Bachelor of Science in Education - Integrated Mathematics

at Kent State University USA

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics provides a foundation in the Western humanities while sharpening a student’s analytical skills and English vocabulary though the systematic study of the ancient languages. Colloquia are offered regularly, covering such thematic topics as violence, gender, sexuality and ancient Christianities.

The Classics major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Greek concentration offers opportunities for students to read original Greek texts by such authors as Plato and Homer to enrich their knowledge of classical languages. Students may select from a list of culture courses dealing with the art, archaeology, history, mythology and literature of the classical world.
• The Latin concentration offers opportunities for students to read original Latin texts by such authors as Cicero and Vergil to enrich their knowledge of classical languages. Students may select from a list of culture courses dealing with the art, archaeology, history, mythology and literature of the Classical world. Students in the Latin concentration are eligible to pursue teacher licensure at the secondary level.
• The Classical Civilization concentration is designed for students with a broad interest in the Classical world. The major offers a wide variety of diverse subjects, including the literature, art archaeology, history, law, religion, sport and mythology of the Classical world. The coursework is all in English, but students may take coursework in ancient Greek or Latin beyond the elementary level. The program provides students with a strong, general liberal arts education appropriate to many pursuits after college, including law, medicine, business, writing and publishing.
• The Religion Studies concentration is founded on the study of the ancient multicultural traditions of the Mediterranean peoples, whose multiple worldviews gave rise to religious traditions that, together with the classical heritage, shaped successive Western civilizations. Students begin with a core of classics courses, in order to understand the cultural context within which the traditions of Second-Temple Judaism, Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianities arise. Concentration requirements form an introduction to the content of classical world religions, including major Eastern traditions and Islam, and to the study of religion as an academic discipline. Courses examine the classical and Western traditions in greater depth, explore the reception of and discourse about Western traditions with medieval and modern societies, or take a comparative approach to the examination of non-Western traditions. The program emphasizes critical thinking skills and provides a liberal arts education especially well-suited for those planning on careers as religious professionals.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography provides the student with a comprehensive program of study, balancing a liberal arts education with studio offerings in digital photography. Grounded in formal, technical and conceptual skills building, the Photography major focuses on the profession of photography as it relates to commerce. The program builds a photography professional through experiential learning opportunities, as well as through required courses in design.

Programs in the College of Communication and Information are, by nature, innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative, which is critical to both professional and scholarly disciplines. Students are educated to work at the intersections of communication, information and technology. Through a core of diverse theory- and practice-based courses, students learn basic concepts that apply across the range of college programs and develop a sense of professional expectations and build toward interdisciplinary thinking and application.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of visual communication.
• Demonstrate an understanding of traditional hands-on skills relative to craftsmanship. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic use of digital technologies as they relate to their areas of study.
• Demonstrate an ability to create visual response to communication problems, including understanding of hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Conservation Biology is designed for students interested in a career in the environmental sciences. This program provides an interdisciplinary education in biology and the supporting fields of geology, geography and chemistry. Environmental and conservation biologists work to sustainably manage or restore ecosystems, develop and implement environmental policies, or conduct research on how ecological processes affect biological diversity.

Potential careers for graduates include wildlife ecologists, environmental educators, forest managers, environmental consultants and personnel at public environmental regulatory or land use planning agencies. The Department of Biological Sciences has several mechanisms to help students prepare for their future careers.

The Environmental and Conservation Biology major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Conservation Biology concentration provides a strong background in applied ecology, restoration ecology and habitat management strategies used to sustain biological diversity.
• The Environmental Policy and Management concentration provides opportunities to learn about the development and implementation of habitat management methods and public policies that promote the sustainable use of natural resources and address environmental problems.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental biological principles.
• Acquire fundamental skills necessary for laboratory and field investigations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of proper experimental design, analysis of biological data and communication of research results.
• Demonstrate a greater knowledge and appreciation of the role that biology plays in societal issues, such as those related to the environment, biodiversity, ethics, human health and disease.

The Master of Arts degree in English offers students broad learning in English studies while providing concentrated study in one area. The English major comprises the following concentration:

The Literature and Writing concentration prepares students for further graduate study in English and related fields, for professional training in such fields as library and information science and for careers in teaching. The program achieves this goal with distribution requirements, electives and a required focus in either literary traditions, critical theory or rhetoric and composition.

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

• Demonstrate the ability to think critically about the literary texts they read and interpret.
• Demonstrate how to write coherently and clearly about research topics and other topics.
• Demonstrate an understanding on how disciplines are interconnected.
• Apply appropriate research methods to objects of study.
• Demonstrate effective teaching skills and knowledge of appropriate teaching theories, if on appointment.

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 Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education prepares critically reflective teachers with advanced knowledge in pre-school through primary multi-disciplinary curriculum. Students are prepared to be democratically accountable leaders, co-decision makers, pedagogical experts and committed professionals in various early childhood realms. The program emphasizes commitment to equitable and caring learning communities.

Ohio endorsements for pre-school and literacy endorsement or generalist (grades four and five) may be embedded in the program. In addition, students have the opportunity to receive an International Baccalaureate (IB) recognition award in the M.Ed. degree.

The Early Childhood Education major includes the following optional concentration:

• The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics concentration provides students the opportunity to engage children in interdisciplinary instruction; gain experience working with and integrating technology; and integrate STEM to break down traditional boundaries.

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 Arts degree in German provides instruction designed to develop competence in oral and written communication; insights into language form, usage and meaning; and knowledge of German literature, cultural history and contemporary issues. Additionally, students will be introduced to basic skills in German-to-English translation.

The flexibility of the major makes it easy to combine with a second major, such as the History, International Relations or Political Science major or another foreign language major.

Students wishing to teach may combine the German major with the Education minor to prepare for multi-age (K–12) teacher licensure in Ohio.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Perform language tasks at intermediate high and advanced low levels of proficiency as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Proficiency, in ACTFL terms, is understood to describe a range of qualities rather than an absolute norm and will vary according to task type, language function, topic, skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and so forth.
• Contribute to most informal and some formal conversations with sufficient accuracy, clarity and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion.
• Read a wide variety of texts written for native speakers of German and not edited or adapted for non-native speakers.
• Compose routine social correspondence and write cohesive summaries, narratives and descriptions of a factual nature in German.
• Demonstrate an historical knowledge of German history and culture and understand the diverse nature of culture throughout the ages.
• Discuss cultural differences, distinguishing between fact, opinion and stereotypes.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively to diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
• View concepts, issues, events and themes from the perspectives of diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
• Esteem diversity.
• Maintain an ongoing assessment of their own cultural values and behaviors.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Mathematics prepares students for the actuarial profession. Actuaries are professionals who manage risk. They predict the likelihood of future events and model the financial impact of future scenarios. They find creative ways to mitigate the undesirable effects of future events. Although most actuaries are employed in the insurance and financial industries, many others work in the transportation, environmental, medical and manufacturing industries, as well as in government.

The Actuarial Mathematics major is highly interdisciplinary, integrating substantial coursework in business, computing and communications with a solid core of mathematics and statistics. Kent State University is one of only four institutions in Ohio to receive the Universities and Colleges with Actuarial Programs-Advanced Curriculum designation from the Society of Actuaries. The Kent State program prepares students for the first four of a series of examinations to receive professional certification as an actuary.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Reason mathematically by using precise definitions, articulating assumptions and reasoning logically to conclusions.
• Engage effectively in problem solving by exploring examples, assessing the correctness of solutions and interpreting solutions in an actuarial context.
• Define, interpret and apply standard actuarial notation, terminology and formulas.
• Analyze various streams of cash flows, both certain and contingent.
• Apply methods from probability, statistics and stochastic processes to the solution of problems in actuarial science, finance and economics.
• Communicate solutions of mathematical problems clearly, both orally and in writing.
• Employ commonly used computer programming languages and software packages to solve problems in actuarial science, finance and economics.
• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of finance, economics and accounting.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Emerging Media and Technology offers students the space to play, imagine and solve problems. The degree program draws on a number of disciplines, including emerging media, design, information sciences, human-computer interaction and communication. The technology curriculum is grounded in social science and the humanities, introducing students to theories of how technology shapes and changes people and societies. Students learn technical applications and skills in problem solving, design, user experience, creative applications and programming. Students synthesize technical and organizational skills in a series of experiential, hands-on and project-based courses in which they work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate competency in the technical skills needed to pursue jobs in emerging media and technology, which includes web development, coding, data, human-computer interaction, creative applications, programming and problem-solving.
• Utilize emerging media technologies to design better experiences, improve existing systems and analyze digital social structures.
• Recognize the rapidly changing nature of emerging media and technology and learn the skills needed to adapt.
• Apply interdisciplinary solutions to solving technical, social and human problems related to emerging media and technology.
• Employ teamwork and project management as a problem solving technique.
• Critically analyze the effectiveness of their own work and the work of others.