Bachelor of Liberal Studies

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.

Actuarial Science
What are the odds that an earthquake will cause catastrophic damage in a particular area? How should an insurance company determine how much to charge for life insurance? Actuarial science is a focused discipline that uses mathematical and statistical models to assess the financial, economic and business implications of future events.

According to the Society of Actuaries, an actuary combines the skills of a business executive, mathematician, and financial and investment manager. Actuarial science is an ideal concentration for students interested in careers that deal with studying risks related to economics, finance and social issues.

The Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics coordinated program is designed for students who wish to earn a master's degree while gaining eligibility to become a registered dietitian and pursue careers as entry-level dietitians. The nutrition and dietetics program is offered through the Department of Applied Health in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. The program combines graduate-level coursework in nutrition with the clinical curriculum and supervised practice that allows graduates to sit for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics examination for registered dietitians. This program is also ideal for those students who have earned a BS degree in another field but are now interested in becoming a registered dietitian or those who graduated with a BS in nutrition and were not matched for a dietetic internship.

What can I do with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics?
Students graduating with a master's degree and passing the RD exam can pursue careers in clinical dietetics, community and public health, consulting, private practice, food and nutrition business industry, food service, food management, research and education, sports and wellness nutrition, or corporate wellness.

Sports Nutrition
The master's in nutrition and dietetics coordinated program has a concentration in sports nutrition. Our students gain a better understanding of physiology and the physiology of exercise to benefit all patients and clients. With additional recognition of the importance of nutrition at all levels of fitness and competition, sports dietitians will continue to be in demand. Graduates of SIUE’s program will be uniquely positioned to meet these needs.

Sociologists are interested in changing the world. But, we do so by systematically studying society rather than using our biases or assumptions. Once we understand the larger social forces that influence our own behavior and that of others, we can create policies, organizations, and even families that benefit the majority of people rather than the powerful few.

At SIUE, we focus on application. Students in the Department of Sociology participate in hands-on experiences so they can apply what they learn in their classes. Students pursuing general sociology work in communities helping gather data and provide suggestions on how to make those communities stronger. Diversity and social justice students complete internships in nonprofit organizations learning to write grants and help groups find resources. Students specializing in employment relations complete internships in organizations where they help uncover how to make workers more committed and productive. Through systematically gathering information from different groups, sociology can be a powerful tool for the betterment of communities and organizations.

Employment Relations
The specialization option in employment relations is designed to prepare students to apply sociological knowledge to the practical problems of the workplace. Fundamental changes in work and industry have intensified employer demands for broadly skilled professionals, supervisors, administrators, coordinators and consultants capable of critically evaluating, planning and implementing workplace changes.

The Department of English Language and Literature offers a Master of Arts in English with the option to specialize in literature, teaching English as a second language or teaching of writing. Students will be well prepared for a variety of careers.

Literature
A master’s degree in English, with a specialization in literature, from the Department of English Language and Literature prepares students for advanced graduate work, secondary and college teaching, and a variety of careers in nonprofits and the private sector that require excellent writing and critical-thinking skills. The literature specialization's vibrant curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences allows students to study a range of literary texts, from the contemporary U.S.A., to world diasporas, to Chaucer's England.

The program of study is designed with flexibility in mind so students can take courses and create an exit plan crafted for their own literary and career interests. Our innovative exit options allow students to complete a traditional thesis, create an action research project, develop a public humanities program, or study the digital humanities, making this MA an excellent choice for students who wish to prepare themselves for a variety of careers after graduation. Students interested in this degree often go onto further advanced graduate study or teach at the community college level.

The Master of Science in accountancy (MSA) in the School of Business provides an advanced professional plan of study designed to prepare individuals for careers as professional accountants in public accounting, industry, or nonprofit and governmental sectors. Through the Department of Accounting, students learn the skills and knowledge needed to enter the accounting field and to form a foundation for advancement to the highest levels of the profession. Completion of this program will provide, in most cases, the educational qualifications required to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. Upon completion of the MSA, candidates should have acquired the technical knowledge that will serve as a basis for preparation for the relevant professional examination required for certification as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.

What can I do with a Master's Degree in Accounting?
MSA graduates qualify to sit for the CPA exam in Illinois and have rewarding careers in public accounting as auditors, tax specialists or consultants. Graduates who work in corporate accounting may be employed as managerial accountants, internal auditors, income tax specialists, systems experts or management consultants. In the nonprofit sector, accountants play important roles in governmental entities, healthcare organizations and charitable agencies. Based on their wide range of business exposure and knowledge, many accountants ultimately move into high-level management positions.

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 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.

Sociologists are interested in changing the world. But, we do so by systematically studying society rather than using our biases or assumptions. Once we understand the larger social forces that influence our own behavior and that of others, we can create policies, organizations, and even families that benefit the majority of people rather than the powerful few.

At SIUE, we focus on application. Students in the Department of Sociology participate in hands-on experiences so they can apply what they learn in their classes. Students pursuing general sociology work in communities helping gather data and provide suggestions on how to make those communities stronger. Diversity and social justice students complete internships in nonprofit organizations learning to write grants and help groups find resources. Students specializing in employment relations complete internships in organizations where they help uncover how to make workers more committed and productive. Through systematically gathering information from different groups, sociology can be a powerful tool for the betterment of communities and organizations.

Diversity and Social Justice
The specialization option in diversity and social justice prepares students for work in social movement/nonprofit organizations that focus in the area of gender/sex, sexuality, race, environment, class, disability, and other areas where injustices occur. The goal is to apply sociological knowledge to understanding theories for why social inequalities occur and for constructing logical and practical solutions for such inequalities.

The SIUE School of Engineering offers a Master of Science in industrial engineering within the Department of Industrial Engineering. There are four areas of concentration: systems optimization, manufacturing engineering design, enterprise and production control, and quality engineering. Core courses are offered in the areas of engineering optimization, quality control, production planning, and manufacturing design.

What can I do with a degree in Industrial Engineering?
More professionals are earning graduate degrees, adding to the competitive nature of the marketplace. It is imperative to explore graduate education as an avenue to achieve a higher level of career success. Whether students want to move up the ladder, find a niche teaching in higher education or pursue consulting opportunities, they can leverage themselves with a graduate degree in industrial engineering from SIUE. Companies like The Boeing Co., Emerson Electric and Covidien hire many SIUE graduates. A graduate degree places students in a network of highly skilled and educated professionals who work in the region, across the country and around the world.

At SIUE, we have a graduate student-to-faculty ratio of two-to-one, so our students receive personalized attention from faculty recognized for outstanding teaching and excellent research. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at SIUE provides learning and research opportunities in many areas and students are exposed to various cultures from diverse faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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