Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with Concentration in Animal Behavior

at Shorelight Group - Towson University USA

• Marshal and arrange appropriate historical evidence from primary and secondary sources to support historical arguments.
• Demonstrate command of a body of historical knowledge related to major political, economic, social, and cultural events and issues in Western culture.
• Demonstrate command of a body of historical knowledge related to major political, economic, social, and cultural events and issues in non-Western cultures.
• Demonstrate information literacy, which includes technological competency.

The program provides advanced study in the theory of writing, writing techniques and style, principles/techniques of editing, and the functions of written communication within the professional/occupational setting. Courses aim to develop the communication skills of people seeking to enter or to advance in occupations requiring extensive writing and/or the analysis and reporting of data. Students choose from tracks in writing for the public and private sectors, technical writing and information design, teaching writing, journalistic writing, scientific writing and creative writing.

• In the production of art and/or design work, students will demonstrate a working knowledge of the elements of art and the principles of design.
• In the production of art and/or design work, students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the materials and processes of their chosen discipline.
• In creating and/or evaluating art and design work, students will recognize and demonstrate understanding of perspectives of people from cultures and situations other than their own.
• Students will articulate, through writing, verbally and through the production of a body of work, their personal aesthetic and/or professional direction.

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.

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.

Information technology involves the selection, application, integration and administration of computing and communication technologies to meet the informational needs of individuals, organizations and society at large. The IT program prepares students to enter the workplace as IT professionals and grow into leadership positions or pursue graduate studies in the field.

Religious Studies majors must complete 33 units of coursework, including 12 units from a set of Area Requirements. Three courses (9 units) at the introductory level are designed to provide students with broad, working knowledge of Western and Asian religious traditions. An advanced course at the 400 level (3 units) assumes knowledge and skills students will have acquired in their course work in Religious Studies. It engages students in critical reflection on religious phenomena broadly conceived and represents the culmination of their experience as Religious Studies Majors. Students are also required to complete 21 units of electives. 

The Master of Science degree in Supply Chain Management and the embedded Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Supply Chain Management are designed to develop professionals who can manage, analyze, and control activities across the entire supply chain, from upstream procurement to downstream distribution channels. The types of employers targeted by this program include companies, consulting firms, and government agencies that need to achieve competitive advantage and cost efficiencies by improving their supply chain performance. This program has been designed by benchmarking content and courses against industry credentialing offerings so that graduates of the program can proceed to professional certification based on the knowledge gained in the program.

Students have the opportunity to complete courses in a combination of face-to-face, online and blended formats. Statistics proficiency for the courses can be achieved by (1) completing a department approved online or in-person course in introductory statistics, (2) providing a transcript that shows exemplary performance in an introductory statistics course within the last five years or (3) successfully completing the department's Statistics Qualifier Exam.

Graduates with a supply chain management background can pursue careers as purchasing specialists, contract administrators, procurement officers and managers, supply chain management professionals, business analysts, demand managers and more. In fact, the majority of U.S. jobs fall somewhere in a supply chain, whether it is procurement, logistics and operations, marketing, or sales and service. International students may benefit from the program's STEM designation, which supports an optional practical training extension.

The study of animal behavior has received an increasing amount of attention from the public because of the emphasis placed by zoological parks on behavioral biology and the large number of presentations in the media regarding animal behavior and sociobiology.

The Animal Behavior Concentration is designed to offer a solid foundation in the diverse approaches used to study behavioral biology. The program uses a carefully selected combination of courses in biology and psychology to achieve this goal. In addition, students are required to complete either an independent research project or an internship in order to apply their knowledge in an intensive research experience.

Students who complete the program may be qualified for positions at zoological parks, aquariums and nature centers. In addition, they will have the necessary technical knowledge to pursue a career in freelance writing about animal behavior. However, students who are considering attending graduate school will need to complete additional courses in either biology or psychology. Most of the students currently enrolled in the program are also majoring in either Biology or Psychology.

Students who are considering the Animal Behavior Concentration must meet with one of the program coordinators before declaring Interdisciplinary Studies as a major. Students who are also majoring or minoring in Psychology or Biology should contact the respective co-coordinator: Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences), Paul Pistell (Psychology).