Master of Arts in Communication

at Pittsburg State University USA

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 an instrumental (string, wind, brass, percussion, or keyboard) 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 Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation (HHPR) is located in the new Student Recreation Center. The HHPR faculty possess a wide array of specializations. The department offers undergraduate degree programs in Exercise Science, Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management, and Physical Education, five minors and certificates in Dance, Coaching, and Hospitality Management, as well as a graduate program in HHPR. Within each of the degree programs, there are emphases/concentration areas from which students select the professional paths that best fit their needs.

Recreation and Sport Management - Emphasis
The Recreation and Sport Management emphasis provides students with the skills needed to serve leadership, supervisory, and management roles in city, park and recreation capacities and other leisure service agencies and sport industries. Upon completion of the program, students are encouraged to take one or more of the following exams: the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) offered by the National Recreation and Park Association, Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE), Certified Sports Administrator (CSA) through National Council of Youth Sports and/or Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM) through Sports Turf Managers Association.

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.

Located within the Kansas Technology Center, the Department of Automotive Technology is recognized by industry as offering one of the best academic programs in the nation. Our professors are accomplished professionals with industry experience and our laboratories offer students access to the latest technology. Learn more about our department and discover why you belong at Pittsburg State University.

Diesel and Heavy Equipment - Emphasis
This program provides students the opportunity to dive into three areas of diesel technology including: agricultural equipment, construction equipment and on highway truck systems. An emphasis area within our 4-year Automotive Technology program, the Managerial Management program, prepares students for a successful career in the automotive and diesel & heavy equipment manufacturing industry.

The Interior Design program is part of the School of Construction housed within the College of Technology. The curriculum is based on professional practice in the field of Interior Design. The degree prepares students for professional practice as an interior designer in the fields of commercial and residential design, with opportunities in the construction and graphic design fields.

Interior Design
The Interior Design program is part of the School of Construction housed within the College of Technology. The curriculum is based on professional practice in the field of Interior Design. The degree prepares students for professional practice as an interior designer in the fields of commercial and residential design, with opportunities in the construction and graphic design fields.

The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree, implemented in 2016, emphasizes design as an integrative, multidisciplinary education that includes interior design, construction, and graphic design courses for a holistic approach to the interior design profession.  The interior design curriculum takes a creative, problem solving approach involving the application of materials and processes for creating environments, promoting sustainability and universal design standards, developing an understanding of global awareness and diversity, and improving the quality of life while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Pittsburg State University's Department of Chemistry prepares students for careers in science, chemical engineering, pharmacy, chemistry teaching, pre-engineering, and other university programs that require rigorous training in chemistry. It offers eight Bachelor of Science Degrees, two Master of Science Degrees, and one minor.

Polymer Chemistry
Pittsburg State University’s Department of Chemistry, together with the Plastics Engineering Technology Program, and the Kansas Polymer Research Center, provides unprecedented bachelor and master’s degree options for students in the midwest and beyond that enable students to enter the workforce as working polymer chemists in as little as four years.

The key to our program's success lies in its qualified faculty and small class size (average class size of 15), which ensures hands-on support and guidance. Our graduates enjoy a nearly 100% placement rate in groundbreaking careers or advanced degree programs.

The Department of Physics at Pittsburg State University was founded in 1962 and has been dedicated to the outstanding teaching of undergraduate and graduate physics students ever since. Our faculty members are trained in a wide variety of physics-related fields and have industrial and research laboratory experience. We pride ourselves in getting to know our students and helping them through their years of academic growth at PSU.

We have undergraduate programs covering the range of modern biology including: pre-health (pre-med, pre-dentistry, pre-vet, pre-optometry, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant), medical technology, cell and molecular biology, wildlife biology, fisheries and aquatic sciences, botany, ecology, and secondary education.

There are almost 400 students in the undergraduate program and about 20 in the graduate division. The Department of Biology has 13 full-time faculty with a wide range of interests. The faculty are dedicated and committed to Pittsburg State University and the department, but most importantly, to students. Most faculty are actively engaged in research activities, national professional organizations, and professional service.

Cellular and Molecular Biology - Emphasis
Students in the Cellular and Molecular Biology emphasis will study cells and macromolecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. This emphasis provides students with a strong foundation in cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to contribute to the fields of global medicine and environmental issues. Professionals in these fields study the molecular basis of cancer and infectious disease, as well as the development of biofuels and genetic engineering of crops for improved disease resistance.

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

The Kelce College of Business offers a Master of Business Administration degree with an accounting emphasis. The Accounting MBA is a professional program designed to prepare future business executives for the workforce.