one of the largest, broadest, and oldest of the engineering disciplines.  It is the engineering discipline that applies the principles of engineering, materials science, thermal sciences, mechanics, mathematics and physics for the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. Because of the extremely rapid growth and changes relating to the application of mechanical engineering principles, the curriculum is designed to concentrate on a solid core of foundation courses. Electives are included to permit a student to delve deeply into selected subject matter and to learn other pertinent subjects.

Mechanical Engineers are capable of working in a wide variety of industry sectors, including aerospace, manufacturing, energy, environment, transportation, materials, and structures.

The Biomedical Sciences degree is designed to prepare students who have the goal of admission to post-graduate health professional schools. The degree is designed to fulfill the prerequisites required for students pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant, biomedical sciences, etc.

Technological breakthroughs in areas such as biochemistry, botany, ecology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, and physiology are being used to solve problems in agriculture, the environment, and medical oriented industries. Preparing students at all levels in the education system to work in the sciences is important to solving future problems and making new discoveries. The Department of Biology focuses on areas of modern biology and biotechnology offering a degree in two specializations: B.S. General Biology and B.A. Biology Teaching. The specializations include a series of seven core courses fundamental to all areas of biology.

Graduates with the B.S. General Biology degree are prepared to gain employment in industry, government, health professions, and research laboratories, or to pursue advanced degrees in the biological sciences. Graduates with the B.A. Biology Teaching degree are certified to teach in the public high school system in Florida. Prospective students need to be aware that some biology lab courses involve the use of live animals. Students may wish to seek details from course instructors before enroling.