Master of Arts in Behavioral Neuroscience

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

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

This program coordinates with the Department of Biology where you’ll be exposed to research and teaching laboratories, field studies, greenhouses and a wide variety of modern research instrumentation. Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the BA or BS degree in Biology; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification.

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.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will:

• Have the 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 a basic knowledge of music history and repertories through the present time (History and Repertory)
• Have the ability to work on musical problems by combining their capabilities in performance, aural, verbal and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; history and repertory (Synthesis)

The BA in Psychology provides the foundation for further training in psychology at the graduate level, the background necessary for training in other fields such as the health professions, social work or counseling, and the liberal arts background necessary for entry-level positions in many fields such as business, communication, human services and mental health positions. Students may choose an area of concentration in graduate school preparation, child care and development, or devise an individual program.

The Chemistry & Biochemistry Master of Science degree is a 30 credit hour program that is customizable depending on the interests of the student. Students may choose to focus their coursework in a few, some, or all chemical disciplines including organic, inorganic, biochemical, physical, and analytical chemistry.

A BS or BA in a scientific discipline is the most compatible baccalaureate degree for the MS program, although other degrees will be considered for strong candidates.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry department has a strong research emphasis as well as a dedication to teaching, but is of medium size allowing substantial interaction between faculty and students. There is an international make-up to the faculty and postdoctoral fellows, and there are graduate students presently in the department from the United States and abroad. The department is very well equipped with modern instrumentation and computing resources. These include outstanding NMR, microscopy, X-ray and mass spectrometry facilities, with two 300 MHz and one 600 MHz NMR spectrometers, two single-crystal and one powder X-ray diffractometers, a Bruker Maxis Plus and GC-MS facilities. Areas of research specialization include the traditional areas of inorganic, organic, physical, and biological chemistry, as well as organometallic, supramolecular, surface chemistry, computational chemistry, laser spectroscopy and the study of new materials. Former graduates are employed in research positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in academic positions, and in other areas such as high-tech computer applications.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is situated on landscaped grounds in suburban St. Louis and has a student body of about 15,000. UMSL is a growing campus. Recent additions include a new Computer Science building, the Center for Nanoscience, the Millenium Student Center, the Touhill Performing Arts Center, and a new Science Learning Building containing state of the art teaching laboratories. UMSL is located in suburban St. Louis County about 5 miles from the St. Louis airport, near the intersection of interstates 70 and 170. There are two Metrolink stations on the campus that provide easy light-rail access to the airport, downtown St. Louis, Forest Park (which houses the Zoo, the Art Museum and the History Museum) and to the popular dining/shopping areas in the Delmar Loop and the Central West End.

The BS in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Special Education & TESOL, focuses on engaged, experiential learning that introduces and supports instructional opportunities that orient and improve the development of sound learning communities and supports classrooms of diverse student populations and abilities. Students are exposed to a variety of course content platforms, opportunities for student research and community collaborations and partnerships. Educator candidates actively engage in unique practicum experiences in the studio school model for clinical practice.

The Special Education endorsement may be added by passing the appropriate area exam. You’ll also earn an additional credential in second language learning (TESOL) that will make you highly qualified and marketable.

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

This program coordinates with the Department of Mathematics. Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the BA or BS degrees in Mathematics; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification.

The BS in Mathematics provides a substantial background in mathematics, statistics and computer science to produce graduates who can work as mathematicians. The BA in Mathematics provides a broad grounding in different areas of mathematics, giving students the depth necessary to pursue graduate studies or other career choices like market research and business. Optional courses enable students to focus on areas of interest like pure or applied mathematics.

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 Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science is a general post-baccalaureate degree that gives students a broad understanding of political science through intensive study of several subfields within the discipline. The Department’s Master’s program is also designed to give students a firm grounding in scientific-based inquiry into problems in politics. Students learn how institutional design, economic and cultural factors shape the distribution of power and patterns of cooperation and conflict in society within and outside of government. The M.A. degree in Political Science allows students to develop a deeper understanding of political ideas and institutions, more sophisticated research skills, a better grasp of governments abroad, and a broader knowledge of international politics.