Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with Concentration in Secondary Education

at Shorelight Group - Towson University USA

Communication Studies courses give students a foundation in communication theories and their interrelated contexts, the application of theories to contemporary issues and the scholarly methods of studying communication. The Communication Studies major has a three-fold function:

1. It allows students a greater understanding of the role that communication plays in shaping culture and identity.
2. It looks at the ways in which the process of meaning-making (whether through the use of words, images, symbols or technology) is used strategically to influence human judgment and actions.
3. It sharpens students’ critical thinking abilities, thus enabling them to become ethical producers and consumers of messages.

This three-fold function is accomplished through a theoretical and practical focus on argument development and through a close examination of the ways ideas are discussed, advocated for, and circulated in public and private life. These emphases give students the opportunity to develop speaking, writing, and analytical thinking skills that will allow them to become better ethical participants in the process of creating, critiquing, and disseminating meaning.

The Master of Science in Actuarial Science and Predictive Analytics (ASPA) will prepare students to succeed in a market landscape that has greatly adopted risk management practices and data analytics. The program combines theory, practice and predictive modeling, providing students with critical analytical tools that will enable them to have the right skills to succeed in the marketplace and continue to be industry leaders. The program reflects Towson University’s mission, vision and strategic plan and it is designed to:

• Build an interdisciplinary foundation in actuarial science with emerging technology, predictive modeling and curricular content that encourages “thinking critically and meaningfully.” 
• Provide select, high quality programs in professional fields where there is evidence both of need and of corresponding institutional strength. The Master of Science degree in Actuarial Science and Predictive Analytics will produce graduates who can meet the challenges of the actuarial profession today, prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow, and ultimately “enrich the culture, society, economy and environment of Maryland, the region, and beyond.”
• Provide the most current and advanced skill sets and knowledge in the Actuarial Science professional career that align with national trends and span the areas of STEM, business, and finance education.
• Engage students in Maryland, serving communities’ needs and providing our students with varied internship and service learning opportunities through industry relationships, networking opportunities, a capstone and professional practices course and a recommended internship.
• Empower students to achieve their career goals and “enrich the culture, society, economy and environment of Maryland, the region, and beyond” through a careful curricular plan that targets a student’s academic growth while seeking required experiences needed to support career outcomes.

Both full-time and part-time students are encouraged to enroll in the program. Core courses are usually offered in the evening, for the convenience of part-time students.

Foreign Languages majors in the French Education Concentration are eligible to apply for certification to teach French in Maryland upon graduation.  In addition to the Core Curriculum requirements and the requirements specified by the Department of Secondary and Middle School Education, students must complete 30 units. Students must contact the Department of Secondary and Middle School Education about admission to the Teacher Education Program.

Students who decide not to complete all education requirements must select and complete a different concentration/track in the major in order to graduate.

Majors who are in the Teacher Education Program are required to take Advanced Grammar and Method of Teaching a Foreign Language before internship. Students are also required to complete the Oral Proficiency Interview and the Writing Proficiency Test. They are required to achieve a level of “Advanced Low" in the Oral Proficiency Interview. 

The major in Elementary Education leads to certification to teach grades 1 through 6. The program provides classroom as well as field/clinical experiences that prepare students for beginning teaching in elementary schools. Candidates who desire a middle school placement must pass the Middle School Praxis subject matter.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, who have no formal teacher training and wish to enter the teaching profession. It is well suited to recent graduates and to those seeking to change careers.

Graduates of the MAT program are eligible for teacher certification in the general education tracks of early childhood, elementary and secondary education.

• Early childhood education prepares students to teach Pre-K through grade three.
• Elementary education prepares students to teach grades one through six.
• Secondary education prepares students to teach grades seven through 12 in biology, chemistry, earth-space science, English, mathematics, physics, or history/social studies. 
• World Languages prepares students to teach Pre-K through grade 12 in French or Spanish.

The program is designed to prepare the degree candidate to:

• Provide specialized literacy instruction and assessment, in cooperation with other professionals, to students at all levels.
• Provide literacy services individually or in groups.
• Communicate with colleagues, parents and the community about literacy issues, including conducting professional development workshops on literacy topics.
• Coach and/or mentor colleagues.
• Advocate for literacy development among all populations.
• Read and interpret literacy research.
• Continue to grow professionally by reading professional journals and by participating in reading conferences and workshops.
• Master essential dispositions of educators (caring for all students, collaboration with stakeholders, and commitment to professional practice).

The Master of Science degree in Music Education provides a flexible curriculum that allows students to earn up to 15 elective units in a field of specialization. In consultation with the graduate adviser, students may select a group of courses in which they are interested, such as music education, applied music, music theory, music history, music composition or other graduate areas. More than 50 percent of the course work is with graduate students only. Graduates of this program are usually employed as music teachers in public or private schools in the areas of vocal-general and/or instrumental music. 

The Health Care Management curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehension of U.S. health care organizations, a public health orientation including epidemiological concepts and tools, and the math, language and computer competencies for research development, organizational management and/or program evaluation. Depending on a student’s interest, graduate training in health administration is recommended after completing this course of study and after the student has worked in the field for 1–2 years. Students interested in long-term care have the option of completing a track.

Students who major and minor in Health Care Management will adhere to the American College of Healthcare Executives Code of Conduct.

The Master of Science in Marketing Intelligence and the embedded Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Interactive Marketing are designed to fill a growing need for graduates with the skills necessary to acquire, analyze and utilize marketing intelligence information in the digital age. The program is designed with an applied, experiential learning focus based on industry needs.

With digital marketing options evolving rapidly, companies need individuals who can create, implement and evaluate data-driven marketing strategies.

Towson University offers an undergraduate degree program leading either to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Gerontology. The course work is multidisciplinary and provides students with an understanding of the scope of gerontology, the issues that are central to the study of aging, and a perspective from which students may understand the phenomenon of human aging and its implications for families and society. The program is designed to prepare students for entry-level professional positions in the field of aging, social services, and aging policy, as well as provide the knowledge and skills necessary for graduate and professional schools.