Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

at Northeastern Illinois University USA

Northeastern Illinois University’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Justice Studies program gives students the opportunity to examine the social and historical roots of justice, crime, and the law. Students seek to discover how these roots have shaped public policies, including those of the criminal justice system, and study systematic explanations for the failure—or triumph—of justice in society and explore the potential for transformative justice.

Through critical inquiry, social science investigation, and experiential learning, Justice Studies students develop an understanding of social and economic justice issues and critical criminology. For instance, criminology examines the structural roots of crime and takes up the legal and social concerns of diverse, urban, low-income, and disenfranchised communities, whose members are often heavily targeted by the criminal justice system.

The mission of the Department of World Languages and Cultures is to provide high quality instruction in world languages, and to prepare students to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens through the critical study of the literatures and cultures associated with these languages.

As a Spanish major, the language and critical thinking skills you develop through written and oral exposition, research, and service learning will enhance your career opportunities in today's global society and provide the basis for a lifetime exploration of multiple cultures and worldviews.

The Master’s Degree in Computer Science has three concentrations: one for individuals who want to enter careers in industry, one for individuals who want to pursue a Ph.D., and one for high school teachers who want to obtain an endorsement to teach computer science. The program is designed especially for the convenience of the part-time student; courses are scheduled in the evening and on Saturday.

The M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science is designed as a multidisciplinary study of human movement and performance across the lifespan. Through classroom, laboratory, and field based experiences, our graduates learn about human performance and disease prevention from childhood to older adulthood. Students use skills to identify, analyze and explain physiological, structural and functional dynamics that influence fitness, health and performance in the sport and exercise settings. Students learn about the integrations of human physiology, movement, and cognition through both clinical and applied coursework.

Students can elect one of two concentrations in the program:

• Exercise Science
• Physical Education, Sport and Recreation

Northeastern’s Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Our comprehensive Psychology program exposes you to various areas of psychology as well as opportunities for hands-on research and optional field experience.

The department faculty members represent a number of theoretical approaches as well as a wide range of content areas, enhancing your opportunity to become acquainted with the full scope of this broad and complex subject. Because of the need to create a combination of courses consistent with their career goals, students are urged to form a continuing relationship with a department faculty advisor early in their major.

The interdisciplinary nature of psychology requires familiarity with other fields. Students intending to pursue graduate studies should have a strong background in mathematics and the natural sciences. All Psychology majors will benefit from course work in philosophy, physiology, literature, history, the social sciences, and computer science.

Programs in Urban Community Studies (UCS) are offered at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS), 700 East Oakwood Boulevard, 60653, in the heart of Chicago's historic Bronzeville community. The scholar/activist thrust is the overriding entity that drives the community and academic programming of the programs of the Carruthers Center.

The Programs in Urban Community Studies, through the Goodwin College of Education, offer the following degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts in Urban Community Studies
• Minor in Urban Community Studies
• Master of Arts in Urban Community Studies

The Urban Community Studies undergraduate program seeks to introduce undergraduate students to the social, cultural, political and economic forces that impact urban communities. It reflects the ongoing trends and developments that continue to be a part of the changing demographics of the city so that students become equipped with understanding the complexity, diversity, and history associated with urban spaces. UCS seeks to prepare students to acquire employment in the broad fields of social and human services including community organizations, alternative educational programs such as charter schools, contract schools, after school programs, and mentorship programs aimed at improving the condition of urban youth. This is not a teacher preparation program and does not lead to licensure.
Specific Goals of the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Community Studies

• Identify, deconstruct, and decode the existing socio-economic forces that influence Urban Community structures.
• Examine the literature, scholarship, social movements, and activism associated with understanding Urban Community issues.
• Identify and analyze culturally relevant models to navigate dilemmas faced in the Urban Community.
• Prepare UCS  majors to pursue graduate degrees in Urban Community Studies and other related fields.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a 42-credit hour program that offers a broad, interdisciplinary training in public health. The MPH program prepares students to lead, conduct research in, serve, and work in a variety of public health settings. Settings may include public and private health care organizations, health research facilities, social service and environmental health agencies, and government institutions dedicated to public health policy, programming, and services. Additionally, students will be prepared to pursue terminal degrees in the behavioral health, epidemiological, or environmental health sciences, as well as health-related law and policy, health care administration, and health communication.

Northeastern’s generalist Master of Public Health is unique in the greater metropolitan Chicago area. The program is taught by a team of faculty across disciplines. Similarly, students will have the opportunity to select six credit hours of electives from a wide variety of disciplines; therefore they are not limited to a concentration area, but rather a wide variety of topic areas related to public health.
Student Learning Outcomes

Students are expected to demonstrate foundational public health knowledge in:

• The profession and science of public health
• Factors related to human health

Students are expected to demonstrate foundational public health competencies in:

• Evidence-based approaches to public health
• Public health and health care systems
• Planning and management to promote health
• Policy in public health
• Leadership
• Communication
• Interprofessional practice
• Systems thinking

Major in Management: With a curriculum encompassing leadership and managerial skills, organization theories, international business, and strategic management, this major will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully lead and manage people and organizations. The large set of permissible electives caters to student's own career interests to build strengths and allows for the development of a broad range of business competencies.

Major in Management with Human Resources concentration: Designed for students who aspire for knowledge of a broad range of human resources principles and practices, this major has a focused elective curriculum on knowledge and tools in human resource management aligned with the current needs of organizations. Upon the successful completion of the concentration, students will be better prepared for the role of HR generalist or specialist in a variety of organizations.

The Management major is designed for those who wish to learn how to plan and organize the collection of activities, organizational infrastructure, capital and human resources involved in business processes, as well as how to staff, lead and control these processes to achieve an organizational goal. Students can choose one of two concentrations:

• Management
• Human Resources

The College of Business and Management has a set of well-established Program Learning Goals and Learning Objectives across all programs that are assessed on a periodic basis. The College of Business and Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is among the top five percent of the worldwide business schools offering degree programs. See the Dean’s Welcome for four compelling features to study in the College of Business and Management.

Global Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that offers a major leading to the B.A. in Global Studies. The program provides students with the opportunity to investigate and analyze the globalized world and the transnational interconnections that are its hallmark. The innovative curriculum includes required core courses housed in Global Studies as well as cross-listed courses drawn from across the university. Through critical analysis of the contemporary world, carried out in coursework and through hands-on research and internship opportunities, students in the program accrue knowledge, scholarly abilities, and practical skills that will prepare them as informed global citizens and members of the 21st century workforce. The program will prepare students to pursue graduate education and careers in a wide range of fields, including international business and law, applied social sciences, community resources management, social services, and international development.

The Global Studies Program at Northeastern Illinois University is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that offers a major leading to the Global Studies B.A. as well as a minor.
 
In Global Studies classes, students investigate and analyze life in a globalized world from cultural, economic, political, and other perspectives. 

The program is organized around five thematic tracks:

• Culture, Society and Identity
• Language, Knowledge and Representation
• Nature, Technology and the Body
• Power, Movements and Political Economy
• Violence, Resistance and Resolution

These tracks transcend traditional disciplinary, topical, and theoretical borders, providing opportunities for creative thinking, critical debate, and novel scholarship.  
 
Through critical analysis of the contemporary world, carried out in coursework and through hands-on research and internship opportunities, students in the program accrue knowledge, scholarly abilities, and practical skills that will prepare them as informed global citizens and members of the 21st century workforce. 

The Master of Science in Biology program serves those interested in advanced training in applied or basic biological research and teaching. The program also provides a basis for further graduate or professional studies. The M.S. in Biology is broadly based, allowing students to tailor their courses to suit their interests. Laboratory skills are integral to many Biology careers, thus students are encouraged to include lab courses in their program of study. Faculty in the M.S. in Biology program have expertise in a range of sub-disciplines including ecology, organismal, cell, and molecular biology. All newly admitted students matriculate in the Fall semester.

Program Goals

Upon completion of the M.S. in Biology program students will have:

•     A strong understanding of disciplines across the breadth of Biology and a deep understanding of select Biology sub-disciplines.
•     Developed the knowledge base necessary to critically evaluate research methods, data, and results, either produced by them or published in the primary literature.
•     Developed strong written and oral presentation skills.
•     Developed the analytical skills necessary to synthesize information in an area of research based on existing and new data.
•     Developed strong research design and laboratory/field research skills.

Graduates completing the Non-Thesis or Library Thesis options for the M.S. in Biology will meet goals 1-4. Graduates completing the Research Thesis option will meet all 5 goals.