Master of Science in Justice Studies

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 Master of Science in Statistics prepares students to become practicing statisticians in business, government and industry fields. It features theoretical and applied coursework in statistics and advanced statistical techniques, and its skills-based coursework emphasizes writing and communication skills and provides students with practical project experience. The program was developed in concert with industry and is designed to dovetail into professional career opportunities.

Persons with bachelor’s degrees in engineering, the sciences, economics, business, the social sciences or other fields that use statistics are encouraged to apply. Those with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics or statistics are welcome to apply for the program in order to advance their technical and theoretical skills.

Our Counseling and Guidance MA degree program prepares individuals to apply the theory and principles of guidance and counseling to the provision of support for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle, and secondary educational institutions. It includes instruction in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counselor intervention, vocational counseling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.

The MA in Science Education is a flexible program designed for prospective and practicing science teachers in K-12 instruction, science teaching assistants, community college instructors, as well as for people with interests in informal and outdoor education. The curriculum is designed to augment and broaden the candidate's knowledge of current advances in science education research and to examine best practices.

Qualified students who have earned a multiple or single subject credential at San José State University may apply up to 12 units of credential coursework, which included SCED 273 (3 units), toward the MA. Students who completed a California single subject credential somewhere besides SJSU may transfer 9 units of coursework from their credential to their Master's program. Students who transfer units into the program can complete the degree in two to four semesters. 

The BSAE curriculum is based on a strong core of mathematics, science, and engineering science and is designed to prepare students for professional careers in aerospace engineering fields, such as aircraft and space systems research, design, development, testing, and integration. It also provides excellent preparation for graduate study.

Modern laboratories, both physical and computational, support experimental work in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, dynamics, stability & control, aerospace structures, space systems engineering, aircraft design, and spacecraft design.

Opportunities exist annually to participate in national design-build-fly competitions (aircraft) under the guidance of industry experts as well as design-build-launch projects (spacecraft) under the guidance of NASA engineers. Students may join the student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the national professional society for the advancement of aerospace technology. Top students in the AE Program are invited to join our local chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau, the aerospace engineering honor society.

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.

The BA in Art General Studio Practice Concentration allows students to pursue a general study in the visual arts, or to create their own curriculum combining studies in visual arts with other fields. For students preferring a broad art background instead of an intense specialization, this program provides students with a variety of art experiences.

Students enrolled in the Studio Practice concentration are not necessarily preparing for a career in art or design, although many use the program as preparation for graduate level studies. The required studio work is intended to intensify awareness of visual art forms and introduce a variety of technical processes and theoretical approaches. Concentrations and emphases are designed to offer opportunities to study digital media art, photography, pictorial art and spatial art. Studio Practice also provides a basic program leading to a teaching credential in art.

Teaching is a way for artists to develop and encourage creative ability in others and to increase awareness of the importance of art in our lives. The Art Teacher Preparation Program (ATPP) is vital to the future of Silicon Valley, because it trains the teachers who will teach aesthetics, problem solving and critical thinking skills to future citizens of the region and state.

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) curriculum is based on a basic liberal arts foundation obtained through guided coursework from general education approved courses. This liberal arts foundation provides students the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in critical thinking about social problems and develop an understanding of the social structures of American society. Foundation social work courses meet the primary program goal of preparing students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for beginning social work practice. In addition to the core social work curriculum, electives are offered to expand interest in various areas such as child welfare, family welfare, alcoholism and the family, and social work with the aging. Unlike many of their counterparts in other disciplines, BASW graduates are required to undertake as part of their education extensive agency field internships to prepare them for practice upon graduation.

BASW graduates are employed in many different work settings under public and private agencies and programs that may include: family service agencies, children and youth services, juvenile justice agencies, elementary and/or secondary schools, ethnic oriented service agencies, residential treatment programs, substance abuse programs, domestic violence programs, homeless shelters, mental health services, aging services, nursing homes, hospices, hospitals, home care agencies, mental retardation/developmental disabilities services, vocational rehabilitation services, public health agencies, community action agencies, child and adult day care centers, income maintenance programs, and legal services agencies.

The BA Political Science, offered by the Department of Political Science, provides students with an understanding of politics and the political process and prepares them for their lifelong responsibilities as citizens, as well as furthering their skills in critical analysis and communication. The major in political science may lead to a wide variety of careers, including teaching, the law, business, and public service.

The Master of Science in Accountancy, offered by the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, is a flexible 30-unit degree program designed for both accounting and non-accounting undergraduates who aspire to a profession in accounting. Coursework includes advanced financial reporting, auditing, taxation, IT auditing, and financial statement analysis. Students with an undergraduate degree in accounting enroll in a course of study to earn a master’s degree that fulfills the 30 additional units required for CPA licensure. Ambitious, highly motivated people with undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, sciences, or business will need to complete the intensive Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals summer program before they can be admitted into the MSA degree program.