Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

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.

In the Department of Kinesiology, Sport Studies approaches sport from a critical perspective that addresses issues of social identity, power, and agency, while recognizing the positive effects of sport and exercise participation and experiences.

Thus, students going through the Sport Studies curriculum will identify and analyze ways that sport and exercise can produce, reproduce, or contest social inequities to potentially affect positive social change at the individual, community, national, and global levels.

The purpose of this emphasis is to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of human movement. Through philosophical, historical, sociological, and psychological contexts, students will develop analytical, critical, and creative skills. These skills will prepare students for many professional programs and occupations.

If you have a drive for innovation and the passion to create a new business or add value to an existing business, the Concentration in Entrepreneurship is an excellent choice for you. With an entrepreneurship degree from San José State University, you will have the fundamental skills and analytical tools across different business functions that are necessary to start a new business. You will also gain a global perspective of entrepreneurship and an insight into how to cope with change in a rapidly evolving environment due to global competition, new technology, and changing customer requirements.

The Master of Arts in Art History and Visual Culture offers a broad education in art history, including preparation for a Ph.D. degree program. It also prepares students for a graduate library degree with specialization in art history, as well training for a variety of positions including community college professor, researcher, museum curator, arts administrator, conservator, and visual resources librarian. Our program is especially strong in modern and contemporary art, architecture and design, and the art of the Renaissance. We also feature a variety of special-topic courses such as Art and Architecture of Islam, History of Photography, German Art, and “Fashionology.” Students have the opportunity to study with experts in these fields and to work within a dynamic department that includes a strong M.F.A. program located in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Besides featuring a wide array of courses we host a number of activities during the academic year. These include the Art History and Visual Culture Colloquium, the Art History Association Symposium, the Tuesday Night Lecture Series and a range of exhibitions in the Thompson Gallery. The department website offers information about our courses, faculty, facilities, and events.

The Humanities B.A. Comparative Religious Studies Concentration presents scholarly interpretations of the world's religious traditions.  It aims to be as global as possible in covering the great diversity of religions and as inclusive as possible in covering various methodological approaches to the study of religion.

Faculty members of the Comparative Religious Studies Concentration are committed to guiding students in the kinds of learning needed for this task.  In other words, it is our goal to provide students with the key elements of religious literacy: knowledge of the basic data in the study of religions, respect and tolerance for diverse religious perspectives, and critical thinking skills that can be applied to explanations of religion from insiders as well as outsiders.

The Humanities B.A. Comparative Religious Studies Concentration offers a comprehensive preparation for those who plan to undertake graduate education in theology, history of religions, and other related areas.

The Comparative Religious Studies Minor offers a basic understanding of religious beliefs and practices for those whose careers would benefit significantly from a familiarity with various religious traditions.

The MSE degree is an interdisciplinary program with the primary objectives of offering the practicing engineer the opportunity to develop a wide range of knowledge and skills needed to function in today's complex industrial environment.

The program is designed to provide flexibility for students who need coursework that is interdisciplinary and not available through the other engineering programs in the college. The MSE program typically includes courses from at least three different programs in the College of Engineering, and may also use courses in the College of Science or the College of Business.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing the Master’s of Science General Engineering Program will be able to:

• Evaluate and apply advanced engineering principles, methods, and tools to solving  problems or improving efficiency.
• Design and implement a component, system, or process to meet design specifications and objectives.
• Understand and advance the frontiers of emerging technologies.
• Understand the social, economic and political context of contemporary engineering practice and its ethics; understand the impact of engineering solutions on society and the environment.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written forms.

Our Photography Graduate Program supports and encourages a wide range of traditional, conceptual and interdisciplinary approaches to lens related imaging. Philosophically, the program is committed to addressing the breadth of contemporary issues and practices while realistically preparing you for a career in the field. The faculty is comprised of artists/photographers with national and international careers whose work ranges from conceptual installation and new genres to traditional and commercial. There is no pervasive aesthetic trend at SJSU; the faculty has been carefully selected to offer a wide range of aesthetic and technical possibilities to the students. Our program welcomes and promotes diverse styles and viewpoints. We encourage students to produce thoughtful artwork that deals with meaningful issues, and our faculty is here to help you refine your direction and create your best work.

The Bay Area needs well-trained technical writers and editors. The high-tech companies of Silicon Valley require people who are able to write quality manuals, reports, and web updates; write clear business reports and promotional materials; communicate effectively both with consumers and within the company; and understand each step of the publication process.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that demand for technical writers will continue to increase for the foreseeable future, especially in regions of the country like ours. Download more information about the demand for technical writers. [pdf]

So what is Professional and Technical Writing (PTW)? Simply put, PTW is writing done in a workplace environment designed to persuade, inform, or instruct. While “professional” generally applies to business writing and “technical” generally applies to writing about technical topics, most professional writers would find the distinction superficial because they are frequently required to do both.

The EE department is committed to fulfilling the following Program Learning Outcomes in its Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program:

•  Graduates will be able to base analysis, problem-solving, and design on core advanced EE theory
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate a high level of expertise and competence in an area of concentration in electrical engineering
• Graduates will be able to apply modern tools for research, computation, simulations, analysis, and design
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate leadership skills in the workplace, to function professionally in a globally competitive world, and to communicate engineering results effectively

Student Learning Outcomes
 Graduate Students in Electrical Engineering at San José State University will be able to:

•  Identify, formulate, and solve problems using advanced engineering principles, methodologies, and tools
• Design, implement, validate and deploy a component, device, system, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints
• Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, societal, and ethical context, including political, health, safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
• Understand contemporary issues in electrical engineering practice
• Communicate professionally and effectively

The BM in Performance is designed for students who are intent on pursuing an active career as a performer and/or private instructor. Music Performance students receive private lessons from one of our outstanding applied instructors for their instrument/voice type to develop their individual technique, sound, expression, and understanding of standard repertoire. In addition to core courses such as Music Theory, Performance Majors participate in appropriate Major and Minor ensembles. Students in this degree program are expected to present both a junior and senior recital.

The Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Performance, offered by the School of Music and Dance, is designed for students intending to pursue careers as professional singers or instrumentalists. In addition to the core music courses, the program includes weekly 60-minute private lessons and participation in large ensembles such as choirs, bands, symphony orchestra, and opera theater. Students also perform regularly as soloists and as chamber musicians, both in closed studio classes and in public recitals. In addition to their regular course of study, students are required to present both junior and senior recitals.