Bachelor of Liberal Studies

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

• Acquire advanced knowledge of traditional philosophical issues in the western tradition.
• Develop critical thinking skills based on knowledge of the standards governing logical reasoning.
• Acquire familiarity with philosophical issues that arise in some other disciplines (e.g. biology, art, education, etc.).
• Acquire a basic understanding of ethical principles and their role in resolving ethical disputes.
• Acquire the knowledge and skills required to write a paper identifying a philosophical issue and presenting arguments supporting a thesis for resolving it.

The Creative Writing Program at the University of Missouri – St. Louis offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in fiction and poetry. Our MFA is a 39 credit-hour program designed as a terminal degree. It allows a select group of student writers an extraordinary opportunity to learn the craft of writing from the inside out. The methods of instruction are simple but effective: writing workshops in fiction and poetry; seminar classes on writing craft; assistant editorial work in conjunction with internationally-renowned literary magazine Boulevard. Students in the UMSL MFA program work closely with our distinguished faculty. In the final semesters of study, each student develops a book-length thesis. UMSL MFA graduates have published books in fiction and poetry, won prestigious awards, and placed poems, stories and essays in hundreds of esteemed literary journals.

The program is designed for students and professionals with diverse undergraduate backgrounds. MSIST students interact extensively with their peers as well as with industry executives in a carefully curated academic environment to gain a well-rounded perspective on the strategic role of IT in contemporary organizations. Students are able to customize their degree by choosing two four-course sequences that permit them to specialize in areas of interest to them. These specializations include Information Systems and Technology, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Systems Development, Information Security Management and Auditing, and Cybersecurity.

This program was designed with the busy working adult in mind. The program can be completed in 12 to 18 months. Flexible class schedules (day and evening, weekends, 8- or 16-week sessions and course delivery formats (in-person, blended and online) enable students to balance school, work and life.

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.

Educational leaders and community stakeholders have expressed interest in establishing partnerships with college and workforce preparation professionals from various sectors to address the transition challenges of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged elementary, middle school and high school students who are underprepared to fully participate in and effectively contribute to the global economy as fully functional citizens. Proactive, sustained effort and attention to this crisis is paramount and can contribute to the development of academic and vocational pathways that will inspire a renewed hope among extremely vulnerable student populations and contribute to economic development in our region and beyond.

As there is a renewed national emphasis on PK-16 pipeline initiatives, it is vital that this program can respond to community needs for student services professionals who have the talent and skill to serve as educational liaisons and facilitate collaboration between K-12, community colleges, career and technical education institutions, and 4-year institutions in order to prepare all students for success, whether they choose to pursue a college degree, vocational training or transition to the workforce immediately following high school.

The Master’s degree with an emphasis in Higher Education has been flexibly designed to include an expanded focus related to college access, equity and affordability, social justice, and workforce preparation, as well as student services and higher education leadership. The enhanced curriculum targets K-12 teacher leaders, college and career preparation professionals, and other student services professionals who want to transform the college access and workforce preparation culture in elementary and secondary schools, which would culminate in the creation of transition plans and intensive student support services to ensure success for ALL students.

Student support professionals will be provided with the necessary tools to empower youth and adolescents; a renewed emphasis will be placed on students who are culturally connected to marginalized communities or underrepresented populations to promote achievement and success among these groups. Institutional and community commitment to student success will contribute to realistic and achievable academic and vocational pathways that are vital for a healthy, sustainable economy and region.

Our innovative program aims to provide the foundational tools for practitioners to consider several career pathways: 1) student services professionals in public or private schools who can complement the work of school counselors to provide proactive academic, vocational or workforce planning support to elementary, middle and high school students; 2) student services professionals who will pursue entry to mid-level staff or leadership roles in higher education institutions to effectively serve students who have transitioned to college to earn a postsecondary degree and require various forms of support in order to experience academic success and persist to graduation; 3) educational liaisons who work with K-12, community colleges and 4-year institutions, as well as business and health care agencies and community agencies, to serve as transition planning advocates for all students; 4) student services professionals who have an interest in working with private college preparation agencies to promote and support college access and preparation; or 5) higher education professionals interested in organizing, mobilizing, and leading advocacy efforts related to public policy formulation and analysis within government agencies and national higher education and professional associations, including the American Council on Education, NASPA, etc., as well as higher education think tanks and non-profit research and advocacy organizations, such as the Institute for Higher Education Policy.

Our experienced, student-centered faculty nurture student growth through a targeted immersion in the program curriculum, which serves to build comprehensive competencies to pursue work in these areas. Faculty provide personalized mentoring experiences and incorporate real-world case studies into the curriculum to expose students to practical opportunities to apply concepts to professional practice.

The master’s degree in Secondary Education is an accredited program appropriate for secondary teachers, specialists, department chairpersons, and those who work in informal learning or international educational settings. Candidates choose electives that will support their personal growth and development as an educational leader to impact the communities with which they work.

Diverse candidates will engage in a learner-centered environment committed to the success of historically marginalized and diverse students, research, and community engagement. Within diverse education settings, candidates will: advance pedagogical knowledge, recognize inequalities in educational opportunity, design differentiated assessments to inform practice, critically examine professional practice, and demonstrate commitment to ethical professional practice.  

It is important that both candidates and advisors plan ahead to ensure courses are taken when they are offered in the schedule. Programs must be planned with an academic advisor and meet the approval of the faculty advisor, adhering to the College of Education and UMSL Graduate School policies.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Continually and systematically reflect on professional growth to enhance student learning.
• Integrate technology to create meaningful student learning within the context of a global digital society.
• Apply advanced content and pedagogical knowledge to create authentic and deep learning experiences.
• Extend learning science principles to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum based on learning standards.
• Create and foster effective working relationships with students, school colleagues, families, and community members to enhance student learning and well-being.
• Design and establish a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment that nurtures the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
• Utilize equitable frameworks and inclusive practices to expertly create a variety of instructional and assessment opportunities adapted to diverse learners to encourage all students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.

The Entrepreneurship emphasis is an option in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program. Throughout the program, students will develop skills in financial and managerial accounting, information systems concepts, business analytics and statistics, supply chain management, management and organizational behavior, marketing, strategic management and more.

Our students are given the tools to become successful entrepreneurs and innovators based on next generation processes including mindset, design and agile thinking. Students benefit from hands-on experiences, exclusive entrepreneurial internships, courses led by faculty with proven records of real-world success, and opportunities to compete for funding new ideas, ventures and startups.

A degree in entrepreneurship at UMSL is a degree from our internationally recognized College of Business Administration, ranked among the top 2% of business schools in the world thanks to our dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting. St. Louis has one of the most thriving entrepreneurship communities in the U.S. In fact, Forbes named us among the “Top 10 Rising Cities for Startups.” No other university is better connected to that community than UMSL. UMSL has UMSL Accelerate, a first-of-its kind entrepreneurial resource that offers hands-on experience through exclusive partnerships with Ameren Accelerator, Capital Innovators and other entrepreneurial giants.

As you can imagine, salaries for entrepreneurship majors vary, and there are a wide range of potential outcomes. Some graduates aspire to start their own business venture, some the CEO’s of large corporations, and still others may seek fulfilling opportunities leading teams within smaller organizations. All of which have a range of salaries and income streams. While various outcomes are based on individual goals and career aspirations, entrepreneurship majors develop the knowledge, skills and tenacity that make them strong leaders in any capacity.

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.

This M.S. degree in biochemistry & biotechnology is offered in cooperation with the Department of Biology and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. This degree program encompasses both the basic principles and the technological applications of biochemistry and biotechnology, providing students with the training they need to become a part of the broad life sciences industry. The feature of the Professional Science Emphasis is additional coursework in Business electives, giving students a unique perspective on the business, financial, and legal aspects of biotechnology research.  Most courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening.

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.