Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Specialization in Law

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

How does a statistician design an experiment to test a new drug? What is an efficient algorithm to solve a differential equation, and when does it work? How do you determine a fair price for an annuity? Given a complex network of nodes and edges, what is the shortest path from one vertex to another? How can you teach problem solving in a diverse high school classroom?

These are only some of the questions to be explored in our five undergraduate study options in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE, we have a faculty-to-undergraduate major student ratio of five to one, so our students receive personalized attention from faculty recognized for outstanding teaching and excellent research.

What can I do with a degree in Math?
Professionals holding positions in the mathematics field as mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries consistently rank their careers at the top of surveys on job satisfaction and security. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook in these fields remains strong, and growth is projected at 25% over the next 10 years.

The biological sciences encompass the study of all life on Earth. Biological sciences programs are offered through the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. At SIUE, our diverse programs of study include specializations that allow students the opportunity to pursue any areas that are of interest to them. Students can customize their academic program in order to better prepare them for their chosen career.

What can I do with a degree in Biological Sciences?
Many careers are available for people with basic or advanced training in biology. There are opportunities in botany, ecology, education, fisheries, forensics, forestry, genetic engineering, horticulture, medical technology, microbiology, molecular biology, parasitology, physiology, wildlife management and zoology. Technical and supervisory positions are available in federal, state, industrial and university laboratories. Environment and health-related occupations almost always require sound, basic training in biology. Most students entering schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, veterinary science, chiropractic and podiatry are biology majors. Basic training in biology is essential for careers in allied health sciences, including nutrition, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Medical Science
The medical sciences specialization, a pre-health professions curriculum, will prepare students for entry into medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatry schools, as well as into many other allied health programs.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA), accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, is designed to develop the professional capabilities of managers working in business. The central objective of the curriculum in the School of Business is to enhance quality and innovation in the analysis, interpretation, and use of information for formulating, communicating and implementing managerial decisions in business organizations. The ethical management of resources in a global environment is emphasized through the curriculum. Required courses in quantitative analysis, and decision making will sharpen the ability of students to apply models and skills, and integrate knowledge across disciplinary areas. Students can select a specialization in business analytics, healthcare administration, management information systems, project management, or a general specialization comprised of four elective courses that will fit their specific career objectives.

What can I do with an MBA?
Students completing the program should be prepared to engage in managerial careers leading to advancement through middle-and upper-level positions in business and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, graduates of the program are qualified for careers in administration or management of business firms; in banking and insurance; and in federal, state and local government agencies, as well as a variety of other settings where knowledge of business functions is required.

Management Information Systems
Students may choose to pursue an MBA with a specialization in management information systems (MIS). The MBA/MIS specialization is an advanced professional degree that combines management skills with the study of information systems analysis and design. The program is designed to develop the student's ability to formulate and implement management information systems that will promote the achievement of the goals and objectives of the organization. Emphasis is placed upon the theory of information systems analysis and the modeling of the decision-making process in designing effective information systems.

The early childhood education program in the Department of Teaching and Learning leads to initial teacher licensure in Illinois to work with children birth through second grade, as well as a non-licensure option to work in infant/toddler and preschool settings that do not require teacher licensure. The program addresses national standards set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as state standards set by the Illinois State Board of Education. The department offers quality programs that connect learned theory to practical experiences in schools while keeping classes small and providing personal attention.

What can I do with a degree in Early Childhood Education?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the education field is expected to grow 12% through 2022, and teacher education programs at SIUE have an exceptional record of preparing highly effective early childhood, elementary, middle level, special education and secondary education teachers. Our graduates also pursue careers as parent educators, child development specialists, child service agency workers, child and family advocates, juvenile justice officers, and hospital play group directors, just to name a few.

The Department of Chemistry, in the College of Arts and Sciences, offers several degree programs and active research opportunities in order to satisfy the diverse career goals of our students. At SIUE, students will learn from faculty members who have earned national and international reputations in their respective areas of expertise. The department also has well-equipped laboratories where students can expect to gain experience in the many different disciplines in chemistry and biochemistry. Through the department’s research programs, students may also gain experience in the most current techniques.

What can I do with a degree in Chemistry?
Students earning a degree in chemistry will be well prepared to pursue a variety of careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a chemist with a bachelor's degree was $79,300 as of May, 2020. Chemistry majors work as analysts, environmentalists, criminologists, librarians, patent examiners, production foremen, researchers, writers and teachers. Chemists also find work in sales, and for private companies that produce items such as fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, plastics and semi-conductors. Careers in the public sector can be found in local, state and federal governments, as well as hospitals, high schools, colleges and universities.

Students who like solving problems creatively and expressing their point of view should think about pursuing a degree in theater and dance at SIUE. Theater is the study of literature, history and production of live theatrical performances. Students pursuing a degree in theater and dance from SIUE will complete an intense curriculum that will prepare them to take the next step in their professional careers or go on to graduate school. Students explore and build on their artistic talents - not only as actors and dancers, but as casting agents, box office managers, choreographers, set and lighting designers, and theater managers.

The theater and dance program in the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE is known for its small class sizes and the artistic freedom afforded to its students. Faculty members encourage students to take risks to discover their creativity, and performance opportunities are ample. Each year, the department offers four theater productions, a dance concert, two student productions, a one-act festival, summer stock theater productions, an annual dance festival and a four-day experimental theater festival in the spring. The Department of Theater and Dance encourages a diverse mix of students and a well-rounded education with a solid liberal arts foundation.

What can I do with a degree in Theater and Dance?
Students with a degree in theater and dance find careers as actors, playwrights, screenwriters, directors, production designers, dancers, choreographers and critics. Theater and dance students obtain the skills to pursue a wide range of career paths within and outside the arts.

Design/Technical
The specialization in design and technology offers a curriculum that enables students to develop skills as designers, technicians and craftspeople, as well as the visual communication skills necessary in the collaborative world of the theater. While students are enrolled in introductory courses, they are also working backstage and in the shops putting learned skills to practical use as technicians and crew on departmental productions.

The undergraduate social work program in the College of Arts and Sciences focuses on the knowledge, values and skills needed for social work practice. Its primary purpose is to prepare graduates for entry-level direct practice in social work. The Department of Social Work prepares BSW students for advanced standing in MSW programs. The undergraduate program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The social work program prepares generalist social workers for many types of practice, and offers opportunities to explore specific interests through the selection of electives and the field placement setting. The primary professional purpose of social work is to promote social functioning and enhance social development at all system levels. The social worker acts as a facilitator of change with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; promotes improvement in social conditions; serves as an advocate for people who are subject to discrimination or social or economic injustice; and provides individuals access to needed resources and services. In addition to completing on-campus course work, social work students engage in field work in local social service agencies in several courses.

What can I do with a degree in Social Work?
The bachelor’s degree in social work qualifies graduates for practice in entry-level positions in a wide range of social service settings. Most graduates work in child welfare, family service, mental health or health agencies. The bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program qualifies graduates to take the licensed social worker (LSW) examination, as stipulated by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. In addition, many graduate social work programs offer advanced standing to qualified students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.

Mechanical engineering is based on the application of physics and mathematics. It is challenging, rewarding, and is one of the most diverse disciplines among engineering programs. In the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at SIUE, mechanical engineering students develop skill sets necessary for a number of engineering jobs, including applications in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, robotics, energy and more.

Mechanical engineers are problem solvers, critical thinkers and designers. Mechanical engineers design and create complex machines that can impact every facet of human life. They work in teams to design and operate robots, engines, machine parts, medical devices and much more. In the School of Engineering at SIUE, you will gain an expertise that will remain with you throughout your engineering career and will enable you to make a difference in society.

What can I do with a degree in Mechanical Engineering?
At SIUE, earning an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering is only the beginning for our students. Our graduates have a wide variety of opportunities available to them upon graduation, and are prepared to contribute to society through professional practice in industry or governmental positions. Some of our students may also choose to pursue careers in related areas such as business, law or medicine.

The study of communication involves the development of theories and research tools to analyze, explain and improve human interaction. The applied communication studies program is offered in the College of Arts and Sciences through the Department of Applied Communication Studies. Departmental courses focus on two-person interaction, small-group decision making, communication patterns in organizations and other complex systems, public relations, and speaker-audience interaction in public speaking.

What can I do with a degree in Applied Communication Studies?
In America, employers increasingly recognize the need for more effective communication. As a result, job opportunities for graduates trained in applied communication studies are prevalent in business and industry, government agencies, educational systems, nonprofit organizations, and community-based resource centers. Graduates often have several career choices. Examples of communication careers departmental graduates have entered are: teaching and administration; management, training and consulting in organizations; public relations; human relations and employee assistance programs; sales; and government service. Graduates find employment in various types of for-profit and nonprofit organizations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Applied communication is also an in-demand minor for students majoring in areas such as, business, mass communications, political science and sociology. Our graduates are also well-prepared for graduate school.

Track Option: Corporate and Organizational Communication
Students who choose the corporate and organizational communication track focus on communication within the context of businesses and other organizations. Effective communication in organizations is necessary both for the attainment of organizational goals and for individual productivity and satisfaction. This track is designed for those who will work in organizational settings and who want to become more effective in their interactions with others for a more successful and fulfilling work life. This knowledge is especially important now that the "world of work" is undergoing such rapid change. In addition to learning, understanding, and applying organizational theories and research, students will develop important organizational skills such as conflict management, decision making, goal setting and team building. Students completing this track will be prepared for careers in a wide variety of organizational settings and roles (sales, management, human resources and training), as well as for graduate study in communication or business.

The mass communications program in the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE prepares students to succeed in careers in one of the fastest growing and most dynamic areas: the mass media.

The Department of Mass Communications at SIUE is accredited by the highly selective Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). This means our students get one-on-one attention from their instructors due to small class sizes and curriculum that keeps with changes in the media industry. Our students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and faculty members who dedicate themselves to serving the professional and intellectual needs of the students.

The Department of Mass Communications offers three sequences: journalism, media production, and advertising and strategic media. While most of the curriculum is a shared experience by all majors, students take advanced courses specific to their chosen sequence. This approach is in keeping with the converged nature of today’s media industries. At its heart, our department is all about teaching students how to tell stories, whether in the form of advertising campaigns, news stories, documentaries, or any of an almost limitless use of this major. Students who major in mass communications but choose not to enter the media industry will be well-prepared, thoughtful and effective communicators.

What can I do with a degree in Mass Communications?
Graduates of the Department of Mass Communications choose various career paths. Our graduates have become reporters, editors and photojournalists for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. Others work in radio and television, for advertising agencies, and in marketing and communications positions at major corporations and non-profits; many become the social media experts in their positions. Some graduates take an entrepreneurial approach and create careers as independent videographers, event planners, graphic designers, web developers, and freelance communications specialists.