Bachelor of Applied Science in Geography

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

Spanish majors study the experience of language, life and culture through the lens of the Spanish language. Faculty focus on literary research and cultural studies ensuring students are proficient in speaking and writing in Spanish. Students gain specialty knowledge in film studies, language education and teaching, pluralism and multiculturalism, international relations and politics and language policy.

Business Economics majors at Northwest develop analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills in preparation of evaluating the decisions made by businesses, consumers and government while gaining the fundamental knowledge of business management, accounting, marketing and finance.

Agricultural Business majors at Northwest gain the knowledge and experiences of agriculture as well as business foundations. Faculty focus on four core areas: agriculture finance, agricultural marketing, agricultural policy and economics of agricultural production.

Agricultural finance teaches students tools to plan expenditures on assets that extend beyond one year; agricultural marketing provides a method of determining the value for land in order to ensure a profitable investment; agricultural policy, students are exposed to tools the government uses to modify free market outcomes associated with the production and marketing of specific crops and livestock; and economics of agricultural production describes the importance of farmers and agribusinesses reliance on factors and events that occur internationally and determine price.

A major in Agricultural Media with an emphasis in production and broadcasting is designed for students with a strong interest in agriculture and radio or television. The major is designed to give students a foundation in communication practices which can be applied in the agriculture community. Students will gain hands-on learning experiences including techniques for pre- and post-production, recording methods, microphone and camera operation and script and story writing. Coursework includes classes in agricultural science, advertising, marketing, journalism and media.

A degree in English education prepares students for meaningful careers in middle and high school classrooms. As an English education major at Northwest, students learn the skills to be successful in the classroom – classroom management, differentiated instruction, professionalism, practical strategies for teaching reading and writing – but they also learn about the teaching of English as a craft and an art.

Through books, English teachers expose students to other cultures and time periods, giving insight into how others think and have thought. Through writing instruction, English teachers give students a voice of their own and the means to express themselves to their world. Often, English teaching is associated with spelling, punctuation, grammar and other basic skills. As an English education major, students learn how to teach those skills, but also promote social justice and give kids the tools to thrive in an evolving world through reading and writing.

A major in Business Management at Northwest teaches students methods for managing and leading professional employees, motivating people on the job, producing quality products, scheduling maximum efficiency, and managing financial entanglements among companies. Students develop skills and knowledge in critical thinking, analyzing and effective communication techniques in a career. Hands-on approaches are utilized in preparation for a career in business while working in teams, learning negotiation skills, conflict resolution, operations of running a business, and presentation skills in upper level courses.

Comprehensive communication majors emphasizing in rhetoric at Northwest learn to research, create and deliver persuasive messages and listen critically to these messages. In this major, students study the core areas of communication theory, public speaking, writing, group behavior, persuasion and interpersonal communication. Additional areas of study include intercultural communication, argumentation and classical, modern and postmodern rhetorical theory and method as applied to an American issue.

Professionals in the field are civically engaged, critically analyze how people develop persuasive messages as well as how those messages affect public perception of the subject. They identify logical and ethical problems within persuasive messages, or with their effects on particular groups or communities and intervene to increase awareness and understanding.

A comprehensive degree in Social Studies: History at Northwest prepares students to teach history, geography, economics, political science/government and behavioral science in secondary education (high school). This major must be completed as part of the Bachelor of Science in Education to align with Missouri teacher certification standards. A minor is not required as social studies is considered a comprehensive major. Recent Northwest graduates have obtained teacher positions in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and  Missouri, yet the particular certification for each state varies. Students learn the content of history, geography, economics, political science/government and behavioral sciences while also gaining understanding of the techniques of the teaching profession. This includes classroom management, lesson planning, special education, technology for classrooms and other related skills.

Speech and theatre education majors become certified to teach grades nine through 12 as well as serve as a play directors and forensics or debate coaches. Faculty focus on ensuring students have the skills and techniques to effectively teach as well as a comprehensive understanding of theatre and all communication areas.

Students majoring in speech and theatre education have access to hands-on experiences beginning their freshman years and direct at least one production prior to graduation. To prepare students for a successful college experience and career, faculty provide a mentoring program that matches new students with upperclassman to help balance school and extracurricular activities.

Earning a Political Science degree at Northwest prepares students for multiple employment opportunities in public service and private sectors including federal, state and local government, law, criminal justice system, municipal planning, city management, urban affairs, education, non-profit administration, campaigns and elections, public policy analysis and internal development and relations.

The major has three areas of emphasis: the american institutions (formerly criminal justice) emphasis provides an understanding of legislatures, police prosecutors, public offenders and courts and corrections; the public administration emphasis focuses on the decision making process and job opportunities in public organizations and local, state, federal and international agencies; and the global affairs emphasis studies the global trends and events, and enhances intercultural understanding.