Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies

at Kent State University USA

The Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology educates competent speech-language pathologists to critically evaluate communication disorders and the methods used in the habilitation and rehabilitation of those disorders.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering Technology prepares graduates to enter careers in the design, installation, manufacturing, testing, evaluation, technical sales and maintenance of aeronautical/aerospace systems. Students gain technical expertise in engineering materials, statics, strength of materials, applied aerodynamics, applied propulsion and electronics. Graduates  have strengths in the analysis, applied design, development, implementation and oversight of more advanced aeronautical/aerospace systems and processes.

Information on the program’s education objectives and student enrollment and graduation data can be found on the college website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
• Design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
• Apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature.
• Conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes.
• Function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.

The Master of Music degree in Performance is designed to prepare the student for professional music activities, including solo performance, orchestral playing, ensemble playing, collaborative performance, studio teaching; as well as doctoral study. The program emphasizes development of skills, knowledge and background in the following areas: literature and repertoire, performance skills, practice skills, interpretation and expression, performance pedagogy, historical performance practices, music history and music theory.

The Performance major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Chamber Music concentration is for intensive coaching and performance of string quartet literature.
• The Collaborative Piano concentration provides focused study on performance, chamber music, accompanying and literature.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Recognize, identify, interpret and perform representative literature from different historical periods, countries and composers.
• Apply advanced performing skills in solo and ensemble settings, including tone production, accuracy, intonation, instrumental/vocal technique, musicality/expression, vocal language and diction and stage presence/presentation.
• Discuss, utilize and achieve high-quality results from efficient and effective practice techniques, including time management, achievable goals and use of appropriate technical skills, musical expression skills and focused work ethic.
• Have an enhanced understanding of interpretation and expression in music.
• Identify, explain and utilize performance pedagogy appropriate to the specific area of study.
• Identify, associate, differentiate and utilize performances practices appropriate to the literature of the various stylistic periods.
• Utilize and discuss score study of literature performed and also representative literature from various historical periods and composers.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science comprises four concentrations:

• The Exercise Physiology concentration prepares students for graduate school in exercise physiology or health care professions.
• The Exercise Specialist concentration enables students to prepare for work in the clinical setting, ranging from a career in wellness to cardiac rehabilitation.
• The Pre-Physical/Occupational Therapy/Podiatric Medicine concentration prepares students for subsequent graduate school in these areas. The pre-podiatric medicine track is designed to be a combined program with Kent State University's College of Podiatric Medicine. Successful completion of this program, however does not guarantee acceptance into the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. Please see the Podiatric Medicine doctoral program in the catalog for more information about the application process and acceptance criteria.
• The Strength and Conditioning concentration is designed to assist those that wish to pursue a career in the field of strength and conditioning. This may include working with all levels of athletes in a strength and conditioning facility.

The goal of the program is to prepare competent entry-level Exercise Science professionals in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (abilities) learning domains. Individual course content, objectives, and assessments are structured to achieve this larger goal.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Explain the physiology of human movement.
• Outline the anatomy and physiology of exercise.
• Identify the pathophysiology of chronic diseases and risk factors.
• Apply the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to assess, motivate and prescribe exercise for healthy individuals and those with chronic diseases.
• Demonstrate understanding of scientific and theoretical concepts of physiology critical to acting as an Exercise Scientist [Knowledge].
• Demonstrate practical skills including the ability to conduct a comprehensive fitness assessment [Assessment Skills].
• Pass a National Certification (either the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP) or the National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS))[Foundational Knowledge of the Field].

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design, Technology and Production fosters the artistic development of theatre designers, technicians and artisans. Students study both traditional theatre practices and new methods, materials and technologies. Students must demonstrate continued progress through annual portfolio reviews, course work and production responsibilities. In addition, students are expected to complete a significant production assignment each semester.

Students will be able to apply design and technology concepts for the school’s theatrical and dance productions. Kent State’s Center for the Performing Arts houses three theatres, performance and rehearsal space, a scene shop, a costume shop and laboratories for costumes, drafting, lighting and scenery. In addition, the School of Theatre and Dance oversees the outdoor venue Porthouse Theatre.

The B.F.A. degree program prepares students for M.F.A. degree study, as well as such occupations as scenic designer, costume designer, lighting designer, sound/projection designer, prop master, scenic artist, stage manager, production manager, wardrobe supervisor, technical director and stage technicians.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate ability to conceptualize and realize a design aesthetic consistent with the overall artistic concepts of a production.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate basic elements and principles of design theory.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate basic elements and principles of composition related to line, shape, color, texture and sound.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the aesthetic use of color.
• Demonstrate understanding of aesthetic use of sound.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate design ideas and realities to other personnel involved in the production, including directors, other designers, stage managers and actors.
• Demonstrate ability to produce and communicate design ideas with freehand drawings.
• Demonstrate ability to provide formalized, accurate production models and drawings by hand and/or through the use of current industry standard software programs.
• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the total design process, including the progression of raw materials through multiple design "shops" and the roles that various craftspeople play in the creation of a finished product.
• Acquire knowledge of federal, state and local health and safety codes, best practices and industry standards as they relate to theatrical venues and production elements.
• Prepare and present a professional resume and a portfolio of design- and technology-related work that demonstrate one's abilities, strengths, processes and experiences.
• Acquire experiences in the design/technology aspects of theatre in a variety of formal and informal settings.

The Master of Arts degree in Cultural Foundations explores education through a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives: philosophy of education, history of education, sociology of education, comparative/international education, anthropology of education, gender studies, multicultural studies and religious studies. Students examine the social contexts of education, with particular emphasis on structural inequalities, issues of access, and the distribution of educational opportunity, normative considerations about the purposes of education, and the transformative potential of education.

The degree program promotes students' responsibilities as change agents in a range of educational settings, including schools, cultural and religious institutions and civic associations. Graduates of the program have the knowledge and skills to interpret and critique educational policies and practices and to promote innovative practices in a variety of educational settings, domestically and worldwide.

Students in the M.A. degree write a thesis on an educational topic of their own choosing. Thesis students work closely with their academic supervisor to generate a thesis topic and design a research study or undertake a scholarly analysis of an issue of interest to the student.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the social, cultural, economic and political assumptions shaping educational policies and reforms in the United States and other societies.
• Understand the nature of the democratic challenge for schooling in answering such foundational questions as: "What should be taught?" "Who should be taught?" and "Who should teach?"
• Demonstrate an understanding of the convergence of social class, race, gender, sexual orientation and disability as barriers to and opportunities for educational change, domestically and internationally.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art is a pre-professional program that develops students' conceptual prowess, technical competency and independent problem-solving to meet the challenges of a career or advanced study in the visual arts. Through studio critiques, the study of sophisticated art and design concepts, mastery of skills and technologies and critical analysis of historical and contemporary issues, students learn to analyze and evaluate visual art and to apply this knowledge to their own creative practice. Graduating students demonstrate their competence by producing a cohesive body of work presented in their senior thesis exhibition to a panel of faculty reviewers.

The Studio Art major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Ceramics concentration offers students the opportunity to hone their command of ceramic material to create both artistic and functional forms. Students find new ways of practicing an ancient craft, drawing on both traditional and contemporary thought and practice. In addition, they investigate practices from around the world for a global context in understanding the medium.
• The Drawing concentration cultivates foundational through advanced observational, conceptual and experimental processes to enable students to explore ideas across media and disciplines. All majors in the School of Art are able to complete a sequence of drawing courses to strengthen their drawing as a tool for visual thinking and recording. The concentration encourages advanced students to work with a wide range of approaches and to pursue drawing in diverse contexts.
• The Glass concentration challenges students to explore glass as a creative medium, both technically and conceptually, within the broader context of contemporary art. In addition to the fundamentals of glassblowing, students learn glass casting, slumping, fusing, flameworking, enameling, cold-working and assembly. Both interdisciplinary and mixed media approaches are actively encouraged.
• The Jewelry, Metals and Enameling concentration guides students in developing their own artistic signatures by exploring historical and contemporary concepts. Students are able to absorb a range of techniques and technological processes, using such specialized equipment as 3-D printers and large-scale Ferro enameling kilns.
• The Painting concentration is rooted in observation and technique while stimulating abstract, conceptual or material-driven ideas about painting and contemporary art practices. The curriculum supports a variety of specific approaches to painting — including collage, figural, landscape and abstraction — while simultaneously promoting an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizing engagement with contemporary practices. Advanced painting students work in consultation with faculty advisors to pursue individual directions and interests.
• The Print Media and Photography concentration introduces students to all traditional print forms as a foundation for conceptual approaches. Students are able to learn print techniques such as intaglio, lithography, relief, silkscreen and large-format digital printing. In addition, students can explore traditional and experimental photography and develop print matrices. Students learn how to develop printed and photographic works of art through layering, problem solving and thoughtful material applications.
• The Sculpture and Expanded Media concentration encourages proficiency in foundational methods of making-modeling, carving and assembly. The concentration is a springboard for students to learn how to communicate ideas through sculptural works. Although sculpture classes are rooted in the history of object-making, new forms of sculptural practice (installation, time-based practice, sound and kinetic works) are all part of a comprehensive three-dimensional program.
• The Textiles concentration fosters creative thinking, critical inquiry and development of technical facility. Students study the artistic and cultural legacy of textiles in conjunction with historic and contemporary practices. Components of the program are the traditions of textile making (built on repetition, geometry and order) linked with digital design and technology. Students learn felt-making, surface design, screen-printing and weaving (hand-manipulated, loom-controlled and digital).

The Master of Science degree in Materials Science provides students with extensive scientific training, cutting-edge research opportunities and engineering skills necessary for a variety of careers in academy and industry. Program faculty and students conduct research through Kent State's participating departments and the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute. Such research includes liquid crystal synthesis and molecular design; properties of liquid crystals and related advanced materials; lyotropic liquid crystals and bio-related materials; opto-electronics; and nanoscience and nanotechnologies. These important research foci are inherently interdisciplinary.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Develop an advanced understanding of the fundamental science of soft materials and ability to apply acquired knowledge of physical and chemical properties of advanced soft materials and devices such as liquid crystals, polymers, colloids and active matter.
• Gain experience in presenting scientific data in research publications, articles, posters and oral presentations.
• Apply acquired knowledge to the development of new soft materials, new theories and effects and advanced materials such as liquid crystal-based devices.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Animation Game Design provides the key concepts, creative tools and principles of diverse skills in fundamental and advanced technical knowledge of modeling, animation and game design.

The degree program prepares students for careers by developing technical competency, creative/independent problem solving and conceptual understanding necessary for the challenges of a career in the creative industries. Upon graduation, students have created a professional-quality portfolio to enter the field of content creators and are prepared for jobs in technical illustration, two- and three-dimension modeling, game design, animation, artistic production, and exhibition. Students are guided in selecting courses that support a given concentration. They can take courses in various aspects of art, design, and film/video.

The Animation Game Design major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Animation concentration involves bringing motion to still objects or displaying a sequence of still images to create the illusion of motion or life. Animation involves more than just character motion; it includes motion graphics, video editing, special effects, cameras and video output. Students learn how to animate characters, elements of environments and graphics. Two- and three-dimension models are animated as necessary, via a combination of manual animation, procedural tools and physical simulation.
• The Game Design concentration provides the environment and content creation in two- and three-dimension models. The focus is on the design part of game environments to be used on platforms such as personal computers, smart phones and game consoles.  Students learn the importance of two- and three-dimension model creation for specific games used for simulation, training, entertainment and measuring educational outcomes.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate current skills in two- and three-dimension modeling, animation and game design.
• Apply design thinking to technological problems, including demonstrating familiarity with design thinking applicable to their professional work.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of modeling, animation and game design.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills—both verbally and in written form—with technical, business and design professionals, including effective communication as individuals and as part of a project team.
• Participate in, and lead, multidisciplinary project teams, demonstrating theoretical and practical understanding of team dynamics.
• Demonstrate appreciation for diverse cultures and individual differences, and reflect that appreciation in their work.
• Engage in continuous learning, as well as research and assess new ideas and information to provide the capabilities for lifelong learning.

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Early Childhood Education focuses on professional preparation and application of current theory, methods and practices for future teachers of preschool to grade five classrooms. Students form a cohort and complete the five-block sequence of courses while gaining teaching experiences linked to coursework. All students complete field and practicum experiences in diverse settings, including urban and inclusive programs, and accumulate approximately 1,200 clock hours of field experience in preschool and elementary classrooms.

Graduates of the program who pass the State of Ohio Assessment Tests are eligible for Ohio licensure in Early Childhood, which is valid for teaching children, age three through grade five, who are typically developing, at-risk, gifted or who have mild/moderate educational needs.

Graduates also have the opportunity to receive an International Baccalaureate recognition certificate concurrent with the completion of the B.S.E. degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

• Co-construct curriculum as a co-worker with learners and others (parents, families, colleagues and community members) to make sound decisions for learning and teaching experiences, as opposed to being passive receivers of prescribed curriculum.
• Synthesize conceptual understandings of children, theory, content, technology and sociocultural contexts into meaningful activities and opportunities for learning with all preschool-to-grade five students.
• Engage in the habit of self-assessment in order to continually uncover unknown possibilities in children’s learning, classroom practice, educational theory and one’s own teaching identity in the local and global context.
• Become committed to the children and their learning, the families and the local community while having an awareness of the global context; engage in continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning.
• Apply skills, knowledge and dispositions to challenge “questionable” policies that limit opportunities for all children.
• Utilize research and theory to develop varied and effective pedagogies and assessments that will positively impact all students’ learning (learning and teaching is a transdisciplinary practice).
• Advocate as ethical leaders and moral agents striving for social justice,
• Acknowledges and practices multiple, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiracial, multi- social and -economic and multilingual perspectives in a global society.