Bachelor of Science, Major in Biological Science with Concentration in Molecular Biology

at San Jose State University USA

At the core of all science, physics helps us understand chemical reactions, protein folding, the Earth’s interior, and the life cycle of stars. Physicists invented the semiconductor, the laser, and the electron microscope. They play key roles in the design and operation of spacecraft and in the development of electronic and optical instrumentation. The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a Master of Science in Physics and two concentrations: Computational Physics and Modern Optics. Our faculty are experts in lasers and optics, computational physics, condensed matter, astrophysics, and physics education research. The department receives on average approximately $1.8 million annually in external funding for sponsored research.

The M.A. in Kinesiology with no concentration is designed to accommodate students who desire an interdisciplinary program of study in Kinesiology. Students work directly with their academic advisor to select a set of courses that will aid them in meeting their specific academic goals. This degree option is well-suited for students who wish to acquire greater breadth to their knowledge in Kinesiology, or students who simply want a generalized program of study.

The Masters Program prepares graduates for research and policy positions in government and business. Our teaching and research stress the importance of markets and institutions on political and socioeconomic outcomes. Although this program emphasizes general economics, it also guides students in the rigorous preparation necessary for doctoral programs.

The mission of the department is to be a recognized leader in translational biomedical research; to provide hands-on education focused on solving real world biomedical problems; and to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the service of human well being.

The Masters Program is designed to produce graduates who:

• Are able to solve complex engineering problems and tasks, and use engineering, science and statistics principles to justify recommendations.
• Are able to evaluate the impact of their work on society, including ethical, economic, global and environmental aspects.
• Can deliver effective presentations of engineering results in written and oral formats.
• Have life-long learning skills and are able to apply their engineering knowledge to critically evaluate relevant literature and new technologies or systems.
• Are effective leaders, capable of working in diverse environments.
• Are able to apply their engineering education to a variety of career paths.

The MS Biomedical Engineering program has been designed, in consultation with potential employers, to prepare graduates for the wide variety of emerging interdisciplinary careers at the interfaces between engineering and the life sciences. The coursework has been designed to build upon the student’s background in engineering, biology, chemistry or physics.  Students will take courses that uniquely prepare them to function effectively in a Food and Drug Administration-regulated global environment in which they will develop health-related medical products and techniques that improve the quality of life.  Technical elective courses may be taken from the list of electives provided on the department website, with approval of the academic advisor.  The electives, in combination with the required thesis or project research, will enable the student to develop depth in one of the many areas that biomedical engineering encompasses.

The Master of Science in Informatics degree program at the San José State University School of Information prepares graduate students for exciting careers focused on analyzing and managing data—and making that data secure and actionable for users within a specific field, such as health or cybersecurity.

The MS in Informatics program is ideal for students with technical and non-technical backgrounds who are interested in exploring connections between people and technology.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MS in Informatics program, students will be able to:

• Apply technology informatics skills to solve specific industry data and information management problems, with a focus on usability and designing for users;
• Evaluate, manage, and develop electronic records programs and applications in a specific organizational setting;
• Demonstrate strong understanding of security and ethics issues related to informatics, user interface, and inter-professional application of informatics in specific fields by designing and implementing appropriate information assurance and ethics and privacy solutions;
• Identify user needs, ideate informatics products and services, prototype new concepts, and evaluate a prototype’s usability;
• Work collaboratively in teams and use project management practices effectively to solve user-centric information and data problems;
• Conduct informatics analysis and visualization applied to different real-world fields, such as health science and privacy.

This degree is recommended for students who wish to work in the research and development area of industry. This program also prepares a student for graduate study in applied mathematics, numerical analysis, or operations research. The concentration in applied and computational mathematics provides a solid foundation in classical applied mathematics as well as computational mathematics, which could be informally described as "how to employ mathematics on computers wisely." A graduate could seek direct employment assisting a group of scientists with the formulation and solution of problems. There is a great need in local and national technical industries for people with sufficiently strong mathematical knowledge to participate on such teams. For example, modern techniques for solving partial differential equations are very sophisticated; the best method in a given situation depends on the properties of the model. Once a numerical approximation has been formulated, the techniques to solve that, and the commercial software available to do it, again require informed decisions.

The MS Materials Engineering program provides advanced study of materials engineering topics with emphasis on both the fundamental and applied aspects. A multi-disciplinary approach to education is evident in the materials engineering program’s specialization areas of semiconductor processing, structural materials, and biomaterials. Elective courses are also available in science, business, and other engineering fields. This broad-based, multi-disciplinary education has proven to be an important factor for a student’s future success, either at leading Silicon Valley companies or in Ph.D. programs. Class schedules are designed for the convenience of employed engineers who wish to pursue graduate work on a part-time basis.

The faculty are actively involved in research in a number of areas including electronic and magnetic materials, semiconductor processing, MEMS, microelectronic packaging, polymers, composites, nanotechnology, and biomaterials. Research activity is sponsored by local industries as well as by government funding agencies.

The Materials Engineering program welcomes students with undergraduate degrees in a variety of other engineering and science disciplines.

Materials Engineers design, characterize and manufacture the "stuff" of our everyday world. Semiconductors, metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites are examples of the materials used to make everything around you - from your computer to the chair you are sitting in, from artificial body parts to the skin of the space shuttle. Materials scientists and engineers work in nanotechnology, biotechnology, aerospace, alternative energy, microelectronics and virtually every industry sector.

Major areas of study are the relationships between materials' structure, properties, processing, and performance. The MatE programs stress the roles of design, development, and process engineering, and also prepare the exceptional student for research and graduate study. The Department has excellent laboratory facilities for courses and student research.

The Conservation and Organismal Biology Program at San Jose State University is designed to provide Biology majors with a diversified curriculum in conservation and wildlife management, entomology, zoology, and plant biology. Our students are provided with intensive, one-on-one attention from an outstanding faculty specializing in each emphasis. In addition, our students participate in several hands-on, field-oriented classes, which prepare them with practical experiences in the field. Destinations include Bodega Bay, Rancho Del Oso, Big Basin, the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Diablo Range, the San Francisco Bay Area Wildlife Refuge, the Central Coast, Death Valley, and the Sierra Nevada. We also provide students with opportunities to participate in research in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Costa Rica, West Africa, Guatemala, Belize, and Japan.

Urban planning began at SJSU in 1970 and SJSU offers the only accredited Master in Urban Planning degree in Silicon Valley. Urban planners balance visionary thinking with pragmatic problem solving - working in partnership with multiple stakeholders to address challenges related to growth and change. Urban planners work within the frameworks of formal and informal institutions to solve problems related to affordable housing, climate change, economic development, environmental protection, public health, and transportation. The program has a long history of working in partnership with local communities to address their planning needs.

Located in downtown San José, the largest city in Northern California and the urban core of Silicon Valley, the department takes advantage of its location in a rapidly changing and socially complex region by collaborating with local planning agencies and community-based organizations. Faculty and students engage in public service projects designed to assist local communities in addressing topical planning issues, while also providing students with real-world professional experience. The program has a strong network of alumni who work in the region in city, county, and state government agencies, private sector firms, and nonprofit organizations. We have a strong track record of placing graduates in both public and private sector employment in the Bay Area and beyond.

 As a graduate program, Urban Planning attracts a diverse student body, including many non-traditional students who come to the program with a wealth of knowledge and experience. A special mission of the program is to promote planning education opportunities for a diverse student population, including working students who prefer to attend the program on a part-time basis. We are among a small number of fully-acredited MUP programs with a complete part-time option for our graduate students.