Master of Science, Major in Biological Sciences with Concentration in Molecular Biology and Microbiology

at San Jose State University USA

Students in the BFA program will have accomplished these objectives and will have produced a portfolio of work that will enable them to apply to graduate schools. The required BFA Seminar gives students an opportunity to consider contemporary and historical issues and allows them to evaluate their work and the work of others within a broader context. BFA students are required to complete a senior project that reflects a personal direction. They exhibit the resulting body of work that is then reviewed by a committee of faculty members.

The overall objectives of the Pictorial Art Area are as follows: Visual sensitivity in the pictorial art is developed in a number of ways. In Beginning Drawing students learn to translate the perceived world into two-dimensional constructs such as line and tone. While formal elements of composition are specifically addressed in 2-D Concepts, they remain an integral part of all pictorial courses. As students progress through more advanced courses, they engage in more sophisticated levels of visual thinking. This will be reflected in their work in the utilization of more complex formal means, both representational and abstract, and to express content. In critique sessions, students are encouraged to articulate visual ideas.

In Pictorial Art, students learn to conceptualize their ideas and execute them. This is true on every level from introductory courses to the most advanced. In some courses, such as Expressive Drawing, the emphasis is on the discovery of personal content through abstraction of the observed world or through the development of non-representational vocabulary. In other courses, such as Representational Drawing and Life Drawing, the emphasis is on perception and learning more traditional methods of rendering and depiction. In more advanced courses students are given the opportunity to choose the stylistic means of expression which best gives form to their visual ideas.

Students in Pictorial Art area are exposed to a wide variety of techniques and technical processes. This ranges from the simple and straight-forward use of pencil and charcoal in drawing through the slightly more complex techniques of watercolor, acrylic and oil painting to the more involved processes of hand-drawn and photo-generated serigraphy, as well as the chemical processes of lithography and intaglio printing. By the time they graduate students will be proficient in several of these areas. The Art History requirements for the major give the students a broad understanding of the major movements of the past and present in both the Western and non-Western worlds. In addition, slide lectures and books presented in the classroom put course work into a historical and cultural context.

The Masters of Science in Software Engineering program is one of several degree programs provided by the Computer Engineering department at SJSU. The program provides students with an educational experience that builds on traditional computer science and engineering, and then takes an integrative approach to software engineering. With the increased globalization of the software development workforce there is less programming being performed in the United States. Therefore it becomes increasingly important that graduates understand developing technologies and architectures and their influence on software engineering processes, where large-scale design is pre-eminent, and where component integration is the standard mode of development. The program offers a strong testing and quality assurance component.
The software industry increasingly requires those with a suitable engineering background for their cutting edge projects. Graduates with an MS in Software Engineering can expect to find significant opportunities in software development, management, and marketing.

A wide variety of computing equipment is available. Courses are usually conducted using the specialized equipment at the department, with a variety of sophisticated workstations and state-of-the-art software engineering tools.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Be able to demonstrate an understanding of advanced knowledge of the practice of software engineering, from vision to analysis, design, validation and deployment.
• Be able to tackle complex engineering problems and tasks, using contemporary engineering principles, methodologies and tools.
• Be able to demonstrate leadership and the ability to participate in teamwork in an environment with different disciplines of engineering, science and business.
• Be aware of ethical, economic and environmental implications of their work, as appropriate.
• Be able to advance successfully in the engineering profession, and sustain a process of life-long learning in engineer or other professional areas.
• Be able to communicate effectively, in both oral and written forms.

The graduates of BSGE are expected to have:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Department of Justice Studies at San José State University offers an online Master of Science in Criminology with a Concentration in Global Criminology designed to adapt to the ever-changing environment of the justice and legal systems, and the discipline of criminology. It uniquely combines advanced study of contemporary international crime and the various responses to crime around the globe with analytic and research techniques used by advanced scholars. It provides an international comparative curriculum that develops analytical skills, understanding of legal concepts, theoretical competency, and abilities to apply criminology in practical ways. It aims to equip graduates with a truly global outlook on crime and criminal justice, a commitment to international justice, and professional competencies to apply practices from around the globe to meet the particular needs of their communities.

Program Learning Outcomes
At the end of a Master of Science degree in Criminology, students will be able to:

• Describe ways to create social change through a critical understanding of the local and global dimensions of crime.  
• Articulate and evaluate scholarly-grounded perspectives on issues of crime and justice, including ways that criminology explains crime and reactions to crime, through academic, professional and social media.
• Explain theories, assumptions, foundational knowledge, analytical and interpretive protocols, tools, and technologies within the field of criminology at a level demonstrating preparation for advanced professional responsibilities, or pursuing a PhD in criminology-related areas.
• Demonstrate skills in each step of an investigative, creative, or practical project (e.g., brainstorming, planning, formulating hypotheses or complex questions, designing, creating, completing, and communicating) that helps advance understanding of a criminological or related issue.   
• Employ global perspectives on criminology and concepts of justice to support research-informed solutions to contemporary social problems.

The B.S. in Geology offers a flexible program that prepares students for admission to graduate programs in the geosciences, and for entry-level positions in engineering, geophysical and geological firms; in engineering, hazardous materials, regulatory, or ecological firms; in computer mapping firms; and in local, regional, and state government agencies.

The undergraduate concentration in Creative Writing invites students to become involved in the creation of new literary art. Like all English majors, Creative Writing concentrators begin their studies with the three-course Transatlantic survey sequence, giving them a solid grounding in literary history. Later, they take writing workshops in various genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scriptwriting. They are encouraged to work on the Department’s 150-year-old literary magazine, Reed, and to participate in other literary programming on campus, for example the readings and conversations with visiting authors sponsored by SJSU’s Center for Literary Arts.

The master’s program in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences, offers students training in the pursuit of rigorous scientific investigation with an emphasis on ecological and evolutionary processes. Students in this degree program emphasize botany, entomology, zoology, or conservation biology through the choice of advisor, committee, course work, and thesis or project. Our graduates have an excellent grasp of the theory and application of ecological and evolutionary principles.

In addition, students with our degree will have gained experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, research methodology (e.g., experimental design, sampling techniques, and analysis), and both written and oral communication. Our alumni are successful applicants for doctoral degree programs and generally attain high-level academic and non-academic positions in both the private and public sectors.

MS Physics, concentration in Modern Optics is offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The students in this concentration receive instruction in fundamental areas of physics and gain experience and knowledge in a wide range of subjects related to Modern Optics. All candidates are required to complete a thesis including the defense (Plan A) or take an oral comprehensive examination as culminating experience (Plan B).

The Professional Science Master of Biotechnology Program (MBT) is a formal 2-year degree program that integrates advanced, hands-on training in laboratory-based biotechnologies with MBA-level business courses from the College of Business. Through elective choices, students supplement the core program with additional hands-on science or MBA courses to support their career goals. MBT program graduates are highly trained individuals who have had direct exposure to the biotechnology corporate world and are ready to make immediate contributions to biotechnology companies. Graduates have been hired for research, product development, marketing, regulatory affairs, clinical affairs, project management, quality control, and other types of positions.

The MSW Program at SJSU was founded in 1969 and was originally designed to educate and train social workers to work with Spanish speaking populations in California. We currently have three MSW Program models. In each model, the curriculum prepares students for professional practice,  and enables them to work competently with Latinos, other minority groups, and those communities, groups, families, and individuals who are disenfranchised, oppressed, and/or marginalized. The program uses a cohort-based enrollment and learning strategy, in which students progress take foundation year classes with the same group of students.