Bachelor of Arts in Communication

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - Polytechnic Campus USA

The concentration program in natural resource ecology in the BS in applied biological sciences offers students the broad base of knowledge needed to sustainably manage natural resources in a variety of ecosystems.

Students learn about fundamental components of natural systems such as soils and water and the plant and wildlife communities they support. Students also learn to measure and assess plant and animal populations through a variety of field techniques and computer tools, including Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing. Knowledge and techniques are applied to case studies in the classroom and laboratory projects.

Students can apply their knowledge further by seeking undergraduate research opportunities with faculty, and internships with outside organizations and businesses.

The BS program in graphic information technology with a concentration in user experience is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary foundation in design, research and communication, to prepare them for the rapidly growing area of user experience.

The concentration provides students with a conceptual understanding and applied skills in methods of gathering user information, analyzing data and communicating through visual design technologies. Although its disciplinary home and primary focus is graphic information technology, the concentration includes courses from the fields of human systems engineering and technical communication in order to provide students with the multiple perspectives and complementary skills needed for user experience work.

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior. This diverse field includes mental health and counseling as well as child development, neuroscience and brain function, memory and decision-making, behavior analysis, statistics and more. It also crosses over into other disciplines such as medicine, law, business and economics.

This BA program in psychology --- emphasizing critical thinking and reasoning, quantitative research methods and writing --- goes beyond the classroom, adding practical experiences through internships, service-learning and faculty-supervised research. (Some opportunities are not available to students enrolled in the degree offered through ASU Online.)

Graduates are prepared for graduate programs in psychology or other areas as well as for professional employment.

The core curriculum provides students with the intellectual tools to integrate their concentration areas, engage in transdisciplinary problem-solving and prepare for careers and graduate programs that increasingly cross disciplinary boundaries. An interdisciplinary studies student could choose to integrate concentrations like business and project management, psychology and social welfare, communication and justice studies, public administration and ethics, digital culture and computer gaming or many other unique combinations.

Interdisciplinary studies is an approach to answering questions, solving problems and addressing contemporary social issues from multiple perspectives. Interdisciplinary studies students take an active role in designing their educational plans and defining their career goals. The degree emphasizes written communication, versatility, self-assessment and critical thinking --- essential skills for today's dynamic world.

The MS program in organizational leadership offers a theoretically and methodologically rigorous approach to studying and creating use-inspired research needed to impact organizational leadership.

Students explore areas such as organizational dynamics, institutional evolution, strategic change, leading diverse teams, collaborative governance, conflict mediation, critical problem-solving and leadership assessment, and they learn advanced methodological and statistical skills.

The program places special emphasis on learning best practices and other applied aspects of leading organizations. Students tailor their degree to their interests through a vast array of leadership elective courses. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students choose from many different elective courses, such as not-for-profit leadership and intercultural leadership.

The MS program in graphic information technology provides students the opportunity to study within the various areas of graphics and cross-media design. Courses offered provide students with a working knowledge of the technology and management required of the diverse graphic industries.

This program prepares students to be industry leaders who develop and manage content through numerous communication and distribution modes. Creative and comfortable with complex digital technology, graduates are innovative problem-solvers prepared for leading roles in the rapidly evolving graphics industry.

The BA in business with a concentration in communication is an innovative, transdisciplinary program that prepares students for positions in a variety of professions in which business and communication play an important role in ensuring success.

Students complete rigorous courses within the communication concentration in addition to the skill and core courses required of all W. P. Carey School of Business majors.

Graduates have specific knowledge of business practices and the capacity to effectively communicate complex business information

The BS program in human systems engineering provides students with an understanding of the science of human performance and with experience using methods and tools to apply this understanding to design and problem-solving in a wide variety of domains, such as product usability, learning design, sports performance and workplace and hospital safety.

A wide variety of professions need experts in human factors to work on problems that involve an understanding of human performance. Interest areas include user experience, aviation human factors, cognitive performance, consumer psychology, transportation human factors, patient safety, effective teamwork, health psychology, learning optimization, social cognition, threat detection and sports psychology.

Learning happens everywhere and at all ages. The BAE program in educational studies prepares students to work with children, youth and adults in formal or informal learning environments within nonprofit settings, community institutions, civic organizations and businesses. The degree program provides a foundation for students to shape society by supporting educational endeavors. Through coursework and a series of internships, students develop skills for effective communication, collaboration, leadership, advocacy and innovation, all of which are essential to education professionals.

Graduates of the program are prepared to teach others and change the face of learning throughout society.

The Bachelor of Arts in education in educational studies is intended for students seeking a career in formal or informal learning contexts. This degree does not lead to teacher certification.

Veterans may be interested in this program as credit may be offered for military service.

An educational studies minor is also available to ASU students in other degree programs.

This program does not lead to Arizona teacher certification. Students seeking teacher certification should enroll in one of the other Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College undergraduate programs.

The MS program in human systems engineering with a concentration in intelligent systems provides students with a deep understanding of the science of human performance and experience in the engineering of intelligent systems, robotics and autonomous systems industries.

Students in this program participate in courses focusing on methods and tools in applied cognitive science and foundations of human systems engineering, including uses of simulation and robotics, among other topics.

This concentration prepares students for facilitating the future of work when humans will work closely with heterogeneous technology in the military, space exploration, manufacturing, medicine and agriculture.