Master of Arts in Biology

at Kent State University USA

The Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics provides an education in aviation that produces professionals to operate the National Airspace System in the 21st century.

The Aeronautics major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Aeronautical Studies concentration prepares students for entry-level technological positions in aviation and related areas. Although focused on a broad foundation of aeronautically related subjects, the program also provides a significant number of electives that allow students to explore other areas of interest or earn a minor in a particular area of study. It is well suited for those entering the program with previous flight experience or transfer credits from an accredited university.
• The Air Traffic Control concentration prepares students for professional work in air traffic control and management. Originally, as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic–Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI), the concentration provides practical simulation-based training in air traffic control that enables the CTI graduates to work as air traffic controllers and managers in the National Airspace System.
• The Aviation Management concentration prepares students for entry-level management supervisory and administrative positions in aviation and other aviation-related professional fields. This course of study combines technical and aeronautical courses with courses in management and information systems. Students entering this program should have a technical interest, mathematical proficiency and an ability to develop analytical and communicative capabilities.
• The Professional Pilot concentration is designed for students who aspire to become professional pilots. This concentration stresses subjects associated with flight systems, propulsion, structures and electronics. Students entering this program should have a strong desire for excellence in aviation as well as the flying skills required of a professional pilot.
• The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations concentration is for students who aspire to become professional Unmanned aircraft pilots (drone pilot).  This concentration is focused on the safe operations of unmanned aircraft systems, regulations, the technology of autonomous systems and policy regarding the operations of unmanned aerial elements. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of math, science and the applied sciences to aviation-related disciplines.
• Analyze and interpret data.
• Understand and master the fundamental concepts and skills of airplane flight.
• Communicate effectively through written and oral means.
• Recognize the need and develop the cognitive abilities to engage in life-long learning by successfully contending with changing technologies, regulatory policies and procedures, market forces and the highly dynamic operational environment of commercial flight and professional aviation.
• Understand contemporary issues that affect aviation.
• Use the techniques, skills and modern technology necessary for professional practice.
• Understand the national and international aviation environment.
• Apply pertinent knowledge in identifying and solving problems.
• Know and understand the technical details involved in the effective management of employees and operational systems in professional aviation.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree in Public Health broadly prepares students to enter the workforce as a public health professional or to enter an advanced program of study. Students explore the five disciplines of public health: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and management and the social and behavioral sciences through general coursework.

The Public Health major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Allied Health concentration seeks to augment the career portfolio of the allied health professional or aspiring student. Students who are interested in a generalist focus in public health or interested in moving to a professional degree (accelerated nursing) or technical allied health degree (respiratory care, radiologic technology, occupational/physical therapy assisting, etc.) are encouraged to pursue this path.  Students may currently hold or may be actively pursuing a state licensure in an allied health field and may be eligible to receive a maximum 12 credit hours of upper-division credit for their prior experience and demonstrated competency in select areas. Students without a state licensure may still pursue this concentration but will complete 12 hours of coursework in allied health-specific areas. Students in this concentration will be exposed to broad areas of public health including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, global health and health policy; thus, preparing students to meet the increased demands for a trained and educated public health workforce.
• The Clinical Trials Research concentration focuses on training students in the epidemiology methods used in clinical research. The curriculum provides students a thorough understanding of the management of research studies, the scientific literature related to drugs, medical devices and other new therapies, and the federal regulations related to conducting clinical trials. Students are prepared to design and answer research questions, collect and manage data and communicate research findings to both scientific and lay audiences. An internship experience provides necessary experience in a clinical research setting. Potential places of employment for graduates include hospitals, contract research organizations, medical schools and pharmaceutical companies where graduates assist with and manage clinical research studies.
• The Community Health Outreach and Development concentration focuses on identifying and exploring ways to influence the multi-level determinants of population health and health behaviors, from a perspective that prioritizes health equity and social justice. Approaches focus on community- and system-level strategies to promote health and healthy behaviors among populations and eliminate health disparities through media, policy and education initiatives. Career options include the public sector, social services, non-profit agencies and other community-based health promotion and advocacy efforts. Graduates are prepared to assist with developing, implementing and coordinating public health interventions that promote community health and organize diverse communities around issues related to health and health behavior.
• The Global Health concentration educates students in identifying and working to address the critical public health and human needs of diverse, underserved and vulnerable populations locally and globally. Students learn the need for multidisciplinary (biological and social sciences) approaches and cooperation to address the major global public health problems. In addition, they have the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect of global health, e.g. HIV/AIDS, health policy, health disparities, health education, environmental health, nutrition. Graduates are prepared to work at entry-level positions in public health with local, regional, national or international public health agencies in both public and private sectors. Students who pursue this concentration are required to participate in a study abroad experience and complete four courses (at the elementary and intermediate levels) of either Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish
• The Health Services Administration concentration establishes a foundation for graduate work in health policy and management. Students analyze national and local public health infrastructure, evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of health care delivery and explore the legal and ethical issues of health care administration. Graduates enter the health care workforce as finance managers, compliance officers, patient navigators, insurance specialists and other health care managers. Students are encouraged to pair this concentration with a minor.
• The Pre-Medicine, Dentistry, Osteopathy concentration includes preparatory courses for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and admission entry into other professional schools including pharmacy, podiatry, occupational/physical therapy and physicians assistant programs. The overall curriculum—focusing on biological, social and economic determinants of health, prevention and control of diseases, introduction to biostatistics and public health research—makes this program highly desirable for admission to professional schools. The unique features of the program open new opportunities and offer competitive advantages for students seeking to enter into clinical medicine.

The Master of Engineering Technology degree offers a curriculum that provides students with advanced technical and management knowledge and skills that meet the needs of the technical workforce in industry and business.

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance provides students with an academic background appropriate for entry into a financial career, including financial management, investments, banking/financial institutions, risk/insurance and related areas. The courses are designed to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between business finance and the economic system in the context of managerial analysis and decision making.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology is for students who are interested in the biological sciences, but who also want a degree with a strong liberal arts component. This program provides a basic background in biology while offering the opportunity to take a wide range of classes in other disciplines.

Biologists work in a variety of settings, and career opportunities are available in government agencies, privately owned companies and non-profit groups. Graduates may also choose to further their education beyond a bachelor's degree by attending graduate or professional school. The Department of Biological Sciences has several mechanisms to help students prepare for their future careers.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental biological principles.
• Acquire the fundamental skills necessary for laboratory and field investigations.
• Conduct proper experimental design, analyze biological data and communicate research results.
• Know and appreciate the role that biology plays in societal issues, such as those related to the environment, biodiversity, ethics, human health and disease.

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting is intended for the returning professional and mentors seasoned professional performers who wish to focus on refining and articulating their acting process, while gaining sound pedagogical practice in performance. The two-year terminal degree provides  candidates with a set of core classes centered around a variety of techniques and theories, within a flexible pedagogical laboratory model. Returning professional students are offered ample opportunity to hone performance and explore teaching skills as they earn a terminal M.F.A. degree in pursuit of employment.

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in School Health Education prepares individuals to teach health education in the schools. Graduates are eligible to pursue the state's multi-age licensure. Students complete a variety of field experiences and a culminating student teaching experience.

The Health and Physical Education optional concentration allows students to seek Ohio teacher licensure in both health education and physical education. The program is designed to be completed in five years, and can allow students to satisfy up to 12 credit hours of program requirements with graduate courses.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Analyze factors affecting the successful implementation of health education and Coordinated School Health (CSH); select media and resources best suited to implement plans for diverse learners; exhibit competence in carrying out planned programs; and monitor educational programs, adjusting objectives and instructional strategies as necessary.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of CSH; develop plans to assess student achievement of program objectives; carry out evaluation plans; interpret results of program evaluation; and infer implications of evaluation findings for future programs.
• Coordinate provision of health education programs and services and develop a plan for comprehensive school health education with other components of a school health program; demonstrate the dispositions and skills to facilitate cooperation among health educators, other teachers, and appropriate school staff; formulate practical modes of collaboration among health educators in all settings and other school and community health professionals; and organize professional development programs for teachers, other school personnel, community members, and other interested individuals.
• Utilize computerized health information retrieval systems effectively; establish effective consultative relationships with those requesting assistance in solving health-related problems; interpret and respond to requests for health information; and select effective educational resource materials for dissemination.
• Communicate health information needs, concerns, and resources; interpret concepts, purposes, and theories of health education; predict the impact of social value systems on health education programs; select a variety of communication methods and techniques in providing health information; and foster communication between health care providers and consumers.
• Obtain health-related data about social and cultural environments, growth and development factors, and needs and interests of students; distinguish between the behaviors that foster and those that hinder well-being; and determine health education needs based on observed and obtained data.
• Recruit school and community representatives to support and assist in program planning; develop a logical scope and sequence plan for a health education program; formulate appropriate and measurable learner objectives; and design educational strategies consistent with specified learner objectives.
• Communicate and advocate for health and school health education by analyzing and responding to factors that impact current and future needs in comprehensive school health education, applying a variety of communication methods and techniques, advocating for school health education, and demonstrating professionalism.

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.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Engineering provides students instruction in basic math and science, engineering principles, processes, project management and personnel management. Students learn in the classroom, as well as through hands-on experiments and real-world internships.

The degree program can also function as a completer degree for students with an associate degree in engineering technology.

The Applied Engineering major comprises the following concentrations:

The Applied Engineering and Technology Management concentration provides a focus on the application of management, design and technical skills for system integration; the execution of new product designs; the improvement of manufacturing processes and the management; and direction of physical and/or technical functions of an organization. Students also understand materials, facility design, quality and safety.

The Foundry Technology concentration prepares students for employment in the metal casting industry. Students complete coursework in materials and processes, cast metals, metallurgy and material science, solid modeling and solidification. In addition, students apply their knowledge and skills in the capstone course on foundry tooling and pattern making. They also will gain experience with programmable logic controllers, hydraulics, pneumatics and computer-aided manufacturing.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Develop technical competencies based on engineering principles.
• Integrate communications, social and physical sciences to develop critical thinking and quantitative skills.
• Develop the necessary skill set to solve complex technological problems from a systems and sustainability perspective.

The Master of Arts degree in Sociology is designed to prepare students for doctoral study in sociology and for careers in a variety of professions and industries, including, but not limited to, government, research companies and non-profit organizations.