Undergraduate Academic Accelerator Pathway (2-Term) - Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies

at Shorelight Group - Cleveland State University USA

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 ability to adapt and thrive in diverse business environments is more crucial than ever before in today’s increasingly interdependent global economy.

Studying international business provides students an opportunity to learn and think about the world of business on a global scale. Students gain knowledge and skills required for international business careers while developing an understanding of the political, cultural and regulatory environments that shape international business and trade. International business students learn necessary accounting, finance, supply chain, marketing and management skills that prepare them to succeed in managing multi-national corporations as well as large national firms, medium- and small-sized business expand into international markets.

Environmental science focuses on ecosystem management, the effects of pollutants on ecosystems, ways to restore polluted environments to their natural state, and effective strategies toward minimizing pollution (preventative management). The Environmental Science major at Cleveland State University provides education in the fundamentals of all the major areas of modern Environmental Science, training in current laboratory skills, as well as environmental policy.

What do we know when we know a language? How do we learn it? What does language reveal about our culture and identity? These are the central questions explored by linguists. The goal is to gain a scientific understanding of the nature of language that can be applied in many areas, such as linguistics, anthropology, speech & hearing, language teaching, computational linguistics, and cognitive science. Linguists also systematically compare human language to animal communication systems. Linguistics majors will get a thorough training in the core areas of linguistics, such as Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology and Syntax; and learn how linguists find evidence for their hypotheses and what are the cutting edge topics in the field today.

The Linguistics program is an undergraduate interdisciplinary program of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, offering a MAJOR and a MINOR in Linguistics. The areas of Anthropology, English, and Speech & Hearing are well represented in the program, and students majoring in any of these fields would be able to “double count” many credits toward Linguistics and their other majors. The program also includes courses from Communication, Education, Modern Languages and Psychology.

The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program integrates theory and applications. Courses are typically scheduled in the late afternoon and early evening to serve the needs of both full-time and part-time students. The program is suitable for students planning to continue their studies at the doctoral level, as well as those who do not plan formal studies beyond the master's degree. Each student plans a program of study in consultation with an advisor appointed by the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The program includes required courses and an integrated selection of courses in the student's field of interest. The following areas of specialization are offered for graduate study and research:

• Communication Systems
• Computer Systems
• Control Systems
• Power Electronics and Power Systems
• Nanobiotechnology

This major is designed to give students the opportunity to engage in a multidisciplinary study of the variety of subjects concerned with international affairs. International Relations is the study of interactions among the various actors that participate in international politics, including states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations. Career opportunities include employment in government, think tanks, global businesses, and nongovernmental organizations. An International Relations major also provides excellent preparation for graduate school in the field or in law.

The Communication Studies major provides students with a critical understanding of the complex, vital role that communication plays in contemporary life. Course-work offers students a host of intellectual, problem-solving, and career-related skills. In contemporary society, which is characterized by a dazzling array of new technologies, rapid social change, instant messaging, and dynamic interpersonal relationships, it is imperative that students appreciate the ways communication influences everyday life. Students who obtain a major in communication will take classes from a nationally ranked faculty and gain an appreciation for the social scientific study of communication.

There are two tracks in the major. The Communication Management track focuses on understanding and improving communication processes in a variety of contexts, including doctor-patient interactions, organizations, teams, families, interpersonal relationships, negotiation and mediation settings, and communication between persons from different cultures, genders, and ethnicities. The Communication track supports students who have widely ranging interests or who need maximum flexibility in scheduling. In addition to the areas mentioned above, students in this track may take coursework in journalism and public relations.

Cleveland State University's Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE) program is the first of its kind in Ohio. The program is the successor to the Graduate Certificate Program in Software Engineering and is intended for both practicing professionals, as well as full-time students in the areas of software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or information management.

The program introduces students to current and best practices in the engineering of software systems. A distinguishing feature is its emphasis on the architecture, design, quality, management, and economics aspects of software engineering. Students take a project from start to completion, learning the requirements of specific deliverables and the development life cycle. Critical management issues, such as risk assessment, project planning, and market analysis, are also covered. The program exposes students to new technological developments in an advancing field and how to apply their knowledge in the workplace.

The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department recently commissioned a new state-of-the-art Software Engineering instructional laboratory, fully equipped with hardware and software required to meet the needs of all courses in the curriculum. The department also maintains the Software Engineering Research Laboratory to support research. The lab is equipped with desktop computers and servers connected via a LAN. Students have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research in Software Engineering.

Today, without doubt, the crucial need for businesses competing in the global marketplace to be successful and sustainable requires competence and expertise in the areas of operations and supply chain management. The operations and supply chain management responsibilities include sourcing, procurement, distribution and transportation, process scheduling and improvement, both within and across companies.

The Studio Art concentration is a diverse and flexible program that allows students to follow their own individual interests while developing their creative and expressive capacities. Studio Art students begin their studies with Foundations courses in Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture, and continue into advanced electives in these areas along with Illustration, Visual Technology, and Digital Art. In addition to preparing students to be professional artists, the Studio Art program provides students with the skills that employers want in college graduates, including critical thinking, problem solving, and effective oral and written communication.