Bachelor of Science in Physics - Geological Science

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

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.

Clinical laboratory science is the study of medical samples during the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Northwest’s unique 3+1 program provides students with pre-requisite courses in general education, math, chemistry and biology for three years; during the program’s fourth year, students attend one of three affiliated hospitals: St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, North Kansas City Hospital or Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, for a year of hands-on clinical training.

While at Northwest, students learn human biology, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and biochemistry. Human biology courses teach students the methods in which a normal, healthy body functions; organic chemistry and analytical chemistry teaches students how to identify and quantify the substances found in a sample; biochemistry teaches students the fundamental molecules and pathways of the body.

The digital media major at Northwest is an interdisciplinary program involving an emphasis in computer science, art or mass media. The courses offer a cross-section of skills in design as well as written and visual communication. The major produces graduates who are proficient in art, photography, design, communication, computer programming and legal or ethical considerations as they relate to media.

The new media emphasis focuses on content creation, coding and design. Students learn HTML, CSS and study methods businesses use to create winning digital strategies like social media, search engine optimization and digital advertising sales.

Physics is the study of basic principles that govern the universe such as the underlying laws of matter, space, time, etc. Physics majors at Northwest get hands-on learning opportunities while using experimental equipment using the gamma ray spectroscopes to study nuclear physics and electrical circuits to study and understand the components and how they work.

Physics emphasis areas include:

• Biological Science
• Computer Science
• General
• Geological Science

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.

Students majoring in mass media with an emphasis in applied advertising focus on the tangible media, the visual as well as creative aspects of advertising. At Northwest, students have opportunities to participate in creating and selling advertisements on the award-winning,  student-managed KZLX radio and KNWT television stations, Northwest Missourian newspaper and Tower yearbook as soon as the first semester of their freshman year.

Faculty focus on three core areas: business of advertising, creativity and media sales. In business of advertising, students learn legal and regulatory ethics, operational structure and media planning; the creativity component includes the message strategy, design concepts and knowledge of critical analysis; and media sales provide information about media mix concepts, messaging across sales, understanding media rates and the importance of digital and social media.

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.

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.

Physics is the study of basic principles that govern the universe such as the underlying laws of matter, space, time, etc. Physics majors at Northwest get hands-on learning opportunities while using experimental equipment using the gamma ray spectroscopes to study nuclear physics and electrical circuits to study and understand the components and how they work.

Physics emphasis areas include:

• Biological Science
• Computer Science
• General
• Geological Science

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.