Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology with Emphasis in Botany

at Pittsburg State University USA

The Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Education, and Master of Arts degrees within a collaborative and collegial environment. Our top-ranked faculty are highly active in their professions and emphasize the importance of fusing theory with applied skill. We have more than 250 majors across the five emphasis areas of human communication, media production, multimedia journalism, strategic communication, and theatre. The department stresses an integrated and active approach to learning. Please explore our website and let us know if you have any questions.

Human Communication - Emphasis
Students in the human communication emphasis often work in management, leadership roles, politics, or continue on for advanced studies in the field. This emphasis examines the comprehensive role of human communication in everyday life. Students will learn to understand and analyze communication in a variety of contexts, including interpersonal relationships, workplace teams, and community and cultural groups.

Social Work is a practice-based profession which seeks to meet the basic needs of all people. Social workers help people at the individual, family, group, and community levels.  Social workers practice in a wide variety of settings, with licensed positions at the bachelor level, master level, and clinical level.

The Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Social Work (BSW) prepares students for generalist practice in settings such as (but not limited to) child welfare, mental health, addictions, probation/parole, disability, health care, older adults/end of life, schools, and more. The BSW also prepares students for graduate school. Students who have a BSW from an accredited program are generally eligible for advanced standing in master of social work (MSW) programs. This means that after earning a BSW, a student may achieve an MSW in one additional calendar year.

A minor is not required for the social work major, but students frequently choose minors in Psychology, Public Health, Criminology, or Youth and Adolescence.

Social Work
The Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Social Work (BSW) prepares students for generalist practice in a variety of settings. It also prepares students for graduate school. Students who have a BSW from an accredited program are generally eligible for advanced standing in master of social work (MSW) programs. This means that after earning a BSW, a student may achieve an MSW in one additional calendar year.

The mission of PSU’s Social Work Program is to prepare bachelor level social workers to utilize the knowledge, skills, and values of the social work profession in order to enhance the lives of individuals, families, groups, and communities and to promote social and economic justice locally, nationally, and globally.  

To that end, the PSU Social Work Program aims to prepare students for:

• Generalist practice at all levels of the social environment and across the lifespan
• Utilization of the professional self which includes adherence to the Code of Ethics, professional demeanor, effective communication skills, self-awareness, and self-care
• Critical examination of and contribution to research, policies, and practices
• Living and working in a diverse environment
• Promoting human rights and social justice
• Graduate education
• Licensure

Pittsburg State University’s Department of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences consists of those specialties that have emerged as so desirable in the 21st century labor force. Students use the tools from Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology and Social Work programs and coursework to examine issues and to find sustainable solutions to complex problems affecting individuals, families, and society.

The mission of the History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences department’s programs is to provide high quality instruction to students in ways that emphasize active learning, problem solving, and critical thinking through transformative experiences. Through our efforts, we aim to increase everyone’s awareness of how the ethnic, cultural, and other forms of diversity affect society. We invite you to visit the individual program areas to learn more about each field of study.

Diversity and Inclusion: We are committed to collaboration, respect, understanding for all students, staff, and faculty. The programs of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences department at Pittsburg State University embraces a commitment to diversity as a community of individuals and programs which seek to reduce prejudice, disparities, discrimination and build a supportive environment for all. 

The Department of Music offers a Master of Music degree, with a variety of emphasis areas, including performance, conducting, and music education. Within the area of conducting, students may select an instrumental (wind or orchestral) emphasis. This degree is designed to prepare individuals for professional advancement or for entry into further study at the doctoral level.

Awards for full-time graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Recipients of these positions will take active leadership roles in the department's ensembles, teaching and accompanying private lessons, and/or serving as an assistant to the ensemble director.

The B.S.T. in Graphic Communications is a 120-credit Graphic Communications Degree that can be completed in four years of full-time study. Students are asked to declare one of the following areas of emphasis: Digital Media, Graphic Design, Graphics Management, Print Media, Packaging Graphics, or Web/Interactive Media.

All six areas of emphasis within the Graphic Communications program share a core curriculum, classes necessary for the field of graphic communications. In addition to these classes, each of the six distinct areas have specific emphasis and support courses, to round out the major, as well as elective graphics classes, allowing students to customize their degree.

The curriculum offered by the GIT department is under constant review and is always updated to ensure students get exposure to contemporary changes in this dynamic field.

Web/Interactive Media - Emphasis
The Web/ Interactive Media emphasis provides students with development and design skills for creating user centered, interactive content for all types of web and mobile devices.

The core curriculum within the Department of Graphics and Imaging Technologies (GIT) includes courses common among all of our six emphasis areas. These courses are primarily introductory classes that provide students with the basic information needed to succeed in the graphic communications industry. Within the core curriculum, there are also two upper-division classes, an internship and a capstone class.
Web/ Interactive Media Emphasis Courses:

• Web Graphics Software
• Audio/Video Software
• Web Site Design
• Web and Motion Graphics
• Interactive Media Design
• Mobile Media Development
• Web Content Management Systems

The PSU School of Construction's mission is to provide a quality construction education and develop professional leaders for the construction industry through extensive recruitment, real-world education and successful placement. We strive to improve the community through service, economic development and applied research.

Our vision is to be an innovative leader in an effective, people-centered, collaborative, accessible learning environment maximizing the potential of construction students, faculty and industry constituents.

The Department of Psychology and Counseling offers a Master of Science Degree with a Major in Psychology. Within the program, students will select from two different emphasis areas, General or Clinical.

The General emphasis is designed for those who wish to pursue a career in community college teaching or an advanced degree at the specialist or doctoral level. Students pursuing this degree are not eligible to enroll in practicum or internship and are not qualified upon degree completion for any type of licensure, certification, or professional credentialing.

The Master of Science Degree Program in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced training in behavior analysis.  Students pursuing this degree will be eligible for certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).  This degree will prepare students to apply behavioral laws to influence positive behavior change and improve the lives of clients.

The Department of Music offers a Master of Music degree, with a variety of emphasis areas, including performance, conducting, and music education. Within the area of performance, students may select a vocal emphasis. This degree is designed to prepare individuals for professional advancement or for entry into further study at the doctoral level.

Awards for full-time graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Recipients of these positions will take active leadership roles in the department's ensembles, teaching and accompanying private lessons, and/or serving as an assistant to the ensemble director.

Our geography students acquire superior skills in critical thinking and analysis, dynamic communication, computer usage, and analysis in a number of software areas. We strive to keep students on the cutting edge of technology. These technological skills, critical thinking skills, and the overall applied nature of a geography education provide students with abilities that are in demand at public and private agencies. Students also gain the expert knowledge and training they need to pursue admission to graduate programs, if that is part of their career plan.

Geography programs are part of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences department. The programs provide high-quality instruction to students in ways that emphasize active learning, problem solving, and critical thinking through transformative experiences.

Geographic Information Systems - Emphasis
The Geographic Information Systems degree emphasis (GIS) combines computer-based technological application, data management, modeling, and statistical analysis with the explanatory powers of maps, spatial distribution, and digital display. It involves cutting-edge computer technology and advanced skills that are in high demand in many professions. GIS skills are highly desirable for many types of employment, including community planning, environmental planning, and environmental management.