Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership - Community Studies

at MSM Group - University of Missouri-St. Louis USA

The BES, with an emphasis in Park and Museum Programs, prepares students to gain skills and insights that can be applied as innovative educators, program managers, activity directors and as curriculum developers in these informal learning settings. BES students in the Park and Museum Programs emphasis will be prepared for employment opportunities in organizations such as museums, science centers, children’s museums, national parks and a variety of cultural institutions. Through the BES program, students have the opportunity to earn specific credentials, as needed, and to pursue academic minors related to their individual career goals. This degree program does not lead to Missouri teacher certification.

The Master of Arts in Political Science is a general post-baccalaureate degree that gives students a broad understanding of political science and a firm grounding in scientific-based inquiry into problems in politics.

Students learn how institutional design and economic and cultural factors shape the distribution of power and patterns of cooperation and conflict in society within and outside of government.

Students master the postulating of cause-effect relationships, and the marshalling of evidence using quantitative or qualitative methods to test hypotheses about problems in politics.

Students learn their skills through intensive study of several fields within the discipline. In the general program it is possible to specialize in urban politics, policy processes and institutions, American political behavior, political economy, public administration, comparative politics, international relations, public law, and political theory. The Master of Arts is useful for students who are already in or planning on a career in secondary education, public policy, or politics. It is also useful for students who are considering doctoral education. It is particularly valuable for students simply interested in learning more about subjects that interest them.

The BS in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in TESOL, increases competency and confidence in integrating the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing into academic teaching for English language learners. TESOL courses cover general linguistics, second/foreign language acquisition principles, cross-cultural communication theories and practices, assessments with coping strategies and developing and implementing instructional materials with reflection. The instructional design for each TESOL course includes exploring students’ backgrounds and determining desired results using assessment strategies, enacting with or presenting the interactive activities with explicit language targets and expanding inquiry with guided reflection.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will:

• Have technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression (Performance)
• Understand the common elements and organizational patters of music and their interaction (Musicianship Skills and Analysis)
• Have a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music (Composition/Improvisation)
• Have basic knowledge of music history and repertories through the present time (History and Repertory)
• Be Able to work on musical problems by combining their capabilities in performance, aural, verbal and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; history and repertory (Synthesis)
• Develop requisite knowledge, skills, and disposition needed to engage in scholarly dialogue through research and analysis

The St. Louis Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program combines strengths of two universities to provide a flexible engineering program for the St. Louis Community.

• First two years at UMSL for pre-engineering and general education courses.
• Transition to the Wash U campus to complete upper-level engineering courses.
• Professors are industry professionals with graduate degrees and tenured WUSTL faculty.
• Students may attend part time or full time, which allows them to take advantage of internships and co-op positions.
• The Engineering Program matches quality with affordability. The cost for engineering courses is the UMSL tuition plus a fee.

The M. Ed. Program in Special Education explores important core knowledge in Special Education. The program's primary goal is to empower professionals as thoughtful educators who use best practices when assisting and empowering students with disabilities. Research and data-based decision-making are emphasized throughout the program. Graduate students will apply learned and evaluated research into practice in their courses, and learn to analyze multiple types of assessment data. The M.Ed. Program in Special Education consists of an initial required core of courses, a concentration area corresponding to the chosen emphasis area, and a capstone or exit course block.

When graduate students are accepted into the program, their transcripts may be reviewed, as necessary,  to identify compliance with state education certification guidelines. Students who wish to be certified in the education of children with cross-categorical disabilities will be required to fulfill general certification requirements, as well as graduate coursework. Upon completion of this advanced degree, professionals will have developed an in-depth knowledge-base related to

• Various learning contexts within and outside of the school setting
• The multiple influences on educational practices in schools
• The characteristics and instructional needs of learners with disabilities
• Assessment strategies for monitoring instruction
• Instructional best practices
• Using research to inform practice in the classroom
• Diversity awareness
• Contexts that affect student learning
• The powerful interactions between setting events and specific learner outcomes
• A life-perspective of students with exceptional learning needs, both young children who transition into kindergarten and those transitioning into adulthood.

The Business Administration degree offers an option to earn a general business degree. This 120-credit-hour program requires that at least 48-credit hours be filled with business courses including accounting, information systems concepts, business analytics and statistics, supply chain management, finance, management, marketing and more. Once you’ve completed your required courses, you can customize your degree with business electives, even selecting a minor, if you choose.

Business students learn and collaborate in a state-of-the-art facility outfitted with smart classrooms containing all the latest teaching technology, cutting edge seminar rooms, group learning environments, community spaces and a real-time stock ticker. The college also offers frequent career fairs, including career-specific opportunities and internships. In addition, faculty engage students in service learning opportunities which provide value and help transform lives in the surrounding communities.

The Department of Biology offers three ways of achieving the Master of Science degree. The first is a 30 credit hour non-thesis option suitable for those who may already have extensive research experience, for educators who seek to upgrade their academic skills but do not require research experience, or for those who need to broaden their biological background. The second is a 32 credit hour Professional Science track that includes a strong business component for students who are interested in learning more about the business aspects of companies. This track may not be appropriate for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD or working primarily as laboratory scientists. The third is a 30 credit hour traditional apprenticeship in research leading to a written thesis. All students admitted to the graduate program are considered to be in the non-thesis program unless they have been accepted into an individual faculty lab. Starting with a common core, both the thesis and non-thesis option may be developed into a final degree program in either of two broad areas in biology:

• Cell and Molecular Biology or
• Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.

Non-thesis students may also elect to take courses in both areas. Only the non-thesis option is available in the Professional Science emphasis.

The Department of Education Sciences and Professional Programs provides training in the theory, research, and practice of the psychological mechanisms underlying teaching, learning, and human development of students as well as the related school processes and structures. The department also specializes in educational research, psychoeducational assessment, and school psychology.

The M.Ed. in Educational Psychology is a flexible degree that allows candidates to tailor the program curriculum to meet individual interests and career goals. The degree is not associated with any particular position or career; rather it is intended to enhance current performance in a variety of educational and community-based settings and roles, to facilitate advancement within one's current position, and to prepare candidates for other advanced degrees in education or psychology.

The BA in Organizational Leadership is an interdisciplinary online degree completion program that provides an accelerated pathway to graduation for those who have an Associate’s degree or have completed some college courses, but have yet to complete their degree. The degree is designed to provide adult students with the knowledge, skills and credentials necessary to advance in a rapidly changing workplace and may be completed entirely online.

This program helps students understand theoretical and practical aspects of leadership across disciplines, while allowing you to focus on a specific Area of Concentration of interest or that advances your career goals.