Bachelor of Arts in Communication

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - West Campus USA

The BA program in business with a concentration in statistics is designed for students interested in a curriculum that helps them develop solid business skills with an emphasis in mathematics and statistics. The program involves theoretical and applied statistics with a focus on practical and applied aspects of statistics.

The pharmacology and toxicology concentration of the BS program in biology provides an emphasis in the biochemical, molecular and physiological components of drug and body interactions.

The degree program emphasizes experiential learning, and all required core courses have laboratories. By learning in an integrative environment that emphasizes the connectedness of the disciplines, students gain a better understanding of larger scientific concepts and they can view these concepts from multiple perspectives. To have a thorough understanding of the interactions of chemicals in the biological system, students study both biology and chemistry and become familiar with chemical interactions at physiological, molecular and cellular levels.

Undergraduates have the opportunity to conduct independent research under the mentorship of faculty members or in internships outside the school.

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 crosses into other disciplines such as medicine, law, business and economics.

Emphasizing critical thinking and reasoning, and quantitative research methods and writing, this BS program in psychology goes beyond the classroom with 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.)

The Bachelor of Science degree differs from the Bachelor of Arts degree in that it requires two additional lab courses and advanced statistical training, providing a greater depth of knowledge in the biological and neuroscientific aspects of psychology that are increasingly important both for research and for clinical practice. The advanced statistical training further prepares students for careers and graduate training involving psychological research, clinical research and legal policy research.

The BA program in community advocacy and social policy focuses on advocacy strategies through an in-depth exploration, analysis and comparison of social service systems and policies from an empowerment perspective.

The program's emphasis is on examining the needs of historically under-served individuals, families and communities. Policy analysis and social change are critical themes in developing an advocacy knowledge base as are the equally important themes of prevention and social well-being. Students complete courses in two core areas: diversity and oppressed populations and social issues and interventions.

While the Bachelor of Arts in community advocacy and social policy program is fully accredited regionally under the North Central Regional Higher Education Association, it is not accredited through the Council of Social Work Education because this degree is not a BSW degree. Therefore, the Bachelor of Arts in community advocacy and social policy degree would not fulfill a professional licensing requirement that requires a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work program.

Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the law. The concentration in forensic psychology within the BS program in psychology combines general training in psychology with specialized coursework in criminal law, criminal behavior, the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and legal decision-making.

When courts are faced with cases in which a psychology-related question arises, they may turn to psychologists and ask for help with the case. For example, psychologists might assist the court in understanding a criminal's mental state at the time of a crime or whether a particular jury might have been biased against a defendant based on his or her race. This is the realm of forensic psychology.

This program teaches students about the various roles of psychologists in the legal system and helps them discover which roles they might like to pursue through careers in mental health, criminal justice or through graduate training.

The Bachelor of Science degree differs from the BA degree in that it requires two additional lab courses and advanced statistical training. The Bachelor of Science program provides a greater depth of knowledge in the biological and neuroscientific aspects of psychology that are becoming increasingly important both for research and clinical forensic practice. In addition, the advanced statistical training further prepares students for careers and graduate training involving psychological research, clinical research and legal policy research.

The BA program in biology with an emphasis in the natural sciences examines the interdisciplinary nature of the life and physical sciences, focusing on the ways in which these disciplines intersect. The program's organization and flexibility allows students to simultaneously study another subject outside their major. Students are encouraged to add a minor or concurrent degree in another subject area.

Students gain hands-on experience as they work both in small groups and one-on-one with individual faculty members. Students may participate in cutting-edge scientific research by assisting in faculty research laboratories, or even publish in top journals and present their results at regional and national scientific meetings.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level jobs in research, nonprofit, education and outreach organizations and for other roles in the life sciences. Graduates are also prepared for related graduate programs.

The W. P. Carey BS program in management prepares students to become effective managers and team leaders. Students gain theoretical and conceptual knowledge and build critical skills such as:

• Analytical research and problem-solving
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Global applications
• Leadership
• Personal ethics and integrity
• Teamwork

The curriculum includes the fundamentals of the global economy, the world of e-business, ethics, human resource and strategic management and collaborative team skills. Throughout the program, theories and concepts of management and ethical leadership are enhanced by experiencing and testing them in skill-based exercises, case discussions and real-world, team-based project work.

The MS program in psychology offered by the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences has two main options.

One option is ideal for students who plan to pursue doctoral work or careers that involve psychological research methods such as marketing research, education research analysis, public policy analysis, research project management or program evaluation. The program is intensive and research-oriented, and it culminates in a thesis or applied project. Students receive training in advanced research methodology and statistical analysis, grant proposal writing, laboratory instrumentation, data collection and manuscript development. Students gain first-hand exposure to designing and conducting research, analyzing data and developing presentations and manuscripts. Students are encouraged to present research reports at professional meetings and conferences and to publish as co-authors in faculty-guided research.

The online program option gives students and working professionals an understanding of psychological theory and empirical research findings as they relate to human behavior, cognition, emotion and attitudes. The coursework is designed to help students learn about the various roles of psychologists in society today and discover which they might like to pursue through careers in education, social service, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, management or through additional graduate training.

Elective courses in all options are offered in several areas, including abnormal psychology, affective science, behavior analysis, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, legal psychology, psychophysiology and social psychology.

The BS program in biology with an emphasis in the natural sciences examines these disciplines through experiential learning. By learning in an integrative environment that emphasizes the connectedness of the life sciences, students gain a better understanding of larger scientific concepts and can view these concepts from multiple perspectives.

All of the program's core courses include laboratories.

Students are encouraged to conduct independent research under the mentorship of faculty members or during internships. Some even publish in top journals and present their results at scientific meetings.

Graduates are prepared for employment with state and federal agencies or private organizations, such as biomedical laboratories and environmental consultancies. They are also prepared for graduate or doctoral programs in human or veterinary medicine, pharmacy, dentistry or scientific research.

Students in the BS program in pharmacology and toxicology study how foreign materials react with human bodies. To have a thorough understanding of the interactions of chemicals in the biological system, students in the program study both biology and chemistry, and they become familiar with chemical interactions at physiological, molecular and cellular levels.