Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Specialization in ACS Certified Biochemistry (STEM)

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

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.

International studies is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to help students reflect on and engage in the complex social, political, economic, and cultural interrelations that exist among nations and regions of our increasingly globalized world. The program offers a broad range of curricular options in the College of Arts and Sciences, allowing students to explore, in regards to various peoples and across populations, aspects related to geography, history, religion, government, trade, communication, languages and literatures, music and arts, social justice, and environmental challenges. Students in the program will learn critical and analytical problem-solving skills that they can apply to contemporary global issues.

What can I do with a degree in International Studies?
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in international studies are qualified for many positions in diplomacy or with nonprofits, governmental organizations and businesses. Students can apply their knowledge of globalization, language and culture in workplace settings in the areas of foreign service, foreign aid or international intergovernmental organizations. Examples of government agencies seeking these graduates are the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency. In recent years, there have been hundreds of thousands of export related jobs and employment opportunities with foreign firms in Illinois and in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Possible job titles include: foreign service specialist; human rights advocate; lobbyist and administrative/legislative aid; Peace Corps officer; teacher of English as a foreign language in international settings; family and community support service provider for humanitarian agencies in the United States and internationally; and business consultant in international firms.

International Relations and Diplomacy
Students who choose this concentration have a career interest in the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups, governments or international organizations. Students gain the skills to engage in international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peacemaking, war, trade, economics, environment, culture and human rights.

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: Public Relations
Students in the public relations track will study under a model program, designed to meet and exceed national guidelines for undergraduate public relations education described in Public Relations Education for the 21st Century: A Port of Entry, sponsored by the Commission on Public Relations Education. This track stresses written, oral, graphic, and technological applications of communication skills. Elements of the program are designed to keep entry-level students in touch with upper-division students, and past graduates in touch with all students. In addition, students will experience the "paired course" concept, an idea that helps students integrate materials across their sequence of study. And finally, students may join SIUE's award-winning chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which is affiliated with the national professional association, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The exercise science program in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior at SIUE is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), as well as the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) and offers the only accredited program in the state of Illinois. The program reports annual outcome data and is held to the high standards of CoAES. Over the last five academic years, the exercise science program at SIUE reported a 98% retention rate and a graduate placement rate of 82%.

At SIUE, the exercise science program in the Department of Applied Health combines coursework in both the basic sciences and exercise sciences, along with real-world internships to ensure our students are prepared to excel in a variety of professional health and fitness settings. The program is based upon the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) professional certifications. The exercise science program provides students with a solid academic foundation and is structured in a way that students have the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities that are critical in the growing fields of health, fitness, medicine, and physical and occupational rehabilitation.

Graduates of the computer science program at SIUE will typically find careers as software engineers. However, some pursue careers as research scientists, technology infrastructure specialists or technology consultants. In recent years, 80-90% of graduates have accepted a career position before graduation day. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that demand and salaries for computer scientists and software engineers will continue to increase in the coming decade.

If you have diverse academic interests that span the disciplines and would like to turn these interests into a cohesive program, then the integrative studies program could be for you! Working professionals can also earn a baccalaureate degree to better position them for opportunities for advancement where a baccalaureate degree is required.

Integrative studies is an interdisciplinary program geared toward meeting each student’s personal, academic and career goals, as well as providing knowledge and skills to meet the needs of emerging professions. This program provides students the opportunity to embrace their individuality and widen their perspectives by exploring and making connections between different fields of study. Students design their own program of study, in consultation with a professional advisor and a faculty mentor, and in doing so take responsibility for their education and career planning.

What can I do with a degree in Integrative Studies?
Students graduating with an undergraduate degree in integrative studies will be well prepared to pursue career opportunities in a variety of professional settings, such as advertising, public service, military, sales, human services, ministry, sports promotion, higher education, public relations, and youth development, among others. Graduates will also be prepared to pursue a master’s or professional degree in various fields.

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.

Performance
Through the performance specialization, a diverse ensemble of faculty and students are dedicated to building a dynamic learning environment and creating exciting and evocative works of theater. Our program includes foundation classes in basic acting, character building and voice/movement techniques, as well as upper-level courses in multicultural and experimental performance, Suzuki and Viewpoints Technique, period styles and careers in acting. Core classes are supplemented by electives in dialects, comedy, combat and the Meisner technique.

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.

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.

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
The bachelor's in biological sciences with a specialization in ecology, evolution and conservation at SIUE prepares students for positions that require the application of ecological principles to the solution of environmental problems. The specialization also prepares students for advanced study in all areas of biology, including wildlife ecology and forestry. Students selecting this specialization will take a planned sequence of courses that includes basic biological sciences, ecology, evolution, and environmental science. This study may include laboratory and field research. A variety of elective courses are available to allow students to pursue special interests such as plant or animal ecology, environmental management, and evolutionary biology, at either the organismal or cellular level. Students should consult their advisor to devise a course schedule to fit their specific talents and interests.

The art education program at SIUE, offered through the Department of Art and Design in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a K-12 teacher licensure program in visual arts education for the state of Illinois. The program is built on an understanding and application of skills in the fields of art studio, art history, and the role and function of art to general education and to the culture it serves. Our program is grounded in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior knowledge base, which promotes the “Teacher as an Inquirer-Professional.” The program is based on the initial level for teacher preparation in the areas of knowledge application and development, instructional process, context and foundations of education, learners and learning, interpersonal relation skills, and professional relationships. At SIUE, our students are engaged in inquiry and reflection, which are necessary components in the development of successful learning environments in various contexts. Our students observe and interact with a wide variety of art education professionals in diverse art program settings in order to understand the role of each program to the needs of their future students and instructional objectives.

The art education program at SIUE stresses the development of the student as an artist-teacher, the student as a professional teacher and the development of the student’s teaching skills in school. Students at SIUE have access to excellent facilities and a variety of equipment for creating art. These facilities and equipment allow students to obtain hands-on experience in creating art, presenting lessons and writing curriculum. Our students are prepared for their future careers as artist-teachers with a broad, general background in intermediate-level courses in studio art, art history, art education and professional education. To complete the art education program, students participate in intensive student teaching for one semester in two school settings at K-12 public schools throughout Illinois.

What can I do with a degree in Art Education?
Graduates of the art education program at SIUE are prepared to successfully compete for career and graduate education opportunities. Our students pursue advanced Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Arts (MA) degrees in visual arts education and studio art, and gain employment with area public and private schools, teaching in K-12 classrooms.