Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (STEM)

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

The business administration program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, and provides a broad education in the functional areas of modern business, the behavior of organizations and decision-making processes, as well as analytical methods for solving basic problems affecting commerce and business practices. Our students find that the combination of knowledge acquisition and skill development is appealing and rewarding. Students in the School of Business will also learn about the ethical and global issues facing today’s businesses, while refining their communication skills and abilities. They will also learn to make leadership decisions based on quantitative data using analytical tools.

What can I do with a degree in Business Administration?
Graduates of the business administration program are well prepared to become business professionals who understand the environment in which business operates, and can analyze how business operations are impacted by economic, social, political and legal environments. Graduates of the program are prepared 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 and practices is required. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in business and financial operations occupations is projected to grow 5% through 2029.

Computer Information Systems
The computer information systems specialization is designed to prepare students to work with business computer technology. Students learn to design information systems to support decision making and the operation of business and organization functional areas. The design process includes the specification of hardware, software, and personnel requirements. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in all CMIS courses.

Graduates of the accountancy program are well prepared to become business professionals who understand the environment in which business operates and can analyze how business operations are impacted by economic, social, political and legal environments. Most of our students aspire to become certified public accountants (CPAs), which requires 150 hours of college credit. With this in mind, our Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program is designed to seamlessly complete the additional 30 hours beyond the 120 hours required for the BSA. For students completing their BSA who have earned at least 150 hours, our undergraduate curriculum meets the requirements to sit for the CPA exam in most states.

For individuals not seeking CPA certification, the Bachelor of Science in accountancy program provides the education required for many careers in the accounting discipline, including financial reporting, internal auditing, tax accounting, managerial accounting and not-for-profit accounting. Students will also be prepared for appropriate professional certifications within these segments of accounting, such as a certified management accountant or a certified internal auditor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 4% through 2029.

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.

Students pursuing the Master of Science (MS) in chemistry through SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences explore advanced topics in chemistry and become proficient in lab techniques and problem-solving skills. The Department of Chemistry is housed in the recently built Science Building West. Our students have access to state-of-the art equipment and laboratories. The MS program can be completed within a two-year timeframe.

What can I do with a degree in Chemistry?
Students earning a master’s degree in chemistry will be well-prepared to pursue a variety of careers. Our graduates learn skills in the classroom and in research laboratories that ensure they are productive problem solvers throughout their career. SIUE graduates are frequently sought after by local employers.

According to the American Chemical Society, the fields employing the most chemists include biochemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry. 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.

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.

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.

Immediate application of new physics knowledge is not what drives physicists, but rather, an inherent curiosity about everything around them. Physics explores the big questions about the universe, and students who are motivated, curious, mathematical, inventive, and wish to explore these big questions will find their place at SIUE. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are taught by world-class scholars in state-of-the-art laboratories, with small class sizes to help ensure that students are not just faces in a crowded lecture hall. In the Department of Physics, students are welcomed into a community of faculty committed to providing the best education possible.

What can I do with a degree in Physics?
Earning a bachelor’s degree in physics can open many doors. Throughout the United States, approximately one-third of students graduating with degrees in physics go on to graduate school to continue their education in physics or other science disciplines. Our graduates have recently gone on to pursue their education at the University of Arizona, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of New Mexico, as well as other quality programs. Some students, finding the rigor of physics excellent preparation for professional schools, pursue advanced education opportunities in medicine or law.

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.

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.

The Department of Social Work at SIUE offers unique learning experiences. Students not only learn in a traditional classroom setting, but also by involvement in community-engaged scholarship and learning activities. Our students work with agencies and organizations, assisting with service provision for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty and mental health challenges.

What can I do with a degree in Social Work?
The master of social work program prepares students for careers in advanced social work practice. Students graduate with comprehensive social work knowledge and refined practice skills to engage in professional roles as clinicians, administrators, program coordinators and evaluators, and community developers. Graduates are able to lead efforts aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals, families and communities who may be under-served, at-risk or otherwise challenged. Career opportunities are available in a number of social work areas, including but not limited to adoption and foster care, substance abuse, health and mental healthcare, hospice, social policy development, neighborhood and community organizations.