Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Sport Performance

at Kent State University USA

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography emphasizes a growing field that offers a wide range of career options. Geographers study both natural science and social science. Natural science topics include spatial patterns of rocks, soils, animals, plants, climate and weather. Social science topics include spatial patterns of culture, policy, conflict, demographics, economics, resources and waste, with an emphasis on investigating the intersection of human activity and environmental processes. Geographers use a variety of geospatial technologies to map the world in different ways from the global to the local.

Geographers use data (environmental and social statistics, interviews, textual and landscape analysis and archival documents) to describe natural and social patterns. They then apply their knowledge of human and environmental processes to analyze why these patterns exist. Geographers work at the intersection of multiple disciplines—geology, ecology, climate science, urban planning, economics, sociology, computer science and the humanities—using this knowledge to examine spatial processes. Geographers use GIS software and remote sensing for spatial analysis and cartography.

Geography offers a unique way of seeing and understanding the world, combined with the ability to communicate this understanding to others.

The Geography major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Environmental Geography concentration prepares students to work as conservation or parks managers, surveyors, remote sensing technicians, ecologists, hydrologists, water resource managers, national park rangers, climatologists, meteorologists, hazards analysts, epidemiologists and climate change analysts.
• The Geographic Information Science concentration prepares students to work as analysts for the federal, state and local government, for businesses and non-profits. Geographic Information scientists also serve as GIS developers, remote sensors, instructors, web developers and cartographers.
• The Social Geography concentration prepares students to work as city engineers, urban planners, foreign affairs officers, preservationists, non-profit directors, demographers, cultural resources managers, lobbyists, congressional staffers, emergency management specialists, educators, journalists, community development directors, lawyers and market analysts.

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 Health Policy and Management concentration prepares students to address public health risks and develop effective health services delivery models. This concentration incorporates health services research, health policy analysis and health care planning and management. Given the active research of the college’s faculty in identifying service gaps and in developing evidence-based practices and policy analysis, students emerge with strong skills in health services management, alternative models of service financing and strategies for improving services. Career opportunities for graduates include administrative and management positions in hospitals, clinics, state and local health departments, nursing homes and mental health facilities; policy analyst positions in health planning organizations and governmental agencies; and planning and management positions in health maintenance organizations and health insurance companies.

The Master of Arts degree in History offers students the opportunity for advanced study in a variety of areas. Coursework emphasizes interpretation, methodology and original research. A student's program of study allows for the opportunity to conduct historical inquiry, research and analysis at the highest level. While students will be able to develop a core competence in their chosen field study, they will also study the histories of regions and times far removed from their central interests. Students may also pursue interdisciplinary work in cognate fields composed of courses in outside disciplines.

Students who anticipate continuing their graduate study beyond the M.A. should pursue one of the thesis tracks. Those who choose the thesis option, which is required of students on graduate assistantships, will produce a thesis based on original primary source research that engages a historiographically significant research question. Non-thesis options are available for those who do not expect to go on to doctoral work.

The program develops graduates who are educated scholar-citizens committed to historical empathy and in possession of critical thinking and communication skills honed by rigorous training.

The History major includes the following optional concentration:

• The History for Secondary School Teachers concentration is for educators interested in the advanced study of history. Coursework is focused on current scholarship and approaches to history. While the concentration's focus is not in history pedagogy, it is designed to encourage the application of current historical scholarship to the work responsibilities of the practicing teacher. The program provides school professionals with a structured but flexible approach to analyzing and teaching history while permitting interdisciplinary work in related fields or areas particularly relevant to students' professional objectives.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science empowers students to be engaged global citizens and informed consumers of information who are competitive in a range of careers. Graduates work in the public and private sectors across the United States and around the globe. Many also go on to graduate programs or to law school.

Students in the major are provided internship and study abroad opportunities, including two semester-long, 15-credit hour internship programs, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, the Department of Political Science offers study-abroad courses in multiple countries during the summer, and students often also take advantage of Kent State programs in Florence, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. More information can be found on the Department of Political Science website.

The Political Science major comprises the following concentrations:

• The American Politics concentration investigates the political context of life in the United States in courses on public opinion, elections and the media, as well as Congress, the presidency, and the courts.
• The International Relations-Comparative Politics concentration focuses on international policy and politics, including aid and development, energy and oil, human rights and regions of the world (e.g., Latin America,  the Middle East and Russia).
• The General concentration allows students to design their own specialization rather than choosing a specific area to concentrate.
• The Public Policy concentration explores how governments address major policy questions such as health care, environmental protection and foreign policy. Courses introduce students not only to policy questions and implications, but also to the skills involved in policy analysis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis skills.
• Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of national and international issues and political systems.
• Demonstrate multicultural literacy.
• Demonstrate competence with quantitative statistical and qualitative analysis tools.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Mechatronics Engineering integrates mechanical, electrical, computer and controls engineering to understand automated machinery, specifically, how to design it and how to make it work. Mechatronics engineering revolves around the design, construction and operation of automated systems, robots and intelligent products, which result from the integration of software and hardware.

Using automated systems is becoming more popular for operating equipment or machinery on manufacturing lines, boilers and aircraft to reduce labor costs, increase precision and accuracy and provide quality and safety for workers. Mechatronic devices can be found in agriculture, hospitals, buildings, homes, automobiles, manufacturing plants, the toy and entertainment industry and in aids for the elderly and disabled.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering
• Design a system, component or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints, such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturing and sustainability
• Use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences–Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics is an individualized program of study and research that prepares students for career opportunities in teaching and research in academic, governmental and industrial settings. A core series of courses sets a rigorous foundation in theory, experimental design and technical knowledge of contemporary investigations at the cellular level of organization. Areas of research include developmental biology, cellular and developmental neuroscience, immunology, reproductive biology, cellular endocrinology and molecular genetics.

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

• Understand advanced biological concepts beyond the scope of the typical undergraduate degree and increase the depth of their knowledge through coursework and hands-on experiences.
• Apply scientific principles and appreciate work outside of their particular field.
• Effectively communicate about science with colleagues as well as those outside of the student's area of expertise.
• Develop the necessary laboratory skills that will allow testing of hypotheses.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Music Technology prepares students as musicians within a broad field of constantly changing technology. Students study in courses that will develop expertise in music computer technology for application in the recording industry, audio-engineering and music production.

The development of music technology has had an enormous impact on the music industry. There are many career opportunities for talented musicians in music technology. Skilled musicians can apply formal training to recording careers, studio performance, arranging or producing and live performances. Opportunities are also available in non-traditional, contemporary popular music venues, the movie industry, television, multi-media events, and music for advertising as well as traditional performing arts venues. The growth of music technology has made knowledge and experience in this area a necessity for all students preparing for a career in any area of the music industry. To compete effectively in the contemporary music world, one must possess a strong traditional music background, plus the technical expertise required to make the most of a rapidly changing and developing technology.

The Music Technology major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Audio Recording concentration provides students the opportunity t learn advanced audio recording techniques.
• The Music Production concentration provides students the opportunity to learn how to use technology to realize creative work such as original music, arranging and production.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Function as competent and versatile professional studio musicians who perform in diverse commercial music venues
• Compose and arrange music
• Create appropriate sound for visual media
• Create music productions of professional quality
• Produce professional audio recordings, both live and in studio, from start to finish

The Bachelor of Arts degree in English prepares students to be insightful readers and innovative writers. Students are introduced to literary traditions and critical methods through core courses and encouraged to pursue personal interests in the selection of a concentration and elective courses. English classes challenge students to develop reading, research and writing skills that will equip them for a wide range of careers.

Students have opportunities in extracurricular organizations, including the English Club, Sigma Tau Delta and the Writer’s Workshops; as well as such student publications as the literary arts magazine Luna Negra. Students are encouraged to study abroad, engage in undergraduate research, commit to service-learning and complete a writing internship.

The English major comprises the following concentrations:

• The General concentration allows students to combine elective choices in creative writing, professional writing, rhetoric, historical literature, genre studies and literary theory based on personal interest.
• The Literature concentration emphasizes the interpretation of literary texts drawn from a variety of historical and cultural contexts. Students develop an understanding of genre conventions and different theoretical and critical methods of analysis.
• The Professional Writing concentration offers courses in professional writing, editing, and rhetoric. The concentration requires a professional experience elective fulfilled by an internship, service-learning placement or an advanced course in editing.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in literary studies or professional writing.
• Know research tools and methods appropriate for the academic study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
• Understand and apply a variety of critical theories to the study of literature, rhetoric or writing.
• Produce academic, creative or professional writing with attention to appropriate genre conventions, format and citation guidelines, stylistic expectations and grammatical rules.
• Complete a long written project with the application of appropriate critical, creative or professional approaches; mastery of research methods and resources; and awareness of audience, rhetorical context and discourse functions.

The Bachelor of Applied Horticulture degree provides students with the academic background and learning environment to further their education beyond an associate degree. The program aids students in the development of managerial expertise in areas of landscape design, turfgrass management and urban forestry, as well as landscape design, golf courses, sports turf management, arboriculture, environmental sustainability, plant propagation and greenhouse and nursery operations.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of plant characteristics, use, identification, and taxonomy.
• Develop knowledge of the proper safety procedures and their application in the workplace.
• Develop proper business protocol and specific horticulture concentration applications in the work place.
• Interpret soil test results, analyze and determine the best corrective course of action.
• Demonstrate knowledge of pest identification, taxonomy, integrated pest management, and control strategies .

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations can take students from corporate boardrooms and creative agencies to sports arenas, the halls of Congress, global nonprofits, hospitals, fashion runways, and beyond. Students graduate with a grounding in the practice of responsible advocacy and a firm grasp of the inclusive communication practices.

Kent State boasts the only public relations program in Ohio that is both certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).

This degree is rooted in professionalism, with a focus on developing writing, critical thinking, digital and visual communication skills, as well as analytics and strategic multimedia storytelling. Students learn to deliver messages through social media, websites, podcasts, videos, press releases and other media tools, events, public policy and more.

Classes routinely involve researching, creating and presenting a public relations plan for real clients. Students will build a strong portfolio through hands-on learning opportunities, including two student agencies, a required professional internship, and public relations campus jobs. Kent State’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and its members consistently win awards at national conferences, placing the chapter in the top tier nationwide.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate critical thinking, grounded in a legal and ethical framework.
• Gather information, analyze it and make informed judgments using methods and tools appropriate to their professions.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply theory and research appropriate to their professions, including quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply basic ethical principles to their professional work.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply laws and regulations applicable to their professional work.
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
• Demonstrate understanding of how media and their professions evolved historically, their role in societal development and their global interaction today with institutions and individuals.
• Demonstrate appreciation for diverse cultures and individual differences, and reflect that appreciation in their work.