Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies

at Kent State University USA

The Master of Education degree in Special Education provides students with advanced understanding of contemporary research and practice issues in special education. Students in the program are typically interested in pursuing enhanced professional competence, career advancement, leadership roles, advocacy and systems change; or they may be wanting to prepare for doctoral-level study. Students do not need to have an undergraduate degree in special education (or in education) to be successful in the master's degree; however, should be motivated to develop a deeper understanding of the field of special education.

The M.Ed. degree program does not prepare students for teacher licensure; however, some of the coursework required for the degree may count toward licensure. Students interested in both licensure and a M.Ed. degree will need to apply and be fully admitted into both the master's degree and the non-degree graduate licensure preparation program.

The Special Education major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs concentration focuses on the needs of preschool children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities

The Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management employs a professional-service approach that applies effective management techniques and oversight to the building and management of construction projects. Students learn the business of construction from inception to completion of a project—including emphasis on construction materials and methods—that will enable them to estimate costs, schedule work, oversee construction work-site activities and manage projects.

The Construction Management major includes the following optional concentrations:

• Civil Management concentration offers students an opportunity to further explore civil construction estimating functions, utility systems, soils, and subcontractor leadership. Focusing on the critical systems that are needed on all projects, this concertation will provide construction managers with the tools to navigate civil construction on any project.
• Mechanical and Electrical Management concentration offers students expertise in mechanical systems. By exposing students to sustainable building technologies, specific mechanical and electrical estimating, BIM, and leadership this concentration sets students apart in knowledge base and experience.  Construction Managers are more effective with an in-depth understanding of critical MEP systems.
• Safety Management concertation is for those wishing to pursue a career in safety and/or construction managers looking to expand their knowledge in safety-related to construction. Students will take advanced OSHA and safety course while exposing them to insurance and workman’s compensation laws and procedures. Safety is the #1 priority of project management teams, and this concentration looks to provide future leaders with the tools to lead a safe job site.

Cooperative education opportunities are available to students in construction companies and architect/engineering firms in the region. In addition, students have an opportunity to pursue a dual degree with the B.A. degree in Architectural Studies.

Twelve credit hours of electives (from a total of 15 credit hours of electives) must be taken from the CAED, with at least nine credit hours from the CM Program. Three credit hours of non-Construction Management electives, taken in the CAED must be with special approval. The three remaining credit hours of electives can be taken outside of the CAED, but if taken within the CAED, special approval will also apply.

The Master of Science degree in Architecture and Environmental Design is a research-intensive program with one-year full residency requirement. The curriculum includes research methods, theories of architecture, thesis research, thesis and directed and free electives. The program is best suites for individuals interested in pursuing a specialization in the built environment.

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 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 Master of Science degree in Construction Management offers students a deep understanding of leading dynamic construction projects and organizations in the built environment. The program also offers a thesis or project option for those interested in a research and/or a future higher education role. Graduates of the program are prepared to lead at both the project and corporate level.

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

• Exhibit the planning, organization, execution and contract skills of a construction manager.
• Apply ethical and sustainability perspectives to construction management knowledge.
• Demonstrate the financial, managerial and risk management of a leader in the construction industry.
• Analyze how issues of cost, safety, quality, schedule and design impact project development and implementation.
• Evaluate the procurement and logistics processes of underlying construction systems and devise strategies to mitigate these complexities.
• Compare construction management technologies, innovations and processes, and how they relate to cross-disciplinary teams.

The Master of Arts degree in Philosophy offers intensive, in-depth study of philosophy, with particular attention to the diversity of philosophical methods, perspectives and traditions, as well as their relation to other disciplines.

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

• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of philosophy from the classical period to the present day, of the various fields of philosophical inquiry, and of central philosophical questions, both historical and contemporary.
• Articulate and defend their positions through philosophical argumentation in both written and oral form.
• Successfully navigate the professional academic world and prepare strong applications to doctoral programs, if they choose to continue their studies after completion of the master's degree.

The Master of Science degree in Pure Mathematics is primarily a terminal, pre-professional degree comprising coursework beyond the bachelor's degree that emphasizes theoretical ares of the discipline, including algebra, analysis, geometry, number theory and topology. Students are required to write and defend a thesis in an area agreed upon with a faculty advisor.

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

• Reason in mathematical arguments at a level appropriate to the discipline, including using precise definitions, articulating assumptions and reasoning logically to conclusions.
• Engage effectively in problem solving, including exploring examples, devising and testing conjectures and assessing the correctness of solutions.
• Approach mathematical problems creatively, including trying multiple approaches and modifying problems when necessary to make them more tractable.
• Communicate mathematics clearly both orally and in writing.
• Teach university-level mathematics effectively.
• Obtain a deeper understanding of some subdiscipline of mathematics.

The Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies degree in Technical and Applied Studies is designed both for students beginning their academic study and for students with an associate degree or college-level coursework. The program accommodates varied educational backgrounds, develops competencies needed for success in a variety of work settings and offers major courses in schedules attractive to traditional students and to time- and place-bound adults.

Students construct a meaningful plan for using the curriculum to explore and prepare for their preferred futures by completing a cornerstone course. A capstone course features a synthesizing of learning focused on foundational competencies and developing an electronic portfolio. This enables students to collect artifacts of their learning, which can be used to advance their careers.

The Technical and Applied Studies major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Applied Business concentration is an option for associate degree graduates or students with a business background who choose not to pursue the B.B.A degree, or for students who would like to gain knowledge about financial management, customer service, strategic management, labor students and leadership. The concentration includes a practicum.
• The Nonprofit-Human Services concentration provides students with the knowledge and competencies in areas such as grant writing and fundraising, mission and vision, advocacy and lobbying, risk management, board committee development, program planning, leadership and ethics, human resource development, youth and adult development, marketing, financial management and nonprofit management.

Students may also declare the Technical and Applied Studies major with no concentration. The stand-alone major offers a flexible and robust core of skills/knowledge-based courses, which bridge multiple disciplines in multiple colleges. The skill sets that are provided by this program are civic engagement, computer literacy, critical thinking, diversity and internationalization, ethics, information literacy, leadership, self-management, oral and written communication and mathematics.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Sport Performance prepares teachers who exemplify best practices in the PK-12 setting and professionals who promote high quality physical activity opportunities for individuals across the lifespan. The program places a strong emphasis on field experience, internships and professional development experiences.

The Physical Education and Sport Performance major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Health and Physical Education concentration is a five-year program that provides the curriculum necessary for students seeking Ohio teacher licensure in both health education and physical education. The program includes multiple field experiences in a variety of school districts, followed by a full semester of student teaching. Students teach in both subjects and are eligible to sit for the multi-age teacher licensing examinations. Students in combined bachelor's/master's degree programs may apply graduate courses toward the B.S.E. degree.
• The Physical Activity and Sport Performance concentration is grounded in the understanding that the study of physical activity and sport is important in themselves and as biological and social concepts. The concentration provides students with the opportunity to design their educational experience by developing an individualized program of study. Students in this concentration are required to declare a minor, either in a related field or outside the field.
• The Physical Education Teacher Licensure concentration prepares students to seek Ohio teacher licensure in physical education. The program includes multiple field experiences in a variety of school districts, followed by a full semester of student teaching. Graduates are eligible to sit for the multi-age teacher licensing examinations.

The Master of Public Health degree in Public Health is designed to help students develop real-world knowledge and skills needed to pursue success in the public health industry.

The Public Health major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Epidemiology concentration prepares students to analyze the distribution and determinants of disease, disabilities and death in populations. Graduates are able to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate disease outbreaks, determine causal relationships between environmental and biological factors, and conduct studies to project health trends in populations. Students benefit from public health faculty research agendas in bio-preparedness, public health surveillance systems, chronic disease, cancer and infectious disease epidemiology. Career opportunities for graduates include research positions in universities, medical schools and pharmaceutical companies; disease prevention specialists in hospitals; and surveillance managers in state and local health departments.