Master of Science in Biology - Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Emphasis Area (STEM)

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

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 of Fine Arts in Art with an Emphasis in Studio Practice offers students the opportunity to explore essential cultural and professional systems through creative visual practice. The degree is considered a professional degree program in art, as well as traditional preparation to pursue graduate studies in the field.

Studio Practice encompasses painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and digital arts in 2D and 3D. Students encounter both traditional and new technologies in their study and in creating the visual world in which we live. Students in the Studio Practice program enjoy the benefits of close relationships with the St. Louis visual arts professional community. Our professors maintain a rigorous program that prepares students for immediate employment as creative professionals and enriches lives through creative practice.

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 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 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 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 Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Middle School Education, is a small, personalized program that combines the child-centered philosophy of elementary certification with a content specialization more typical of secondary certification. Middle school majors earn certification in one or more content areas for grades 5-9: math; science; communication arts or social studies.

Students gain skills and insights that can be applied as innovative educators, managers and directors, program planners and curriculum developers. You’ll have the opportunity to earn specific credentials, as needed, and to pursue academic minors related to your individual career goals.

Outcomes and Career Outlook

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to improve and enhance student learning; integrate technology to create meaningful student learning within the context of a global digital society; apply content and pedagogical knowledge to create authentic and deep learning experiences; use learning science principles to design, implement and evaluate curriculum based on learning standards; design and establish a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment that nurtures the intellectual, social and personal development of all students; and use equitable frameworks and inclusive practices to create a variety of instructional and assessment opportunities adapted to diverse learners to encourage all students’ critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills.

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.

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 Political Science provides students with knowledge about politics and policy while developing sought-after and transferable skills, such as information-gathering and processing, analysis, research, decision making, and oral and written communication. Areas of concentration include American politics, international and comparative politics, urban politics, public law, public policy and administration and gender and politics. In addition to formal coursework, internships are available providing students with the opportunity to apply classroom learning and gain practical field experience.