Master of Arts in Communication Studies

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - West Campus USA

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 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.

The BS program in health sciences provides students with the academic knowledge and skills that allow them to move directly into a range of employment opportunities within the health field or to continue their education in discipline-specific programs.

Students choose a track focus in either community-based health outcomes; health legislation and regulation; integrated care; or language, speech and communication.

A limited number of students each year may apply to pursue the echocardiography certificate through Mayo Clinic. Once the certificate is successfully completed, students may transfer the credits to Arizona State University and those credits may be applied toward completion of the Bachelor of Science in health sciences. Students interested in this option should seek advising before starting this track.

Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the law. The concentration in forensic psychology within the BA 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 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 in determining 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 for 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 Arts degree differs from the BS degree in that it does not require two additional lab science courses.

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 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 integrative health provides students with a foundation in integrative health, a holistic approach to wellness that focuses on the mind, body and spirit.

Through innovative and interprofessional approaches to serving and supporting diverse populations, students learn to understand and differentiate the ethics, legalities and standards of practice of integrative health and to think critically about different therapies, modalities and practitioners. Coursework and experiences include an emphasis on research and evidence-based practices and gaining an understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of the integrative health field.

This degree program has the same prerequisites as the nursing major; therefore, students may transition seamlessly to this program and obtain a bachelor's degree in a health-related field.

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.

BAE programs in secondary education prepare educators to teach youth enrolled in grades 6-12. While teacher candidates develop a strong theoretical background in their specific content areas, education program courses focus on developing the skills and teaching abilities required to be successful in the classroom. This program offers the Structured English Immersion instruction that qualifies them to receive the endorsement that enables them to work with English language learners and also provides extensive experiences throughout the program in integrating technology into teaching.

Secondary education professional pathway programs are clinically embedded during the junior and senior years. The primary goal of all professional experiences is to provide students with multiple opportunities to apply knowledge learned in ASU coursework to classroom practice in grades 6-12. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College students complete internships one day a week during the junior year and first semester of the senior year. In the final semester, students complete a full-time teaching residency. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College faculty and highly qualified lead teachers from partner school districts and charter schools collaboratively coach interns and residents during required professional experiences. The professional experience provided by the program provides students an opportunity to work directly with youth and make an immediate impact on classroom achievement. Students are also given the opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow interns in content area and interdisciplinary teams. This intensive, hands-on model of teacher preparation creates highly sought-after graduates.

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.