Master of Arts in Music

at Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff Campus USA

The BS in mathematics trains students to think critically and logically and to use mathematical tools to formulate and solve problems in both the mathematics world and the real world. Students study Calculus and Linear Algebra, which are fundamental to engineering and the applied sciences. Students also study advance mathematics topics in order to be able to carry out mathematical research. Students will learn to write and present mathematics with precision and clarity. The BS in mathematics will prepare students for different careers such as Actuarial Science, careers in Statistics, careers in Applied Mathematics, and graduate study in mathematics and statistics. Students are advised to consult with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for suggestions on choosing mathematics, statistics, and general electives to meet specific career goals.

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.

Graphic Design Emphasis

• The ability to solve communication problems, including the skills of problem identification, research and information gathering, analysis, generation of alternative solutions, and prototyping.
• The ability to describe and respond to the audiences and contexts which communication solutions must address, including recognition of the physical, cognitive, cultural, and social human factors that shape design decisions.
• The ability to create and develop visual form in response to communication problems, including an understanding of principles of visual organization/ composition, information hierarchy, symbolic representation, typography, aesthetics, and the construction of meaningful images.
• An understanding of tools and technology, including their roles in the creation, reproduction, and distribution of visual messages.
• An understanding of design history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives, including those of art history, linguistics, communication and information theory, technology, and the social and cultural use of design objects.
• An understanding of basic business practices, including the ability to organize design projects and to work productively as a member of teams.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science consists of core studies in areas such as chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, and general biology, as well as more advanced courses specific to the study of physiology and movement during exercise. Students will develop an understanding of human physiology, human movement, and the biological and chemical responses of the body to acute and chronic (training) exercise in the core Exercise Science classes; Introduction to Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology and its lab, Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology, Exercise Testing and Prescription and its lab, and in their senior capstone.  With the help of advisors, students choose approved Exercise Science electives, which cover a wide range of disciplinary areas and are selected based on the individual student’s career or graduate school goals.  These include courses in psychology, microbiology, genetics, pathology, cell and molecular biology, amongst many others.
 
Research opportunities are available for students in individual faculty’s research labs, as well as in NAU’s research centers and institutes, such as the Center for Bioengineering Innovation (CBI).  Exercise Science students also have the option of completing an internship in sports performance or cardiac rehabilitation if they are considering a career in clinical exercise physiology.
 
Students graduating with an Exercise Science degree will be well prepared for careers in clinical exercise physiology, for admission into graduate programs in exercise science and for admission into professional programs such as physical therapy, physician’s assistant, occupational therapy, athletic training, and medicine.

The Personalized Learning Bachelor’s degree in Management is built around workplace competencies and prepares students to pursue management careers in a broad spectrum of opportunities in corporate, non-profit, public service or military settings. The curriculum is designed in consultation with business leaders and competencies identified by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the Society for Human Resource Management to ensure students a comprehensive and relevant educational experience.
 
PL Management students are provided with the knowledge, skills and abilities to enter the workforce with foundational skills in managing sustainable, ethical and socially responsible organizations. Students explore theories, concepts and practices through current case studies and literature that apply to managing business operations and personnel in the context of a global enterprise. Students analyze and interpret critical knowledge, skills and abilities required for success in managing innovative and traditional organizations. The program focuses on current issues and theory-to-practice exercises to prepare managers for immediate success in the field.
 
Students in the Human Resource emphasis study broadly from program core topics impacting global enterprise including leadership, ethics, finance, managing human capital, communication, supply chain management, marketing, critical thinking, strategic planning, technology and employment law. In addition, HR emphasis students complete coursework that prepares them to apply concepts and principles of job analyses, HR policy, human performance metrics and compensation.

Healthcare Emphasis

• Review the state of US healthcare organizations
• Analyze healthcare operations, obligations and delivery
• Research legal and policy issues that govern the healthcare organization and workforce
• Evaluate quality management and risk management in healthcare
• Examine statistical methods used to inform management decisions
• Integrate and apply learning through a Capstone project

The Bachelors degree in Communication Studies offers coursework that enables students to construct, convey and interpret communcation in diverse contexts. The major prepares students to: enter professions requiring proficiency in relational, group, and public communication. Courses combine theory and practice to enhance the student's ability to communicate well in both career and personal life. Students develop their capacities in ethical and critical thinking, improving their ability to articulate and defend their opinions as engaged citizens in a diverse world.

Students who complete this degree will be well prepared to enter graduate school, law school or other professional programs and to pursue teaching credentials.

The Organizational Communication Emphasis is only available for students attending Glendale Community College in the 2+2 program.

This degree is for students who are fascinated by questions of how life has evolved and how organisms function in the nature. Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge of ecology and evolution to environmental and societal problems and to experience fieldwork among the diverse habitats of the Colorado Plateau. Opportunities to specialize include any of the diverse areas of expertise of our faculty from wildlife to plants to microbes and from evolutionary genetics to population ecology to ecosystem ecology.

This degree is offered by the Department of Biological Sciences, ensuring a well-rounded foundation in the understanding life of earth. In the course of this major, students will identify, describe, and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in ecology and evolution. Students will master the theory of evolution; examine the genetic and environmental bases of variation in organisms; and describe how populations are regulated, species interact in communities, and the major nutrients cycle in natural ecosystems.

The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Informatics integrates cutting-edge tools and skills from data analytics, data science, computing, statistical analysis, and modeling with fundamental knowledge from emphasis areas in biology, health, ecology, environmental science, and/ or astronomy. Gain the skills you need to thrive in today’s information-centric professional workplace and follow your passion for the environment, biology, or astronomy (and related fields).

Informatics is data science (a combination of programming with statistics) plus a scientific discipline (environmental science, biology, or astronomy).

 A student graduating with a degree in informatics will be prepared for a range of data science jobs or scientific jobs that require great numeracy.  

All students will take classes in informatics, computer science and statistics.  All students will also participate in the four-class research intensive series teaching research methods.  Ecoinformatics students will also take core classes in environmental science.  Bioinformatics students will also take core classes in biology.  Astroinformatics students will also take core classes in astronomy.

Our degree in Interior Design introduces students to the terminology, marketplace, and professional issues of practice, while an experiential curriculum emphasizes both studio and workshop to stimulate creativity, experimentation, problem solving and innovation. n this program, students learn about principles and application of design, critical design thinking, anthropometrics, ergonomics, construction and building systems, building codes, allied building professions, professional consensus building, computer-assisted design, effective communication, the history of art and design, business practices, and how to do research for innovative design solutions. Throughout the program, we cultivate the values of creativity, passion, diversity, commitment, collaboration, excellence and vision in our students.

The Master of Public Health prepares students for public health professions emphasizing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs and policies. We aim to prepare public health professionals to address the health needs of diverse and underserved communities in northern Arizona and beyond. Students gain knowledge and skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health research, program planning and evaluation, health policy and management, and environmental health. We support student development through offering high quality instruction, which includes opportunities for professional growth and community engagement in public health and nutrition.

The Nutrition concentration emphasizes public health nutrition, culinary arts, foodservice management, and clinical nutrition. The Nutrition concentration is designed for students who are interested in careers as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. With the training, research, and internship experiences offered, graduates are well prepared to address the health needs within their communities.

Chemistry is a diverse discipline that encompasses living processes, inorganic interactions, and analytical methods. Chemistry deals with the basic laws of the physical world and the composition and properties of matter. Students trained in chemistry enter careers in academia, research, pharmacy, forensics, medicine, the environment, space exploration, and national defense. Students can select an emphasis that best prepares them for their chosen career path.

The breadth of the field of chemistry requires a wide range of knowledge and skills. The goal of the NAU chemistry degree program is to ensure that our graduates:

• Are well versed in the fundamental principles of chemistry: the atomic theory of matter, the quantum nature of the atom, and the principle laws of thermodynamics;
• Are knowledgeable about frequently encountered elements, compounds, and reactions;
• Understand biosynthetic pathways and modes of action of biomolecules;
• Understand factors controlling the mechanisms of chemical reactions;
• Are knowledgeable about synthesis strategies and can successfully conduct synthetic sequences in the laboratory;
• Understand the principles of chemical analysis and are proficient at using modern instrumentation to carry out analysis;
• Are adept at solving problems independently and contributing to a team effort;
• Able to communicate their scientific results orally and in writing.