Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The BSW in Social Work, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, prepares students to enter beginning professional social work practice.

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 B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences is for students wishing to pursue careers in fields that focus on solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems. Specializations available are Children & Society and Community Education. Courses in these specializations draw from multiple disciplines.

The mission of the Interdisciplinary Social Science Children and Society specialization is to prepare students to study, support, and work with children and their families. The program emphasizes the complex and interconnected issues and challenges faced by children and families in modern society. The broad focus enables students to explain phenomenon, solve problems, and raise new questions in ways uncommon through a single-disciplinary focus.

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.

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 Legal Studies Program provides students with a broad understanding of basic principles of law and the role and function of the legal system.  While no specific major is prescribed for admission to law school, many pre-law students elect to major in Legal Studies.  The Legal Studies Program, in addition to preparing students for law-related careers, provides a foundation for law school or other graduate education. All of the full-time Legal Studies faculty are attorneys who are graduates of ABA-Approved law schools and are available for law school advising.  Legal Studies students are encouraged to work closely with Legal Studies Advisors in planning their programs. Satisfactory completion of program requirements leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Legal Studies.

The University of West Florida is one of only a few institutions in the United States which offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. The program is provided through the Department of Biology. The curriculum includes a series of seven core courses fundamental to all areas of biology. Elective courses emphasize theoretical and practical aspects of aquatic/marine biology. Wetlands and estuarine marshes of the main campus, as well as the nearby Santa Rosa Island campus and the Gulf of Mexico, provide living specimens for study and serve as laboratories supporting elective courses. Graduates may seek careers in marine biology, fisheries management, aquaculture, pollution biology, and marine toxicology, and find employment in local, state, and federal departments of environmental regulation and education, as well as the private sector. Graduates are also well prepared to pursue advanced degrees. 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 enrolling.

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 B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities program affords students the opportunity to select one of two specializations: Arts Administration or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Students should note that courses taken for the chosen discipline may not be used to complete the requirements for additional majors or minors.

Students in Arts Administration will gain a broad understanding of the various administrative functions within any arts organization. These functions include but are not limited to Marketing, Fundraising and Management. The student also receives intensive training in the chosen artistic discipline including Art & Design, Music or Theatre. The program offers a solid foundation for either employment in a professional environment or additional graduate study in Arts Administration.

The B.S.B.A. in Finance prepares students for professional careers in areas such as corporate financial management, financial institutions management, investments, and financial planning. The program also provides the foundation to pursue the designations of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP).