Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

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

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 Secondary Education, with an emphasis in Social Studies, prepares students to teach in secondary school settings, grades 9-12. This program requires the selection and completion of required coursework in Social Studies and includes field and practicum experiences in high school settings, culminating in Missouri teacher certification.

Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the BA degree in History or the BA or BS degrees in Economics; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification.

The Bachelor’s degrees in Biology are available as both a BA and a BS, with both designed to prepare students for basic technical positions and graduate or professional studies in the life sciences. Both have the same core courses and general education requirements, but the BA has more emphasis on associated humanities areas, while the BS requires additional in-depth study, laboratory experience, communication skills and background in associated science areas.

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 BS in Actuarial Science is an interdisciplinary degree designed to provide students with solid preparation to take exams needed to begin a career as an actuary by providing students with the quantitative skills used by actuaries. Students are required to complete courses offered by the College of Arts & Sciences as well as the College of Business Administration. Students take coursework in calculus, financial mathematics, statistics, economics, econometrics, accounting and finance.

To become an actuary students must meet specific requirements of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) including: Pass the exams and requirements administered by the SOA, fulfill Validated Educational Experience (VEE) courses offered outside the SOA, and undertake additional professional training provided by the SOA.

The Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology are offered as both a BA and a BS. The BA focuses on qualitative tools like interviews, stories and community engagement while the BS focuses on quantitative research tools like surveys, statistics and data analysis. Both degrees answer the critical question “What is this all about?” Students may also select from one of the following minors or emphasis areas: gender studies, gerontology, leadership, urban studies and veterans studies.

An undergraduate degree in sociology is excellent preparation for graduate work in sociology or for entry level positions in business, social service and government worlds. Sociologists are found as teachers, researchers, employees of government agencies, research bureaus, welfare agencies and large companies. This social science based concentration provides excellent training for careers in law, education, medicine, social work and counseling.

The Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Data Science provides a sufficient background in mathematics, statistics and computer science. This degree is structured to allow additional optional courses that enable the student to focus on a variety of further areas of interest. Students seeking to major in mathematics are first designated as “pre-mathematics majors” until they have completed both MATH 1900 and MATH 2000 or equivalent courses with grades of C or better.

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.

The BS in Data Science and Analysis is an interdisciplinary program that is designed for students who want to develop statistical and data science skills. While data science is at the core of this program, students will also select a specialization from one of the following emphasis areas: biology, computer science, economics, mathematics, social science or supply chain analytics.

Students will learn the latest techniques including Python, R, Big Data and Data Mining. This degree will require between 36- and 51-credit hours to complete, depending on the emphasis area selected.

The BS in Psychology involves the application of foundational knowledge and skills from math and the natural sciences to the study of behavior. Students can concentrate their advanced coursework in a specific disciplinary subfield including behavioral neuroscience, child psychology, clinical psychology, or health psychology/pre-health psychology.