Master of Arts in Applied Communication Studies with Emphasis in Health Communication

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

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.

Undergraduate courses in speech-language pathology and audiology within the Department of Applied Health provide students with a scientific background for understanding communication disorders. Students acquire knowledge in speech and hearing science, normal processes and the development of speech, language and hearing. Students also study disorders of speech, language and hearing, and review assessment methods and procedures in communication disorders.

The field of speech-language pathology and audiology is broad, and there are many opportunities to further support and expand students’ experiences. In the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior at SIUE, students are encouraged to pursue minors and take elective courses that will establish a strong science and liberal arts background. Complementary minors include psychology, linguistics, foreign language and health science, among others. This diverse background provides students with a competitive edge in graduate school and in the workforce.

What can I do with a degree in Speech-language Pathology and Audiology?
Many of our students choose to continue their education and pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology and audiology, which leads to certification and the opportunity to practice as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.

With a projected growth rate of 19% through 2022, certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists are in high-demand and are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community clinics, schools, private practice, colleges and universities, state and federal agencies, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes. Some certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists enter public-school settings, while others establish private practices or become affiliated with physicians.

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.

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.

The Department of Civil Engineering offers a curriculum that provides students with a solid background in mathematics, physical science and civil engineering. Elective courses are available in environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation and water resources engineering. Laboratory facilities in the School of Engineering are available for conducting basic environmental analyses, hydraulic experiments, material tests, soil mechanics procedures and transportation studies. Baccalaureate graduates are prepared to assist public and private employers, or to pursue graduate study.

What can I do with a degree in Civil Engineering?
Civil engineers work in a wide range of fields in both technical and managerial positions. Job opportunities can be found in consulting companies, industry and government agencies. Civil engineers work in offices and on job sites. They design, build, inspect, maintain, rehabilitate, and preserve buildings, bridges, treatment systems and roads—all the essential infrastructure for society. Due to the nature and importance of the profession, civil engineers are always needed.

The fast change of pace in our society is creating new career opportunities for individuals trained in multiple disciplines. The Master of Science in integrative studies allows students to access expertise from two or three areas and integrate courses into a degree that meets the needs of an emerging career field.

Consider integrative studies if:

• You have diverse interests that span two or three academic disciplines and you want to blend these interests into one cohesive program
• You have a career interest in an emerging field that crosses academic disciplines, such as cultural heritage and resources management or marketing communications
• You want to advance in a non-traditional sector or start your own business

What can I do with a degree in Integrative Studies?
A Master of Science in integrative studies can lead to a multitude of career paths as well as entry into doctoral programs. The degree will meet the needs of students seeking knowledge for advancement in a specific industry, looking to move to an emerging field that is multidisciplinary or starting their own business. Employment outlook and salary information for these careers vary widely. A carefully designed plan of study will provide students with a unique combination of skills and knowledge that will be advantageous in the job market.

Cultural Heritage and Resources Management
Cultural heritage includes intangible resources (ceremonies, oral history and customs) and tangible resources (architecture, artifacts and landscapes) inherited from past generations. The program includes coursework in ethical and legal issues with management of these resources, as well as practical skills, such as mapping and GIS, methods of survey and excavation, document and map analysis, artifact and art duration. Students take courses in two of the participating departments: Anthropology, geography and history.

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.

Cybersecurity
The cybersecurity specialization prepares students for entry into professional careers in cybersecurity, information security and security management. The specialization is designed to provide students with a solid foundation of information systems management knowledge coupled with specialized skills in cybersecurity. In addition to learning how to protect valuable information assets for a firm, students will also obtain a broad range of business skills in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. Students in the cybersecurity specialization must maintain a 2.5 GPA in all CMIS courses.

English majors find their coursework in the College of Arts and Sciences to be both practical and pleasurable, an appropriate mix of traditional and contemporary classes that span the breadth of English studies. At SIUE, faculty members in the Department of English Language and Literature pride themselves on being strong teachers, and our curriculum reflects changing approaches to 21st-century English studies.

Technological and economic trends often shift abruptly and dramatically, but students prepared in English language and literature find that the abilities they've developed never grow obsolete. English majors possess the ultimate in transferable skills—critical thinking, careful reasoning and effective writing—and they are equipped for change, with the capacity to acquire new knowledge and technical expertise. Our students are experienced in synthesizing complex material and are able to respond with clarity and precision.

English majors satisfy their love of reading while being challenged intellectually as they encounter some of the greatest works written in or translated into English. Our students choose from course offerings in a variety of areas, including linguistics, rhetoric and writing, and creative writing. In doing so, they learn how to write persuasively for a variety of audiences, expand their understanding of language, and develop their creativity and cultural awareness.

What can I do with a degree in English?
English majors are well prepared for a variety of employment opportunities. For those interested in careers as high school English teachers, we offer a fully accredited, four-year program of study leading to professional educator licensure in secondary English language arts (grades 9-12).

Faculty in the Department of Music believe students in undergraduate academic programs in music should receive a comprehensive musical background that includes cultural knowledge through the general education program, individual performance, ensemble performance, scholarly studies in music theory and history/literature, and where applicable, teacher education courses. The intent is to develop skilled and informed musicians, able scholars, and excellent and enthusiastic teachers.

The Bachelor of Music curriculum prepares students for professional careers and advanced graduate study in music performance and music education. The Bachelor of Arts, designed for students who wish to specialize in music within a liberal arts curriculum, may serve as the foundation for advanced studies in music.

Music Business
With the digital medium ever morphing and advancing, the music business paradigm is constantly changing. In the midst of this change, business fundamentals remain constant. SIUE provides an atmosphere where students can create and collaborate. The University’s state-of-the-art recording facility gives students a look into the recording-making business and process. Students are given a chance, in simulation, to budget, produce, market, and promote their products. The curriculum covers topics such as music copyright, publishing, management, record labels, arts administration, scoring, music products, and much more.

The Department of Music’s experience and associations help our students become confident in the opportunities that exist in their prospective fields. On- and off- campus internships are available for students to fulfill degree requirements and facilitate networking for further career training.

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.