Bachelor of Arts in French

at Shorelight Group - Cleveland State University USA

The Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership is a multidisciplinary program of study for those interested in leadership theory and practice. The program prepares students to assume leadership roles in organizational settings in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

History is the essential foundation of knowledge. It provides the context for a liberal education, the tools to understand ourselves and our contemporary world, and the skills for an educated person to live a more fulfilled and gratifying life in a wide range of careers.

Because of these various functions, we study history for many reasons:

• To better understand our society and the times in which we live
• To better understand ourselves; to place our own society in historical perspective
• To balance present-mindedness with historical memory
• To acquire skills such as conducting research, communicating effectively through writing or oral communication, critical thinking, evaluating evidence, and problem-solving
• To understand the roles which individuals and groups have played in shaping their worlds
• For the enjoyment of examining societies very different or very similar to our own

This is possible because history at the university level is far more than a collection of facts, names, and dates. The emphasis is on accessing and analyzing information, the critical use of historical sources, learning to communicate the results, and the excitement which comes from exploring important ideas. To study history is to enter a time machine to explore the far reaches of the human experience from classical times to the present; from the lives of great thinkers and kings to that of average people; from dramatic moments such as the Civil War to the routine. The past becomes the universe, all corners of which can be explored.

The department offers coursework in European, U.S., African, Latin-American, and East Asian history and thematic foci on social and urban history and the History of the African Diaspora. The major program not only prepares students for teaching and for graduate study in history but many students have found history an appropriate preparatory foundation for careers in law, library science, international work, the foreign service, the ministry, business, government and archival and museum work.

The Women’s & Gender Studies (WGS) program address a wide-ranging selection of issues, not only women’s issues, but issues related more broadly to gender and sexuality. WGS courses examine how categories of identity (e.g., sexuality, race, class, gender, age, ability, etc.) and structures of inequality are connected and should be examined and understood in relationship to one another. You will explore the diversity of women’s lives, their distinctive roles and contributions in society, and the social constructions of gender. You become aware of the diversity of our social experiences of gender as well as the systems of inequality in which we live.

Why study Women’s & Gender Studies?
Employers are looking for critical thinking, writing, presentation and problem-solving skills. A major or minor in Women’s and Gender studies gives you transferable skills for future job(s). Women’s and Gender Studies students may find employment in a variety of areas depending on their skills and experience. Some students find work
in the area of advocacy or social services-related positions, community development, business, and government. Others find work in education, health care, and/or law.

Philosophy addresses fundamental questions about human knowledge and existence from constructive and critical perspectives. Students examine important historical and contemporary theories concerning ethics, social justice, reality and the nature and extent of knowledge. Logic is also central to philosophy, since the critical evaluation of the reasons given for ideas is as important as the study of the ideas themselves. For this reason, philosophy classes are well known for the presentation of philosophical problems and issues in a manner that stimulates questions, discussion, and a general appreciation for the pursuit of truth.

A philosophy major or minor is excellent preparation for fields such as law and business, which rely on skills of critical thinking, as well as for fields such as medicine and social work, where practitioners face ethical dilemmas in their work. Though useful in many careers, the study of philosophy can be expected to enrich a person's life beyond the rewards of the marketplace, through a deeper understanding of important beliefs and their foundations.

Sociologists study human behavior in industrialized societies. Sometimes this behavior involves personal relationships, perhaps among teenagers or the elderly, sometimes the difficulties facing the urban poor or drug addicts, sometimes the development of modern nation-states and political conflict. Sociology open new windows--challenging conventional wisdom, dissolving myths about social reality, illuminating how the world is socially constructed and clarifying our options and choices.

Sociology students at Cleveland State University are taught to analyze modern social problems scientifically. In addition, they are taught how to do research about these issues using statistics, interviews and participant observation. Good research requires a grasp of the "sociological imagination"--the connections between historical, large-scale social forces and biography, the ways in which people live and understand their lives.

Majors in sociology develop the critical thinking and writing skills basic to a sound liberal arts education; they learn research skills and an understanding of the sociological perspective. This prepares them for a wide range of careers: some students use the degree as preparation for graduate work in one of the social sciences or law, others work in human resource management, social service, criminal justice, corporations or schools.

Criminologists conduct research on a variety of topics linked to criminal behavior, including how criminal activity is defined and measured, the causes of crime, the consequences of crime, and the impacts of criminal justice system intervention on individuals and society.

Students who choose to major or minor in Criminology will take courses that will help them strengthen their critical thinking skills and prepare them for fieldwork in corrections, policing, courts, and victim services.  A degree in Criminology is also a great choice for students who wish to gain a foundation that will prepare them for graduate studies or law school.

The interdisciplinary major is administered by the Department of History and is primarily intended for students seeking secondary licensure. It provides comprehensive training in History and related social-studies fields taught in Ohio secondary schools. The primary mission of the Social Studies major is to provide students with the content competency to teach Social Studies in secondary schools. A Social Studies teacher is expected to teach students how to make informed and reasoned decisions as citizens in a culturally diverse, democratic society. The degree forms the content knowledge basis for students to pursue teaching professions and to
provide the necessary critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and academic judgment skills upon which to embark on a lifetime of intellectual growth. Students pursuing a degree in Social Studies must also fulfill a minor in secondary education, which is administered by the College of Education and Human Services.

The primary goal of the Economic Development program is to provide students with a firm, evidence-based grounding in economic development principles and public policy issues.  In gaining this critical knowledge individuals will be better equipped to address the various issues and problems they will encounter in their economic development professions.  The curriculum provides a direct path for degree completion in a timely fashion through a rigorous course of study.

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers also design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).

The Urban and Regional Studies major entails the study of America's cities, metropolitan areas, and their people. Students learn about the cultural, political, and historical aspects of urban living and the influence of these factors on the growth and decline of businesses and neighborhoods. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program that includes a foundation in urban geography, urban economic and political systems, and social issues.

Concentrations are offered in:

Urban and Regional Planning
Urban planners use their skills in research, design, and development to effect social goals in cities. The urban and regional planning track helps students use the heritage of urban planning to influence urban and regional development. Planners analyze a range of data regarding an area—the economic base, the needs of the people, the available resources, and the effects of change—and make recommendations for action.

Public Management
Public managers develop budgets, strategic plans, policies, and programs for a variety of public and private organizations. The public management track gives students basic management techniques and analytic skills necessary to manage effectively in an urban environment.

Environmental Policy and Management
This track is designed to give students an understanding of the economic, political, and social changes necessary for improving the quality of the physical environment in cities. Courses focus on domestic environmental policies and programs, environmental design, and issues related to sustainable development.

Geographic Information System
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computerized database management system used for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data. GIS is useful to every discipline that utilizes geographic data and is one of the most exciting and rapidly growing computer technologies.

GIS has spread widely into fields such as land use, transportation, utility management, emergency services, natural resource management, environment, demographics, public safety and public health, market and business location, housing, and real estate. With digital representation of spatial entities and their spatial relationships in GIS database, GIS are used to improve services, assist in managing resources, and provide support for better decision-making and policy-planning activities.