Bachelor of Science in Human Services

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

The Agricultural Science major at Northwest is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for a career in a variety of agricultural-related occupations and farm operations. This major provides an opportunity to explore interests in agriculture. Students will gain the fundamental skills in agricultural economics, plant science, animal science and soils.

The General Studies major is both an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary program. This provides you the opportunity to explore your interests and is adoptable to your needs by discovering electives from any discipline that appeals to you. As a student of the program, you gain the fundamental skills in problem-solving and communication as well as critical reading, writing and speaking. The goal of this program is to introduce you to contextual framing of any discipline in the arts and sciences and achieve the broad knowledge and training that employers require.

The early childhood education program prepares students to successfully complete the licensure requirements of the program and earn their teaching license with an endorsement in early childhood education. This license enables students to teach children birth through the third grade in multiple settings including public and non-public schools, homes and other community settings.

This program offers a strengths-based approach in working with all children including those with special needs and rights. Along with coursework that is focused on child-centered and culturally sensitive practices, students participate in embedded field experiences in the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center and Horace Mann Laboratory School and partnering community settings. Combined, these learning experiences provide the basis from which theories about development, learning and curriculum come to life for our students.

Individually and as a cohort of learners, students learn an integrated approach to teaching and learning through constructivist curriculum practices and strategies that offer meaningful learning within diverse systems and settings. Opportunities to learn together as critical colleagues who further each other’s reflective thinking skills prepares students for professional collaboration in their future careers.

Across the country, the importance of early childhood education continues to grow as studies indicate the long-term benefits educational opportunities in the early years have on shaping future learning outcomes. Faculty focus on preparing childhood teachers, decision makers and intellectual and ethical leaders to create opportunities for learning that ensures the well-being of children and families in their communities and beyond.

Chemistry Education majors at Northwest study the chemistry curriculum and learn methods to applying it in the classroom. This major prepares students to teach all chemistry courses at the secondary education level (grades 9-12).

Like all Northwest chemistry majors, students study of the science of matter and it’s transformations from one form to another. Faculty focus on providing practical laboratory experience and foundational knowledge in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry and analytical chemistry.

In education courses, faculty incorporate practical teaching knowledge where students learn to implement a curriculum in the classroom, create a positive classroom environment, methods of effective communication, and techniques of assessing learner’s progress in the classroom.

Agricultural Education majors at Northwest learn about the fundamentals of agriculture in secondary education (middle school and 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 agricultural education is considered a comprehensive major. Recent graduates have obtained teaching positions in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, yet the particular certification for each state varies.

Students learn skills in the fundamentals of the agricultural education program and adult education while gaining an understanding of techniques within the teaching profession. This includes classroom management, lesson planning, special education and technology for classrooms.

The food services program emphasizes the importance of marketing, management, nutrition, quantity food service, food science and menu design. It is available for students wanting a career in event planning or restaurant and bar management. To ensure student success after graduation, faculty focus on implementing hands-on experiences in the classroom with projects like establishing financial plans for a successful food service operation business.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology is an interdisciplinary study of crime and the criminal justice system. It is the broad investigation of the roles that sociological and psychological factors play in determining how a society defines crime, contributes to or deters criminal behavior, and responds to victims and offenders. Criminologists have a wide variety of career paths from which to choose. Those interested in working within the criminal justice system may pursue a number of government jobs including, careers within law enforcement, courts, or corrections.

The comprehensive major in strategic advertising focuses on the business side of advertising. Students learn about creating and selling advertisements, as well as study marketing, management, consumer behavior and business-focused topics. Faculty ensure students are skilled in the areas of writing, designing, communicating and understanding the impact of the location of a message.

When students graduate, they will be capable of working in marketing or advertising departments of large brand and media companies. They’ll have well-rounded business skills focused on marketing, with the specific skill-sets related to planning, buying and creating advertisements.

Theatre performance majors engage in a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to performance. Students learn through improvisation and script analysis; acting techniques that include knowledge through a variety of historical and physical styles including Greek, Elizabethan, restoration and 20th century “isms”; as well as techniques to increase vocal and physical awareness of the actor. Students gain hands-on experiences through classroom work, work-shopping, internships and on-stage productions from seasoned professionals in performance theatre.

The curriculum is designed to provide the additional education necessary for students with vocational or technical non-transferable certificate/degrees to earn a bachelor's degree.