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 studio arts area offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in one of six concentrations: Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Graphic Design and General Fine Arts. Since 75% of the classes required for the B. F. A. are within art, the degree is considered a professional degree program in art, as well as traditional preparation to pursue graduate studies in the field. The department also offers a Minor in Studio Art and a Certificate in Photographic Studies. Classes are taught in the newly renovated Fine Arts Building. UMSL has a transfer agreement with the St. Louis Community College District, which offers a direct transfer to upper division BFA courses to students who graduate with an AFA degree from one of the three SLCC schools.

Studio art faculty are dedicated teachers and committed artists. They exhibit regularly in exhibitions of regional, national and international significance, have developed impressive client lists and are sought after to give workshops and oral presentations on their work. Faculty have received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ford Foundation and been honored by a variety of national and international arts organizations. Their work is included in important public and private collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Library of Congress, Museum of Contemporary Photography, McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Emerson Electric.

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.

The Bachelor’s degrees in Economics are available as both a BS, which is designated as a STEM program, and a BA. The BA in Economics is designed for students who want to think analytically and apply their knowledge to a broad range of topics such as property rights, environmental regulation, labor markets and government regulation, while the BS in Economics is designed for students who want to develop analytical and quantitative skills and apply that knowledge to a range of topics such as economic modeling, financial markets and market analysis.

A unique feature of our department is the opportunity to take a large number of courses in applied economics and data analysis, in addition to traditional economics coursework. Students work as research assistants, peer tutors and collaborate on projects.

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.

The BS in Physics with an Emphasis in General Physics is designed to prepare students for a professional career in physics or a related field, or for graduate studies in physics. Other emphasis areas offered include: Astrophysics; Biophysics; and Engineering Physics.

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 MA in Museums, Heritage, and Public History joins theoretical and practical study at an advanced level to prepare students for careers in museums, heritage institutions, historic sites and societies, and related organizations.  The program works closely with cultural resources in St Louis, particularly the city’s many museums and historic sites.  We focus on community engagement, the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural study of material culture, interpreting and debating the past, new media and public education, and research in archival and material collections. Our graduates work in art museums, history museums, science centers, historic house museums, and other cultural institutions across the United States and internationally.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Conduct original historical research based on disciplinary protocols
• Demonstrate competence in digital technologies utilized in the creation, presentation, and distribution of interpretive content
• Assess contemporary activities in the field of museums, heritage, and public history with reference to best practices
• Develop skills for communicating interpretive content effectively with public and professional audiences
• Demonstrate skills to become a competent professional and ethical contributor to museum, heritage, and public history collaborative settings
• Integrate community perspectives into professional museum, heritage, and public history products and activities

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.

Outcomes and Career Outlook

Throughout the program, students will be exposed to core business functions and contemporary business administration frameworks needed to be successful in a variety of fields. Students will be prepared to enter the workforce and succeed locally or globally across a wide range of business professions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in business and financial operations occupations will grow five percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. This, paired with salaries that are higher than the median average, makes a career in business very inviting and rewarding.

The Master of Social Work at UMSL is a two year program that prepares its graduates for professional social work practice. Graduates will have the knowledge, skills and values for direct social work practice with individuals, families, or older adults, or the knowledge, skills and values to effectively manage and lead human service agencies. Social justice principles will guide graduates in their practice at all levels of intervention particularly with persons who are oppressed because of their color, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation or physical or mental ability.