Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication with Emphasis in Public Relations

at Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff Campus USA

The B.A. in Comparative Cultural Studies is a 49-58 credit degree whose aim is to provide students with a comparative, integrative and global approach to the study of human culture in its diversity and interconnections. The different emphases in the CCS B.A. degree introduce students to the complexities of diverse human cultures, both past and present; in the process, they develop the skills of analysis, interpretation and communication crucial to both their academic and professional development.

The Bachelor’s in Justice Studies provides online and distance-learning students with a professional, criminal justice-focused education that prepares students to ethically work and lead in the fields of criminal justice and intelligence studies.
 
To help students reach their education and career goals, all Justice Studies faculty members have advanced degrees and extensive experience in the criminal justice or intelligence fields, specializing in areas, such as, criminal justice investigations, police leadership, community policing, drug investigations, federal law enforcement, corrections, intelligence-led policing, military intelligence, cyber crime, and the law.
 
Students complete core courses in ethics, leadership, criminal justice, criminology, the justice system and effective writing. They then move on to tailoring their degree to their individual interests by selecting elective courses in criminal justice administration or intelligence studies.

Emphasis in Criminal Justice Administration

The emphasis in Criminal Justice Administration ensures students develop an in-depth knowledge of their areas of interest within the criminal justice system as well as an understanding of the current, critical issues impacting the criminal justice field. This emphasis also helps students use critical thinking to connect theoretical concepts with practical criminal justice situations; a necessary skill for practitioners to succeed in the criminal justice field.

Mechanical engineering is a diverse and broad discipline of engineering that applies the principles of mathematics, physics, and science for the analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools.  It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines.  This exciting engineering field requires a solid understanding of core concepts including solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, materials science, and structural analysis to name a few. Mechanical engineers use these core principles along with tools like computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, automobiles, space vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, robotic devices, wind turbines, medical devices, and much more.

  The study of Theatre Arts is an integral part of a liberal arts education. As such, Northern Arizona University Department of Theatre seeks to give the undergraduate theatre student the broadest possible understanding of the art and craft of theatre through the creative, critical, and applied practice of theatre, and provide opportunity through performance and production for the student to learn their art by doing their art in a learner centered environment. The program seeks to prepare students for the global society by creating an awareness of the “other”, practicing empathetical thinking, and sustainability with a global perspective.

Theatre: Emphasis in Design/Technology

• Evaluate, analyze and apply a depth and breadth of knowledge about the global impact of Theatre history, literature, and practices to the scholarship and practice of the art and craft of Theatre.
  • Synthesize knowledge acquired through the study of Theatre history, theory and criticism, and articulate their own stances on the global stage of Theatre.
  • Analyze knowledge of the history and development of modern design techniques and apply to their own Theatre design.
  • Articulate the cultural relationships and diversity of all aspects of Theatre.
• Value and apply understanding of and experience with Theatre as a collaborative art to the scholarship and practice of Theatre.
  • Practice effective communication within a collaborative environment.
  • Effectively engage in the design and build process with other Theatre practitioners.
  • Value and understand professional and ethical boundaries within the collaborative Theatrical process.
  • Apply active listening skills.
  • Evaluate and apply an appreciation of the different areas of technical Theatre to effectively work in their chosen areas.
  • Practice non-verbal skills to effectively communicate their intentions.
• Apply knowledge of theory to practical work in Theatre.
  • Apply modern design tools and skill sets to various positions in Theatre through the actual practice of Theatre.  
  • Demonstrate knowledge and correct application of discipline-based language, terminology, and vernacular.
  • Effectively communicate with Theatre professionals.
  • Practice effective drafting, drawing, model building, and other practical methods of non-verbal technical communication.
  • Practice effective research and documentation of research in the design process.
• Articulate an understanding of sustainability in Theatre, in all its manifestations.
  • Identify and discuss current professional Theatrical practices aimed at increasing sustainability.
  • Recognize, discuss, and analyze the sustainability of storytelling as an art form that is socially, culturally, and historically contextualized.
• Effectively communicate the theory and practice of Theatre in the following modes: digital, literary, verbal, and non-verbal.
  • Articulate knowledge of the fundamentals of multiple areas of Technical Theatre in various modes of discipline-based communication—in particular digital, verbal, and written forms.
  • Demonstrate comprehension, evaluation, and analysis of modern design tools for various positions in Theatre.  
  • Analyze and evaluate their places in their chosen Design/Technical field
• Apply effective problem solving through creative and critical thinking.
  • Articulate the creative process through the successful completion of a Capstone defense.
  • Critically analyze their own processes.
  • Integrate design challenges to a process in order to find creative solutions.
  • Articulate their processes in relation to production challenges.
• Demonstrate the facility to synthesize and apply their liberal studies to the practice of Theatre.
  • Apply awareness and comprehension of the scope of university course work taken in order to critically analyze their own processes as Theatre artists.
  • Integrate university course work to meet design difficulties and apply this knowledge in creative ways.
  • Articulate process in relation to production challenges by comprehending, analyzing, and synthesizing a diversity of stories, which are the basis of the art of Theatre.
  • Synthesize and apply their knowledge of all areas of Theatre and the liberal arts to effectively complete a capstone project.
• Practice an effective system of preparation and working habits.
  • Implement the Theatrical practice of always being on time, prepared, and ready to work, through successful completion of coursework and practical application in the shops and backstage.
  • Recognize, describe, and implement effective preparation practices for a designer or technician.
  • Apply and recognize the importance of continual preparation, research, and practice in design and technology.
  • Implement effective classroom strategies such as active discussion participation, engagement with course materials, and asking relevant questions.
  • Practice effective and efficient writing techniques, including outlining, peer reviewing, and revision.
  • Collaborate within groups to prepare and present course material.

This M.S. in Electrical Engineering will prepare you to either enter the electrical engineering workforce or continue on to a doctoral program of study, building core skills that are widely applicable to many areas of science, engineering, industry, business, and research.

This degree is flexible and allows students to develop a customized program of study that is highly aligned with their professional or research interests. Available coursework allows students to study in many areas of electrical engineering, including analog and digital microelectronics, microprocessor and computer engineering, wireless communication and networking, digital signal processing, and power electronics and systems. While all students will be expected to contribute to a substantive electrical engineering development or research project under the mentorship of a faculty member during the course of their study, thesis option students will have additional opportunities to engage in electrical engineering research and scholarship and prepare a thesis.

This program is designed for students with strong preparation in electrical engineering, gained through successful completion of an undergraduate electrical engineering program or other professional experience. The non-thesis option of the program is designed for students seeking professional preparation, while the thesis option is particularly appropriate for students for considering further graduate study in a doctoral program.

The Chemistry M.S. program prepares students for research-focused professions in the chemical sciences, emphasizing the development of a students' ability to develop experimental approaches that accurately capture information to solve questions and problems in their chemical field of study. Our faculty members conduct research in the many fields of chemistry, from the level of single molecules to whole chemical systems. From the first day of entry into our program, students work closely with their faculty mentor, selecting a course of study suited to their future goals and professional interests. The program enables graduates to contribute to the forefront of knowledge in the scientific community, share their knowledge through teaching, or apply it in public service or industry.
 
This two-year, thesis-based degree program has three distinct emphasis areas: 1) A comprehensive emphasis, (2) an emphasis in Carcinogenesis and Cancer Chemotherapy and (3) an emphasis in Bioorganic and Biomedical Chemistry. All chemistry students work closely with a faculty adviser to design and implement individual thesis research. Students in the Carcinogenesis and Cancer Chemotherapy emphasis generally focus their coursework and research on learning about cancer and its causes and treatments from a chemical perspective. Students in the Bioorganic and Biomedical Chemistry emphasis generally investigate the principles of organic chemistry and biochemistry that serve as a foundation for the medical sciences.

The Environmental Science program at NAU constructs an interdisciplinary base of knowledge and skills to explore and develop real-world solutions to environmental problems.

Our program provides a firm grounding in the natural and social sciences to ensure all students understand how chemical, physical and biological processes maintain life, and the complex relationships among humans and the environment. Students work together and individually in the classroom, field and laboratory to practice applying the scientific method to address environmental problems and explore creative solutions that apply cutting-edge technologies.

The broad range of emphases available within our program allows students to delve deeper into a specific knowledge base, then work individually and often together in Environmental Science courses to solve problems by applying the perspectives and knowledge they developed in their emphasis with students from other emphasis areas. To culminate the learning in the program, students develop an individually designed research project or internship addressing an environmental issue of importance to them, which in turn, is expected to further prepare students for a range of professional or graduate opportunities.

Applied Statistics Emphasis

• Apply statistical techniques to find innovative ways of understanding environmental problems.
• Explore advanced math, computer programming, bioinformatics, and geographic information systems, and through collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate solutions to environmental problems.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychological Sciences enables students to develop an understanding of and knowledge about human behavior from several perspectives in psychological science, the ability to apply and synthesize that knowledge within specific psychological domains, and the research methods skills necessary to become critical evaluators and producers of knowledge of human behavior. The BS in Psychological Sciences is distinct from the BS in Psychology because it provides students with the opportunity for focused study in behavioral science through four emphases and one certificate program, and trains students in the more advanced research skills necessary for scientific inquiry within this discipline and for entry into a Ph.D. program in Psychology, if a student chooses to continue in an academic track. Psychological Sciences majors complete a core sequence of courses including introductory psychology, a set of lower division breadth courses, introduction to statistics, research methods in psychology, a set of upper division depth courses, and a capstone course.  Psychological Sciences majors also receive additional research training through completion of an advanced research methods course and a minimum of 6 units of research experience. Additionally, Psychological Science majors have the opportunity for in depth study in a specific area of psychology through completion of a certificate in human resource management, or an emphasis in social/personality, neuroscience, clinical/health, or developmental psychology.

Clinical/Health Psychology
Students will complete advanced coursework and engage in research that applies scientific knowledge of the interrelationships among behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social and biological components in health and disease to the understanding, promotion and maintenance of health. Graduating students will be able to:

• Demonstrate depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex problems in clinical/health psychology.
• Demonstrate mastery of critical thinking and research skills through completion of a research placement in the area of clinical/health psychology.
• Produce a research study or other psychological project related to clinical/health psychology that meets writing standards of the profession, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Commuication is designed to produce graduates who are skilled in using art, design and technology to creatively communicate ideas and transform messages into visual communication. Through the rigorous coursework, students will develop skills in using aesthetic and conceptual judgment, color, type, symbols, digital images, multi-media, interactivity, motion graphics, photography, and project management to produce messages that clearly inform, effectively communicate brand experience, and persuade viewers.

Motion Design Emphasis

• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic principles, concepts, tools, techniques, procedures, and technologies sufficient to produce motion graphics from concept to a finished product that communicates ideas and/or stories to a viewer or to an audience. This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to use the competencies listed in items below in professional contexts as appropriate to the needs of specific projects.
• Knowledge of the principles of motion design, including its visual, spatial, sound, motion, and temporal elements and features, and how these elements are combined in the development of motion graphics.
• Functional understanding of and ability to use narrative, non-narrative, and other information/language structures (linear, non-linear, thematic, cinematic, interactive, etc.) to organize content in time-based media.
• Ability to use concepts and processes for the development, coordination, and completion of motion graphics (examples include, but are not limited, to concept, visual, and character development; the use of scenarios and personas; and storyboarding, flowcharting, and layout).
• Functional understanding and ability to use the characteristics and capabilities of various animation methods and technologies in creative and project development contexts (examples include, but are not limited to, stop motion, 2D Digital, 3D Digital, etc.).

The Environmental Science program at NAU constructs an interdisciplinary base of knowledge and skills to explore and develop real-world solutions to environmental problems.

Our program provides a firm grounding in the natural and social sciences to ensure all students understand how chemical, physical and biological processes maintain life, and the complex relationships among humans and the environment. Students work together and individually in the classroom, field and laboratory to practice applying the scientific method to address environmental problems and explore creative solutions that apply cutting-edge technologies.

The broad range of emphases available within our program allows students to delve deeper into a specific knowledge base, then work individually and often together in Environmental Science courses to solve problems by applying the perspectives and knowledge they developed in their emphasis with students from other emphasis areas. To culminate the learning in the program, students develop an individually designed research project or internship addressing an environmental issue of importance to them, which in turn, is expected to further prepare students for a range of professional or graduate opportunities.

Environmental Geology Emphasis

• Quantify selected aspects of the Earth system using foundations of mathematics and physics.
• Explore Earth system concepts, such as plate tectonics, the rock cycle, and geologic hazards on geologic time scales, and through collaborations with those of other disciplines and viewpoints, apply this information to generate sustainable solutions to environmental problems.