Master of Science in Accounting and Business Advisory Services

at Shorelight Group - Towson University USA

• Use a working critical vocabulary to do textual and ethnographic analyses of cultural phenomena, showing an understanding of both verbal and visual texts, students own everyday experience, and the inter-relatedness of social, political, historical, and economic components of their worlds.
• Through writing, convey an understanding of a variety of critical strategies (e.g. semiotics, content analysis, structuralism) applicable to cultural studies cross-disciplinary core.
• Acquire the habits and attitudes of an inquiring mind, for looking into questions of culture in ways that resonate with students’ lives and finally even beyond these lives, into an awareness of ethical, cognitive, and emotional issues that may at first seem foreign to their own systems of cultural values.
• Evaluate critically the sources and content of information. This goal is listed among the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Expectations Regarding Information Literacy and Technological Competency.
• Understanding and applying relevant discipline-specific methodologies and strategies of inquiry.
• Engaging intellectually and seeking to understand the experiences and views of people with different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, whether in their own country or abroad.

The Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts Infusion (MAIAI) is a one of a kind, graduate program designed for classroom teachers, arts specialists, teaching artists, administrators and arts entrepreneurs. The program deepens and extends the skills and techniques of the arts disciplines through a unique blend of professional development course work and advanced, trans-disciplinary arts practice. 

MAIAI builds upon the successful work of our Arts Integration Institute and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate that Towson has been offering since 1999. MAIAI reflects an interdisciplinary approach to arts education integrating a variety of art forms (theatre, dance, music, visual arts) into PreK-12 classrooms and beyond. This program is consistent with Towson University’s mission to provide programs that enhance teaching skills and professional development for educators. Graduates will be collaborators equipped to lead a transformation in teaching, learning and school reform through arts integration.

The American Studies Concentration is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to take courses in different academic departments that focus on the concept of American culture. The American Studies approach emphasizes the interrelatedness of history, literature, the arts and popular culture. In their course work students will examine American institutions, ideas and material forms in order to better understand the nation’s past and to shape their own futures. The major is designed for those students who may wish to have careers in fields such as law, government service, non-profit organizations, journalism, museum work and teaching, where a broad knowledge of American history and culture is desirable.

A minor is available for those students with another major who want to learn more about American culture. Students have the opportunity to receive units for internships.

The Master of Science in Accounting and Business Advisory Services at Towson University is a joint program with the University of Baltimore. This program is designed to meet two important educational objectives.

First, when combined with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, the program allows students to earn the additional units necessary to meet the 150-hour requirement to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in Maryland and many other states. The CPA exam includes four sections: Auditing & Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG). Students planning to take the CPA exam will be best served by a program of study, such as our BS in Accounting and this graduate program, that emphasizes the same subject matter as the exam.

Second, by incorporating courses in the related disciplines of financial management and information technology, the program complements and expands the technical skills acquired in an undergraduate accounting education.

Graduates of the M.S. in Accounting and Business Advisory Services program will have the flexibility needed to accelerate their public accounting careers or pursue careers in other areas such as management accounting, internal auditing, accounting for governmental or other nonprofit entities, and management consulting.

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.

Majors must complete 54 units. The program is divided into four parts, and writing skills are emphasized throughout.

• First, students must complete two introductory courses, one each in political science and economics, which acquaint students with the nature of law and its role in American society.
• Second, students will take four required courses: one at the lower-division, two at the upper-division level and an advanced writing course. These courses further situate students in American culture, politics, judicial policymaking and logical thinking.
• Third, students will have several options in choosing electives, which will be offered by several departments: Accounting, Mass Communication and Communication Studies, English, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Political Science.
• Fourth and finally, students will undertake a 6-unit capstone experience of their choice and, if possible, design. Advanced students may wish to undertake a project in the workplace and then write an evaluative essay on that experience as it fits into the overall program. Other students will participate in a senior seminar, in which they will write a research paper on some aspect of the law or develop a thesis supervised by the program director.

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).

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Administration (BUAD) requires a minimum of 120 earned units, which must include successful completion of the Core Curriculum requirements, the BUAD requirements and electives. BUAD requirements include 50-51 units of required business courses and 21-24 units in one of the following concentrations or tracks: Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Leadership and Management, Marketing, or Project Management and Business Analysis. The electives may include the units required for a minor or specialization program, or in a foreign language for the B.A.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Business Administration (BUAD) requires a minimum of 120 earned units, which must include successful completion of the Core Curriculum requirements, the BUAD requirements and electives. BUAD requirements include 50-51 units of required business courses and 21-24 units in one of the following concentrations or tracks: Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Leadership and Management, Marketing, or Project Management and Business Analysis. The electives may include the units required for a minor or specialization program, or in a foreign language for the B.A.

Students majoring in Music Education are required to complete the courses listed under the requirements tab, the Music Education Professional Core Courses and the Core Curriculum. Students choose either the Instrumental Music Education Concentration or the Vocal-General Music Education Concentration. Students will also complete a criminal background check as required by the school system in which the internship is located prior to entry into the capstone internship.