Bachelor of Arts in Statistics

at Grand Valley State University USA

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in sociology are offered. The B.A. requires third-semester proficiency in a foreign language, while the B.S. requires intermediate-level statistics. A minor is also available.

A sociology degree serves as a strong base for several graduate programs, including occupational therapy and social work.

Why Study Sociology At Grand Valley?

• The Sociology Department is a community of critical scholars who analyze the context of social interaction and the construction of difference in society.
• Our Social Science Data Center offers intern and research assistant experience in active field research. Students work closely with faculty in all stages of project development, conduct, analysis, and publishing. Projects include life course, environmental issues, and social attitudes. Partners include environmental organizations, community groups, and the city of Muskegon.
• Our Internship program offers up to nine course credit hours for work experience. Students develop an analytical protocol in consultation with the Internship Director, and turn in written analysis of their observations and insight.
• The Sociology Club meets regularly throughout the academic year, engaging in fundraising; social, career, and graduate school planning activities; and providing a forum for discussing topics relevant to the discipline.
• The Colloquium Speakers Series brings experts and community activists on campus to talk about important and controversial issues. Students and the GVSU community join the discourse throughout the year to discuss racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights, the environment, and ways to a better future.

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program prepares you for advanced professional practice in social work, and in the development and implementation of social welfare policies and programs. The M.S.W. lays the foundation for you to assume leadership roles in society's institutions, organizations, and communities.

The M.S.W. 60 credit hour program is available on a full or part time basis, including 12 credit hours of field education. The curriculum incorporates a focus on CSWE core competencies. Advanced standing status, a 38 credit program with 8 field education hours, is for those who successfully completed a B.S.W. degree at a CSWE accredited program and meet other admission criteria. You may apply for the hybrid advanced standing program if eligible. Course requirements are available online.

Why Study Social Work At Grand Valley?

• become a culturally competent practitioner in a complex society through field education and practice;
• be prepared to engage in grassroots, political, and community organizing, as well as electoral politics;
• become a skilled practitioner capable of assuming leadership and scholarly professional roles in regional, state, national, and global communities;
• contribute to the ongoing development of professional social work knowledge and practice through research and scholarly inquiry that employs state-of-the-art technology; and
• earn a degree that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Grand Valley's Biomedical Engineering (B.S.E.) program prepares students for engineering careers and leadership roles. It integrates academic studies with hands-on learning and paid professional experiences in actual engineering companies. Grand Valley also offers a graduate program in engineering for those who want to expand their knowledge and skills.

Why Study Biomedical Engineering At Grand Valley?

• Prepare for a career where you can directly impact lives by designing medical devices, modeling physiologic systems, and developing medical instrumentation.
• Work with state-of-the-art motion capture equipment, tools for testing physiologic signals, and advanced prototyping capabilities to design and analyze biomedical systems.
• Complete real-world hands-on projects in small, student-focused courses.
• Partner with industry supporters who sponsor capstone design projects, fund engineering scholarships, and provide career opportunities.
• Join a group of successful graduates who have achieved a nearly 100% placement in industry-based careers or advanced graduate study.

The CVS program is a 20-month cohort program, which begins in the fall each year. Students are offered a position in one of the sonography majors: Cardiovascular Sonography (adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography, and vascular sonography) or Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General (abdominal and obstetrics/gynecology). Admittance is selectively granted to students who have completed two years of required general education and prerequisite courses. Student applications for placement in the fall cohort are due by February 1 every year. Applications are available online.

Why Study Cardiovascular Sonography At Grand Valley?

• GVSU is the only baccalaureate level sonography program in the state of Michigan. Strong curriculum and knowledgeable, clinically practicing faculty members prepare students for leadership within the field.
• Students enjoy small class sizes, a cohort educational experience, and clinical education at multiple physicians' offices and hospitals. The clinical site placements expose students to diverse experiences, allowing them to network across multiple health systems and develop broad skill sets.
• Laboratory facilities utilize state-of-the-art sonographic equipment to prepare students for current and emerging techniques and protocols.
• A commitment to quality is demonstrated through continuous accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
• Students are qualified to take national board registries through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography before graduation, allowing them to become board-registered sonographers immediately upon graduation. GVSU's sonography programs are the only programs in the State of Michigan with this distinction.

Grand Valley's unique combination of practical skills training within the context of a liberal arts education prepares graduates for a wide range of careers. The following degrees are offered to criminal justice majors:

• The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• The Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Minor in Juvenile Justice or Criminal Justice

Why Study Criminal Justice At Grand Valley?

• Grand Valley has one of the largest criminal justice programs in the country and faculty who are nationally recognized for contributions in the discipline.
• Students have the chance to complete an internship in the agency or organization of their choosing.
• Faculty members bring diverse interests and practical experiences in the profession to the classroom.
• There are opportunities to assist faculty with fieldwork, gathering and analyzing data on community issues and programs.
• Grand Valley is known as a leader in the state for police academy training and continually sets the bar for law enforcement education.

The program offers a broad and rigorous curriculum, including field, laboratory, classroom, and research experiences to best prepare students for a broad range of geoscience-related career opportunities.

The program prepares students to use a combination of geology and chemistry to study the earth, solve problems related to our environment, and find mineral and energy resources.

Why Study Geology-Chemistry At Grand Valley?

• Students are immersed in a community of knowledgeable, accomplished faculty members that is complemented by invaluable learning experiences outside of the classroom.
• Students can take part in field studies and research where they use their geological knowledge in real-world situations.
• Individually mentored research opportunities are available to undergraduate students.
• Students frequently attend and/or present their work at national, regional, or state professional meetings.
• The Geology Club organizes events such as on-campus speakers, field experiences, and conferences to offer networking, industry knowledge, and real-world experiences.

The CSAT major combines with one of two majors in the College of Education; it leads to certification in elementary education with one of the following specialized endorsement areas: special education, Spanish (paired with the Spanish elementary education minor), English as a Second Language (ESL) (with the Applied Linguistics-ESL minor), or early childhood (with the Early Childhood Education minor). A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) may be earned. For certification, the student must:

• Complete both the CSAT major, the education major, and the complementary minor (if required) with a GPA of 2.7 or better
• Have an overall GPA of 2.7 or better
• Pass the MTTC Elementary Education and endorsement-area tests

Why Study Csat At Grand Valley?

• Courses are designed specifically for the major and are taught using best practices identified in research literature.
• The strong pedagogical skills CSAT students develop are valuable in settings outside the school system, where an understanding of effective teaching and learning is important.
• Two of the endorsement areas within the special education major could lead to a master's degree.
• Students have many extracurricular opportunities, such as professional organizations (Student Council for Exceptional Children), service learning in area schools, and becoming active members of the community.
• Elementary education teachers with a Spanish endorsement or an ESL endorsement are in-demand locally and across the country.

Students will learn to act ethically and effectively in leading and managing philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, and to transcend traditional boundaries in the pursuit of prosperous, safe, and healthy communities.

The M.P.N.L. degree is for professionals with at least three years of full-time experience in management, and/or employment within the nonprofit sector. It consists of 36 credit hours of coursework. Students can pursue the following emphases:

• Community impact
• Mission advancement
• Nonprofit healthcare
• Customized with approval of advisor

Why Study Philanthropy And Nonprofit Leadership At Grand Valley?

• The program meets the needs of part- and full-time students with evening and weekend courses, workshops, and Web-enhanced learning.
• Grand Valley library's endowed Johnson Collection for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is one of the country's most comprehensive collections of books, journals, and audiovisuals on the nonprofit sector.
• There are opportunities for students to collaborate with faculty on field-related research projects.
• Students develop skills in effective, ethical leadership and management through real-world learning opportunities.
• Grand Valley's innovative nonprofit leadership curriculum is designed to meet the diverse educational needs of today's job market.

The major is administered by the psychology department. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in behavioral neuroscience. The B.S. degree requires students to take the degree requirement sequence from the psychology department. The B.A. degree requires third semester proficiency in a foreign language.

Why Study Behavioral Neuroscience At Grand Valley?

• Faculty members have diverse interests and training that covers the field of neuroscience with breadth and depth, so a wide range of courses are available, as well as research opportunities.
• Students can expect a high-quality, student-focused education in the field of behavioral neuroscience.
• Undergraduate behavioral neuroscience students have opportunities to work closely with a faculty member on a research project.
• Students are immersed in an atmosphere of inquiry, integrity, engagement, community, curiosity, and creativity among faculty and staff.
• Learning opportunities are available through study abroad in 25 countries.

Psychology is the science of mind and behavior. This basic and applied science includes the study of thought, action, and emotion. Psychologists study how people influence and interact with one another, how they develop, and the role that biological mechanisms play in psychological processes.

Why Study Psychology At Grand Valley?

• Faculty members have diverse interests and training that cover the field of psychology with both breadth and depth, so there are a wide range of courses available in the curriculum.
• Offering a high quality, student-oriented education is the focus in psychology.
• Students are immersed in an atmosphere of inquiry, integrity, engagement, community, curiosity, and creativity among peers, staff, and faculty.
• There are opportunities for advanced undergraduate psychology students to work closely with a faculty member on research. There are also internship opportunities to work with organizations outside the university.
• Students have many study abroad opportunities to choose from.