Master of Arts in Biology (STEM)

at Grand Valley State University USA

Two curriculum options: traditional full-time, two year program or the hybrid full-time, three year program (for students who must maintain employment throughout the program due to life commitments.) Both lead to an entry-level Master of Science in occupational therapy. Completion of all prerequisite coursework; a minimum of 50 hours of work, volunteer, and/or job shadow experience with a licensed OT; and the previous attainment of a bachelor's degree are required before starting either program.

Why Study Occupational Therapy At Grand Valley?

• Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Associatio.
• One hundred percent of GVSU occupational therapy graduates are employed in the field.
• Over the past three years, Grand Valley has had an overall pass rate of 100 percent on the NBCOT Board Exam.
• OT is considered one of the top careers for the future with a growth rate of 26 percent in the next eight years.

Health Communication is one of four undergraduate majors offered by Grand Valley's School of Communications. Students take courses in the health communication core and biomedical sciences. The curriculum features a variety of topics and an experiential approach to learning.

Why Study Health Communication At Grand Valley?

• The program emphasizes a broad understanding of the field combined with a solid knowledge of specific technical skills.
• Students learn critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with an emphasis on learning-by-doing.
• Students frequently participate in creative performances, exhibitions, and publications related to their chosen major field of study.
• State-of-the-art facilities support current and emergent technologies and enhance student competence.
• Internships are available in a variety of professional work settings.

Choose from the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree after completing 42 major-specific credits. The curriculum allows students to determine their own course of study, balancing creative and professional writing interests. Students also complete an internship to enhance their writing skills.

For students who wish to add to their current major and enhance their writing, the department offers the option to minor in writing.

Why Study Writing At Grand Valley?

• The writing major involves liberal arts training in which students become critical readers, careful thinkers, and skilled writers.
• The department offers one of the few independent undergraduate writing majors in the country.
• Students who want to focus on professional or technical writing can do so in a program that exposes them to the latest technologies for print and web environments.
• The department offers students a variety of extracurricular writing activities including a student-run literary journal, a visiting writing series, a student reading series, an organization for professional writers, a student-produced department newsletter, and opportunities for travel to writing conferences.
• Students may choose to complete a Distinction in Writing, a program that encourages them to pursue excellence beyond the classroom.

Students learn how to apply scientific knowledge to address environmental issues related to ecology, conservation, and sustainability. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in natural resources management offers students a variety of academic options to pursue:

• General natural resources management degree
• Wildlife certification
• Natural resources management minor

Why Study Natural Resources Management At Grand Valley?

• The program is the only one of its kind at a liberal arts college in Michigan.
• Students gain practical work experience through connections with environmental and natural resources agencies, nonprofit organizations, and those in the industry.
• There are many opportunities to research projects with faculty on a wide range of topics including wildlife management, invasive species control, ecological restoration, renewable energy, and endangered species conservation.
• With an advisor's guidance, students can develop customized programs based on their specific interests.

You may pursue a graduate degree via one of two tracks. Track 1 is an intensive four semester applied program for those who have completed the pre-professional requirements and a bachelor's degree. Track 2 is a six semester program, with the first two semesters meeting pre-professional requirements, and the final four semesters an intensive applied program.
Opportunities for supervised clinical practice are provided in community-based healthcare and educational settings located within two hours of GVSU's Health Campus, with opportunities outside this radius potentially available upon request.

Why Study Speech-Language Pathology At Grand Valley?

• GVSU is known for interprofessional health sciences and is one of two universities in Michigan offering all therapy programs.
• All four semesters include community-based clinical placements and clinical application infused into academic coursework.
• This intensive program provides the opportunity for students to complete their degree and begin their career sooner than other speech-language pathology programs, while obtaining all of the same knowledge and skills acquired in other programs.
• Named one of the top speech-language pathology graduate programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
• Fully accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

The Master of Science in water resource policy will provide you with the foundation to take a leadership role in the development and implementation of future water resource policies. The curriculum is designed for a range of academic backgrounds including the sciences, public administration, political science, etc. In addition, the program has been developed to serve both traditional graduate students and professionals working in the environmental field.

Why Study Water Resource Policy At Grand Valley?

• This program is the first of its kind in the state of Michigan.
• The emerging need for well-trained water policy professionals. Demands on water resources will continue to grow over the next decade, which will drive program growth in the future.
• Relevant internship placements with organizations that deal with current and emerging water issues give you the opportunity to help research, discuss, and develop new policies.
• Opportunities for study at the Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon.
• Available to full- or part-time students. Many classes are offered in hybrid or online format to accommodate the schedules of working professionals.

Grand Valley's French major focuses on all areas of French language and culture, preparing students for many careers. We also offer a specialized major or minor for those seeking to teach French. Most students embark on study-abroad programs in France and beyond, whether at one of our sister schools, on our faculty-led summer program in Bordeaux, or in an approved program of their choice. If you are majoring in another field, our French minor offers an opportunity to broaden your principal field by adding a cultural and linguistic dimension.

Why Study French At Grand Valley?

• France is spoken natively by over 300 million people in 56 countries on five continents, and is the most commonly learned second language in the world. It is also one of the working languages, along with English, of the United Nations and is an official language of many international organizations like NATO, International Red Cross, and more).
• French is a language of the arts and literature; of medical research, technology, and sustainability; of fashion and food; and of social and political institutions that promote multiculturalism, free thought, and the expression of ideas.
• French-language cinema ranks number 2 in the world, with hundreds of French-language films are produced each year in dozens of countries.
• Knowing French enables one to understand and appreciate cultural diversity, which not only enhances one's competitive advantage abroad and helps maintain political and security interests, but also promotes a better understanding of cultural diversity right here in the USA.
• French at GVSU is a dynamic program with an active community of students who get together regularly to take their passion for French beyond the classroom through films, game nights, and other activities.

The biology program prepares students for leading positions in a wide range of careers that improve human welfare and environmental stewardship. Students can customize their program by specializing in areas that focus on biomolecular processes, ecology and evolutionary biology, general studies for preprofessional programs, or teacher certification

Why Study Biology At Grand Valley?

• Students receive extensive hands-on, student-focused, and project-based learning from expert faculty members, supported by state-of-the-art lab and field facilities.
• Opportunities for internships, international and domestic field study, and mentor-guided student research are available to complement coursework.
• Students make valuable connections through networking opportunities with faculty, peers, alumni, professional organizations, and industry stakeholders.
• A broad range of research opportunities provide undergraduate students the chance to engage in real-world projects.
• Graduates enjoy successful careers in conservation, ecology, zoology, and teaching, as well as admission to graduate studies in veterinary studies and human medicine.

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.

Legal studies students may earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. The B.A. requires third semester proficiency in a foreign language. The B.S. requires completion of courses in statistics and research methods. A minor, not approved by the ABA, is also available.

Why Study Legal Studies At Grand Valley?

• The legal studies major is approved by the American Bar Association and features a critical-thinking foundation that focuses on professional skills.
• The program prides itself on the diverse professional experience of its faculty members, most of whom are licensed attorneys with experience working in areas of civil and criminal law.
• Faculty are engaged in scholarly research and writing and have been recognized as award-winning teachers and mentors.
• The program's advisory board consists of attorneys and paralegals who give guidance on matters such as curriculum, internship and employment opportunities, and trends in the legal field.
• The legal studies internship program allows students to get college credit for work in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and other organizations that engage in law-related work.