Master of Arts in Philosophy

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

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.

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 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 Master of Arts in English program, a 30 credit-hour degree with concentrations in either literature or composition and rhetoric, furthers the education and advances the professional skills of teachers in high schools and middle schools in the St. Louis area; it prepares students for PhD programs in English studies, American studies, and composition; it prepares students for employment in community colleges as teachers of composition; and it provides opportunities for members of the St. Louis community to broaden their understanding of literature. The program contributes in substantial and measurable ways to the development and enhancement of the region's humanities workforce.

Students pursuing the M.A. degree in mathematics may choose the traditional track of M.A. in either pure or applied mathematics or the track in data science. The traditional track is well suited for students preparing to teach at the high school or junior college level. Those who concentrate on applied courses in the traditional track build a foundation for the application of mathematics in industry and the continuation of their education in the Ph.D. program in mathematical and computational sciences. The M.A. with data science emphasis is well suited for students preparing to work in industry as data scientists. Our graduates with data science emphasis will acquire a solid foundation in statistics and computational skills with emphasis on applications to data science.

The BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary program incorporating knowledge from criminology, social science, law, public administration and corrections, and provides an understanding of the assumptions, values and processes of the justice system. Core coursework includes theories of crime, criminal law, criminal justice policy and research/statistical methods in criminology and criminal justice. Students also select courses in policing, courts or corrections and more.

Credit may be allowed for individuals certified as law enforcement officers in Missouri and Illinois, as well as certified Federal law enforcement officers/agents who successfully completed police academy training. Consideration may be given to individuals certified as law enforcement officers/agents from other states.

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree program is intended for students preparing to enter the accounting profession as well as for those seeking to advance their existing accounting careers. It is designed to accommodate both undergraduate accounting majors and students with other undergraduate backgrounds. The MAcc degree will satisfy the minimum education requirements to be eligible to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination in Missouri.

The flexibility of this program enables busy adults to earn their graduate degree while balancing work, family and academic responsibilities. With many of our students working full time, all graduate classes are available in the evening.

UMSL MAcc graduates annually pass the four CPA exam parts at rates far above national averages and at rates competitive with the best programs in the state.

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.

American Politics

M.A. program, it is possible to specialize in American Politics, policy processes and institutions, American political behavior, judicial politics, urban politics, political economy, public administration, comparative politics, and international relations. The M.A. degree 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 politics and public policy.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with an Emphasis in Art Education prepares students for a career in Art Education. Students who successfully complete all portions of the program will be fully certified to teach Art to grades K-12 in the state of Missouri. Art Education students complete a foundation art program plus additional courses that provide experience with a broad range of studio processes. To be certified, students must pass the Art K-12 Missouri Content Assessment and demonstrate competence in nine Missouri Teaching Standards as documented in a final electronic portfolio called the Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment. Note that K-12 Art certification is grouped with Secondary Education by both DESE and the College of Education.

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations is designed for students who want to change the world through careers in government service, nonprofits, business, think tanks and consulting. Students are able to select international relations and comparative politics courses that will prepare them for their specific career and academic needs. Throughout the program, students will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, quantitative analysis and cultural awareness along with deeper knowledge of cross-cultural and international phenomena. These skills will prepare students for the workforce as well as for graduate study. Students have opportunities to apply these skills through internships and study abroad.