Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - West Campus USA

The BS program in computational forensics is a multidisciplinary degree program that encompasses areas of physical, biological and social sciences with an additional focus on statistics and computation.

Students investigate specific forensic problems using statistics, computing and mathematics with the main goal of advancing their forensic science knowledge and capabilities. Students study and develop the quantitative and computational methods that assist basic and applied research efforts in forensic science, establish or prove scientific basis in investigative procedures and support forensic examiner casework. Through modeling, computer simulations and computer-based analysis and recognition, students gain an in-depth understanding of the forensic science discipline, the scientific method and the systematic approach to forensic science.

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 MA program in social justice and human rights addresses urgent social issues related to human security, labor, migration, children, family, education and the environment.

The social justice in human rights graduate degree program provides students with a combination of applied real-world skills and training in research. They may choose to focus on specific issues such as racial justice, educational rights, disability rights, indigenous rights, animal rights or the abolition of human trafficking. Or they may direct their focus to regional contexts such as the Middle East, Central Europe, East Africa or Central America.

The coursework in this theoretically and methodologically rigorous program examines social issues in contexts defined by multiple and intersecting forms of social identity and disadvantage, including gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and nationality.

The program requires an internship, to be completed domestically or internationally, in which students typically work alongside other advocates for social justice to help refugees, migrants, workers and survivors of violence or human trafficking.

Students may select from three degree tracks: research, advocacy, or critical trauma studies and social work. The research track prepares students for positions as researchers, analysts and advocates in governmental, intergovernmental and nongovernmental agencies. The advocacy track prepares students to be leaders in nonprofit, social movement, governmental and intergovernmental organizations. The critical trauma studies and social work track prepares students to assist vulnerable people, especially survivors of extreme violence, poverty, war, sex trafficking, human trafficking, gender-based violence and various forms of marginalization.

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.

The BS program in biotechnology and bioenterprise provides students with essential transdisciplinary and practical experience in biotechnology research. Students acquire the associated business and entrepreneurship skills needed to develop and market biotechnological innovations and solutions to problems facing the biotechnology and health sciences communities in Arizona, the nation and beyond.

The program emphasizes coursework in the biological, biomolecular and biotechnological sciences, which are key components that underpin biotechnology. Students may tailor the degree to their specific interests and aspirations through focus areas in biotechnology, bioentrepreneurship and biostatistics. The program is unique due to its focus on blending biotechnology and entrepreneurship.

Students in the BS program in applied computing learn a computer science foundation and then explore the established knowledge and emerging developments in the high-demand areas of database systems, computer networks and cybersecurity. The program also provides the opportunity to investigate interdisciplinary connections, including the combination of computing with its real-world application in other disciplines through concurrent degrees and minors.

Hands-on class projects, internships, industry partnerships and authentic and impactful research conducted with faculty provide numerous opportunities for students to apply their knowledge before they graduate. Students use their programming expertise, systems knowledge and critical thinking skills to effectively problem-solve and articulate their experience through presentations, scientific posters and professional papers.

With a depth of knowledge and experience in databases, networks and cybersecurity, graduates have a strong foundation in systems with established interconnections among these fields that prepares them for graduate study and for careers that include cybersecurity analysts, database architects and network engineers.

The MA in interdisciplinary studies offered by the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences is an innovative program that allows students to combine the study of two or more disciplines for their program of study.

Founded on the conviction that solving problems in the 21st century often requires an interdisciplinary approach, this flexible program provides exposure to a variety of research methods, historical perspectives and modes of inquiry.

The program gives students access to faculty members who are active practitioners of interdisciplinary inquiry. Working with the faculty, students may define their own area of emphasis or adopt an existing area within the humanities and social sciences.

The skills and knowledge that students acquire can be directed toward doctoral study or professional goals in any enterprise that engages in research or education.

The BA program in English is focused on literature, writing, film and culture.

Courses address a wide variety of genres, traditions and time periods. Students engage in close reading and critical thinking as they work with powerful, multilayered texts. They build communication skills as they compose for multiple purposes and audiences. The program ends with a degree capstone that allows students to use their skills and knowledge in a personalized academic or creative project.

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 communication is a broad-based program that trains individuals to speak and write competently, manage relationships well, problem-solve effectively and understand the role and function of communication in public forums, organizational settings, relational exchanges and intercultural situations.

The curriculum provides an extensive understanding of the practical, theoretical and professional distinctions of today's field of communication. Utilizing the nationally recognized CommLabASU, students perform in-depth study of what contributes to and detracts from effective human communication, recognizing that the art of communication is far more nuanced than simple speaking and writing prowess.

Students may pursue one or more focus areas that are designed to amplify their academic and professional preparation in specific contexts.