Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Public Relations

at Grand Valley State University USA

 Students earn a B.A. or B.S. in GSI by taking courses organized around interdisciplinary global themes. Students also choose two world regions to study in more depth. 

Why Pursue Global Studies And Social Impact At Grand Valley?

• Plan a course of study around global and social justice issues such as immigration, human trafficking, and geotourism.
• Learn to think in an integrated, interdisciplinary way about issues affecting people across the globe.
• Develop aptitude in intercultural competency and communication through experiential learning.
• Gain important foreign language capabilities.
• Build skills in research methods and statistics.

The BS in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences prepares you for careers in this highly-relevant field to the Grat Lakes region. The program features a breadth and depth of knowledge that includes the study of stream ecology, fisheries biology, lake ecology, wetland ecology, aquatic invertebrates, and aquatic plants, among others. This curriculum will give graduates a highly desirable skill set which will make them well qualified for a range of career paths.

If you are interested in fisheries biology, you will be prepared to apply for Associate Fisheries Professional certification offered by the American Fisheries Society. Associate Fisheries Professional certification helps you qualify for jobs with state and federal agencies, and with environmental consulting firms.

Students interested in marine biology should plan on taking additional coursework in math and chemistry and complete summer coursework at a marine field station.

Why Study Fisheries And Aquatic Sciences At Grand Valley?

• The degree combines the highly technical expertise spanning the study of chemistry, physics, statistics, geology, natural resource management and biology with a liberal education component, creating a professional with a broad skill set required for success in this high demand profession.
• Flexibility within the curriculum provides you with a broad set of elective courses and opportunities for specialization.
• Authentic experiential learning in field and in laboratory learning environments.
• Opportunities for internships, international and domestic field study, and mentor-guided student research to complement coursework.
• A broad range of research opportunities provide undergraduate students the chance to engage in real-world projects

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.

Computer science students receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The diverse elective courses offered within the curriculum allow students to explore specialties within their field, such as:

• Artificial intelligence
• Computer graphics
• Web/mobile applications
• System/software security
• Usability design
• Data mining

Why Study Computer Science At Grand Valley?

Computing professionals who want to take their expertise or career to the next level can take advantage of Grand Valley's highly-credentialed and well-connected faculty.

• Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, abet.org.
• The program offers a variety of electives and minors, so students can tailor their education to their interests.
• The curriculum is a combination of theoretical foundation and applied computing, giving students a competitive edge in the job market.
• Students gain practical experience through extensive internship opportunities available through the School of Computing and Information Systems.
• Dedicated computer labs with state-of-the-art equipment ensure relevant, hands-on experience.

The program requires a minimum of 36 credits. Requisite courses, from statistics, computer science, and professional science, provide students with a strong foundation in data science. This is an applied program for the working professional.

Why Study Data Science And Analytics At Grand Valley?

• Job postings for data science grew 57 percent for the first quarter of 2017. Data-related jobs are expected to grow by 11 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• This flexible program is designed with the working professional in mind, offering evening classes.
• The program offers experiential learning through field experiences and collaborative assignments and projects.
• First-rate faculty members are trained professionals with advanced degrees in data science.
• The program features a strong emphasis in the fundamentals of data science.

Students choose between a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. A minor is available. The advertising and public relations major stresses an integrated approach. Students may choose a focus in advertising or public relations, but they will take courses in both to prepare them for common practice in the field.

Why Study Advertising And Public Relations At Grand Valley?

• The curriculum is geared to the demands of the industry's ever-changing standards and includes courses recommended by national panels of advertising and public relations educators and professionals.
• Faculty members specialize in teaching communication concepts and skills that are relevant and in-demand. They have academic accomplishments and stellar professional resumes representing a variety of backgrounds in the field.
• Coursework trains students to apply communication theories and concepts in a variety of work settings, while demonstrating the ability to think strategically, solve problems, and act ethically and legally.
• Hands-on experience with real clients in classes, internships, GrandPR (a student-run PR firm), and the National Student Advertising Competition, in which our students have placed five times as national finalists.
• Valuable industry connections through networking and via membership in local student chapters of the American Advertising Federation and the Public Relations Student Society of America.

We offer major and minor programs in both Spanish and Spanish Education (Elementary and Secondary levels). Spanish major (33-36 credits) and minor (21-27 credits) programs begin at the 300-level, and include courses across a variety of areas, including language study, literature, linguistics, and civilization and culture.

We offer courses on Spanish in a professional setting, including Health, Business, Law Enforcement, and Writing. Students in our program frequently complete portions of their coursework through summer, semester, and full year study abroad programs in countries across the world.

All languages listed below count toward the BA third semester language requirement. We offer:

• Majors in French, German, and Spanish
• Minors in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish
• Three years of language and culture courses in Japanese
• Two years of language in Italian

Why Study Spanish At Grand Valley?

• With such a large Latino population in the U.S. and booming economies outside the U.S., there is a huge demand for Spanish-speaking professionals in nursing, construction management, and media, among many other fields.
• Spanish is the second largest native language in the world, with almost 40 million native speakers in the U.S.
• More than 500 million people in the world can speak and communicate in Spanish, with a growing trend that will reach 600 million speakers by 2050.
• Spanish complements majors in many other fields, such as international relations, international business, culture, and political science.
• The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures works closely with the Padnos International Center to make many opportunities for study abroad available.

The photography program offers high-quality, student-centered, production and theory courses aimed at developing liberally educated professionals able to thoughtfully adapt and thrive in a variety of professional and creative environments.

A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree is offered. A minor is also available.

Why Study Photography At Grand Valley?

• A dedication to the education of intelligent image-makers that is neither constrained in a vocational training program, nor a narrow studio art emphasis alone, is what makes the photography program at Grand Valley distinct and valued in the state and region.
• The school has many ties with business, community, and cultural organizations, and has contacts with experts in a variety of areas in communications, which serve as outstanding resources both within the classroom and for internships.
• The diversity of courses offered allows students the opportunity to explore a variety of photographic methods and applications as they develop their personal expertise and interests.
• The program prepares students to engage graduate studies in fine art programs.
• Faculty members in photography have a broad range of professional experience and a dedication to teaching.

Students explore the ways interconnected physical, institutional, and cultural systems shape our attitudes and behavior toward the environment. The program emphasizes practical approaches to issues through collaborative problem-solving and involvement in research, internships, and community-based projects.

Students pursuing a major in ENS may choose a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and complete 35 to 37 credits, plus the B.A. or B.S. program requirements. Students select interdisciplinary coursework from at least one of four focus areas: sustainable food systems, energy, water resources, and culture and the built environment.

The ENS major is designed with the intention for students to easily combine and supplement it with another major, minor, or certificate to further expand knowledge and career options.

Why Study Environmental And Sustainability Studies At Grand Valley?

• Make connections to pursue a career as an environmental and sustainability professional in industry, government, and non-profit organizations.
• Develop skills in communication, advocacy, outreach, education, and research.
• Acquire first-hand experience addressing complex environmental problems through community-based learning, internships, and research projects.
• Engage in campus sustainability activities at Michigan's top-rated green university.
• Gain the broad educational background needed to create positive change as leaders, decision-makers, and citizens.

This major is designed to address the unique position of sport in the global economy. Sport management students acquire knowledge and skills to work in a wide-ranging sport industry and are prepared to pursue graduate degrees, if they desire.

Sport management majors receive a Bachelor of Science degree; students are encouraged to pursue a related minor. In addition, a certificate in sport coaching is available.

Why Study Sport Management At Grand Valley?

• The program offers a strong foundation in liberal arts; coursework is designed to develop a high level of competence to make a positive impact in the sports environment.
• The combination of coursework and experiential learning accommodates the diverse professional preparation needs of undergraduate students.
• There are many experiential opportunities that promote intellectual inquiry and develop sound professional ethics.
• Additional opportunities include volunteer and internship experiences locally, nationally, and internationally, to better prepare students for the professional workplace.