Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities, Specialization in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

Teachers change lives. UWF's elementary education program will prepare you to become a skilled teacher with detailed coursework and supervised experiences in grade school classrooms. In addition, you will develop your awareness and understanding of diverse cultures and people.

Why Study Elementary Education at UWF?

• This competitive major prepares you for the ever-changing world of elementary education. Graduates are eligible for professional certification from the State of Florida to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. 
• Unlike many other elementary education degrees, our program includes endorsements in both reading and English speakers of other languages, known as ESOL.
• We will prepare you to teach reading, writing, science, mathematics, social studies, critical-thinking skills and problem-solving to elementary school students.
• We are accredited by the State of Florida and the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation.

What You Will Learn

• Our immersive curriculum will prepare you for real-world experiences.
• The degree includes 64 semester hours of coursework in general and subject-specific methods and strategies with a focus on engaging elementary students in meaningful learning experiences.
• Through engaging hands-on field experiences in local elementary schools, you will learn to work with children of varying needs and have a positive impact on their lives. You will learn to engage students in inquiry, facilitate learning, develop curriculum and collect, analyze and interpret data to inform your instruction.
• We offer numerous scholarships and a limited number of yearlong paid internships for high-achieving students in high-need Escambia County schools. These internships fulfill the student teaching requirement.

The purpose of the program is to prepare students for careers in federal, state, county, and local criminal justice agencies, including management and administration; careers in public or private criminal justice research and analysis; teaching positions at community and state colleges; and/or continued education at the doctoral level.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) has two options: an internship option (Option 1) and an area research paper option (Option 2). Each option requires a minimum of 33 credit hours, including 24 credit hours of criminal justice coursework. The internship option (Option 1) requires 15 credit hours of required coursework, a 3-credit hour internship, plus an additional 6 credit hours minimum of criminal justice electives and 9 credit hours of criminal justice or noncriminal justice electives. The area paper option (Option 2) requires 15 credit hours of required coursework, a 3-credit hour area paper, plus an additional 6 credit hours minimum of criminal justice electives and 9 credit hours of criminal justice or noncriminal justice electives.

The Maritime Studies Program is designed to familiarize students with the dynamic cultural and natural resources of the maritime environment. Students gain the necessary knowledge and expertise to enable them to participate and contribute to our growing understanding and management of the maritime environment.

Maritime Studies prepares students for careers in the diverse and exciting maritime world. This degree provides a broad understanding of the diversified field by integrating maritime themes, transferable skills, and a knowledge base to enter a variety of maritime-related careers. The maritime industry is a major global employer with thousands of opportunities in many areas. The marine environment covers 71% of the earth and continued technology advancement has increased pressure on its resources. Understanding and managing maritime resources is becoming increasingly important, requiring a wide range of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that this Maritime Studies degree will provide.

The hallmark of the Maritime Studies Program is its flexibility because it allows students to tailor their degree program to their individual interests. It requires only a few specific core courses to provide an overview of the main areas in Maritime Studies. Students complete their degree programs with elective courses from a wide range of disciplines such as Anthropology/Archaeology, Marine Biology, Environmental Studies, History, Art History, Literature, Law, Political Science, and Leisure Studies.

Academic study is only part of the essential training needed for students of Maritime Studies. They also must have a structured field experience in which methods of sampling, recording, and other practical aspects of professional work in the field environment are learned.

The B.A. in Art is awarded to students in two areas of specialization: Studio Art and Art History. Within the Studio Art Specialization, students can elect concentrations in Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, and Ceramics, as well as New and Mixed Media. For students in Art History the capstone is Research in Art History. Students planning to teach art in the public schools should elect the Studio Art Specialization and must also declare a minor in Professional Education.

Studio Art
The studio art specialization offers foundations in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and photography. Our studio curriculum addresses technical and material means of visual expression while allowing students to focus on issues inherent in one's work. You will move beyond proficiency to a greater degree of excellence as you develop a personal body of work.

Art History
The art history specialization offers courses in a variety of subject areas such as Medieval, Renaissance, Modern European, Non-Western, American, and Contemporary. The program also offers special topics courses such as the History of Photography and Nineteenth Century Art and Science. Internships and coursework opportunities are available with The Art Gallery at UWF or at the Pensacola Museum of Art.

The BS in Information Technology provides a firm foundation of coursework, including programming principles, database concepts, end-user support, security, networks and operating systems.  The program emphasizes applied skills, including internship, co-op, research, and capstone experiences that will prepare graduates to enter the Information Technology workforce.

Information Technology Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the UWF B.S. in Information Technology degree program will be known for their accomplishments in the early stages of their careers and they should:

• Develop information technology solutions to important problems either individually or through interdisciplinary teams within a global and societal context.
• Professionally and ethically, engage in technical or business activity through information technology abilities, communication skills, and knowledge.
• Engage in continuing professional growth through post-graduate education, continuing education, or professional activity.

The M.A. in International Affairs prepares students to confront the challenges of an increasingly globalized world.  The program is well-suited for students considering or presently pursuing a military or national security career, as well as those interested in international public service or policy work.  The curriculum emphasizes international politics, including relations between countries, trade and diplomatic negotiations between countries, foreign policy, strategy, security, intelligence, and military conflict.  Several courses emphasize policy-making and decision-making processes, institutions, national and regional politics, culture, and diplomatic relations.  The program consists of 33 semester hours plus successful completion of a comprehensive examination or a thesis. All new students should be advised by the departmental advisor.  In addition to the university requirement that students maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, students must also make a 3.0 or higher GPA in five of their six core courses.

A bachelor’s degree in Psychology enables students to study human behavior.  An understanding of psychological processes entails understanding the multiple influences created by the biological characteristics of the organism, the effects of learning and experience, social and cultural dynamics, and developmental change.  As a scientific discipline, the study of psychology requires competence in research methodology and critical thinking.  Psychology is also an applied discipline with applications in behavioral and physical health, business, education, medicine, and law, among others.

Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Psychology will be prepared to pursue a wide range of science- and research-related careers at the bachelor’s level or to pursue an advanced degree in a STEM related field.  Students will attain a high-quality scientific degree focused on knowledge in the discipline of psychology, integrity in the application of that knowledge, effective project management, and excellent critical thinking and communication skills.

The Bachelor of General Studies degree program provides interdisciplinary study across academic disciplines and professional fields. It is designed for nontraditional students whose age, residence, academic interests, or career objectives require a more individualized university degree. The Bachelor of General Studies degree program is designed to:

• Meet the University of West Florida’s mission to provide students with access to high-quality, relevant, and affordable undergraduate learning experiences, and therefore better serve the general educational needs of region;
• Provide students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree while maintaining family, military, and/or employment obligations;
• Offer a degree option including studies in several disciplinary areas;
• Give students the option to complete courses at the Pensacola campus, Emerald Coast campus, and/or online; and
• Provide students an opportunity to build upon the associate of arts degrees offered by other institutions.

The B.S. in Physics focuses on the study of matter and its motion.  Ultimately, the goal of physics is to understand how nature behaves from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the entire universe, making it the most fundamental natural science. The various topics covered include electricity and magnetism, electronics, fluids, mechanics, optics, quantum phenomena, concepts of relativity, thermodynamics, waves, and several related laboratory activities.

The Physics Department offers the traditional B.S. program in Physics with specializations in Physics or Engineering Physics.  In addition to graduate school, a trained physicist may enter the employment market as a research scientist. Those with an engineering physics background are eligible for entry-level jobs as engineers in organizations such as the Department of Defense, NASA, and the various national labs.

Students interested in obtaining certification to teach this subject area in secondary education need to contact an advisor in this department to carefully plan the course work to satisfy degree and some teacher certification requirements. A degree in this major is required for participation in teacher education certification options.

The College Student Affairs Administration (CSAA) program is designed for those students interested in a professional career in the various college and university student affairs and student services areas. Program participants will prepare for careers involving organisational management, student development, leadership training, and administration. Guided by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), the curriculum includes selected foundational studies; student development theory; student characteristics and effects of college on students; individual, group, and organisational interventions; organisation and administration; and assessment and evaluation. The program also includes substantial supervised internship opportunities.

The master’s degree in College Student Affairs Administration is a 36 hour program designed to be completed in two years. The program includes a professional core in addition to an an opportunity to choose one advisor-approved elective. At least six hours of internship experience is included in the professional core. Internships are available in a wide variety of student affairs and student service areas. Students are encouraged to seek at least one internship experience away from the UWF campus.