Master of Science in Data Science (STEM)

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

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.

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 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 B.S. specializations in Chemistry and Chemistry/Biochemistry have been approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and consist of courses designed to offer training in the fundamentals of chemistry. Opportunities exist for the student to take courses to prepare for a wide variety of careers in chemistry and related fields. The B.S. program is recommended for students wishing to enter graduate programs in chemistry or to find employment as professional chemists.

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.

Medical laboratory professionals are health care detectives. In this program, you will learn to gather evidence and uncover clues needed to effectively diagnose and treat patients.

Studying medical laboratory science at UWF sets you up for a successful career in a medical lab setting. Many of our students have job offers before they graduate. As the only MLS program in North Florida, hospitals across the Florida Panhandle and the South Alabama area rely on us to help fill positions in this high-demand career.

This interdisciplinary program offers a B.S. degree in Environmental Science. Students learn to analyze physical and socioeconomic environments and to reach decisions concerning environmental use and protection. The major allows students to obtain an interdisciplinary background suitable for environmental monitoring and planning. Graduates are prepared for entry- and middle-level positions in governmental agencies in such areas as regional planning and resource management; for positions in industry and the private sector; or to pursue graduate degrees in urban/regional planning, resource management, coastal studies, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the geosciences.

Two specializations are available under this B.S. program: Environmental Management and Natural Science. According to the departmental Academic Learning Compact, assessment of Student Learning Outcomes includes:

• A written exit exam during a student’s last semester of residency.
• A portfolio of the two best student projects.

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.

The Department of Computer Science offers several graduate programs that provide instruction on a variety of modern topics in data analytics, software engineering, parallel and distributed computing, and cybersecurity giving graduates the edge to be highly competitive in today's IT job market.

With one of the most affordable tuition plans in Florida and state-of-the-art facilities, our Computer Science Master's program offers cutting-edge curricula and learning environments, with professionally-oriented, hands-on study material.

The department annually awards several scholarships, fellowships, and out-of-state tuition waivers to new and returning students. The department also has limited opportunities for teaching/research assistantships for new and returning students. Please see the departmental website for additional information.

The Sport Management program prepares students for entry-level careers as potential leaders and administrators in the sport industry and for further study in graduate school. Possible positions may be found in collegiate athletics, municipal parks and recreation departments, community sports programs, professional sports leagues, amateur sports organizations, and commercial sport industries such as fitness and activity centers, sport camps, and other private sport organizations. An internship in the field along with a capstone course for students is required in this degree.

The B.S.B.A. in Business Economics is for students interested in economics as it applies to business and government organizations. The program provides students with a comprehensive view of the area of economics in business, allowing them to apply a set of analytical tools to understand the interrelations between the economy and the business environment under different market conditions.

Economics majors develop technical and analytical skills needed for policy oriented decisions in local and global markets, often based on analysis of fundamental resource allocations issues. Economists work in a broad range of areas that include in-depth inquiries, including the following: business strategy (Should we expand into a new market?); societal policies (What is the best way to fight environmental pollution?); and global issues (What rules should govern trade among nations?). Further inquires are conducted into how trade is affected by the elimination of tariffs and quotas. Students in the B.S.B.A. in Economics actively participate in small projects, such as data analysis and forecasting, intended to provide them with hands-on experience in managerial decision making. Specific topics include healthcare, crime, finance, production, international trade, labor, taxation, politics, the environment, pricing strategies, regulation and deregulation, data analysis and forecasting, and many others.

Many Economics graduates choose to attend graduate school, thereby enhancing their career opportunities. A major in Economics provides outstanding preparation for the M.B.A. degree, and an Economics degree is regarded as an excellent background to study Law or to pursue a Master’s in Economics.

Economics students may choose from the following specializations: Comprehensive Economics and Global Economics.