Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (STEM)

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

The environmental sciences undergraduate program, in the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE, is interdisciplinary, and is designed to cultivate students' perspectives of environmental issues, and to provide them with refined knowledge of environmental issues on a local, regional and global scale. The curriculum within the Department of Environmental Sciences will increase students’ technical competence in addressing these environmental issues, their origins, ramifications and resolutions. The program will promote experiential learning and professional education to prepare students for career opportunities in a wide variety of workplaces.

What can I do with a degree in Environmental Sciences?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 8% through 2028, which is faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with specializations in environmental health, environmental toxicology and environmental management will have career opportunities in their areas of interest. For example, a licensed environmental health practitioner can be employed for inspection, sampling and reporting for sanitary, food safety, sewage and waste disposal, drinking water, pest control, or industrial hygiene.

While pharmacists work to manage patient care with emphasis on therapies using existing drugs, pharmaceutical scientists are engaged in the discovery and development of new drugs. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences provides a multidisciplinary approach to not only determine the detailed biological mechanism of disease, but develop the molecular interventions that can provide the treatment or cure. Students in SIUE's School of Pharmacy are taught in state-of-the-art laboratories by an internationally recognized faculty with many years of both academic and pharmaceutical industry experience.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is offered through the Department of Applied Health within the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. This interdisciplinary program addresses the health of worldwide populations, covering the five core areas of public health:

• Biostatistics
• Environmental health sciences
• Epidemiology
• Health policy and management
• Social and behavioral sciences

This program emphasizes public health leadership and the administrative skills associated with leadership careers in public health. Coursework and practical experiences are combined to prepare students for leadership roles in a variety of communities, for profit and nonprofit health agencies, universities and other research settings to prevent diseases and promote strategies to improve health. Elective courses are selected in coordination with other departments, and are focused on general leadership and administrative knowledge and skills.

What can I do with a master's degree in Public Health?
The MPH is widely regarded as the entry-level degree for leadership positions in a variety of settings, including local, state, national and international health agencies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for public health professionals are rising faster than the average for all occupations nationally.

Students earning an MPH will graduate with in-depth knowledge, as well as skills to manage, plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate public health programs, and develop and analyze policies. Graduates typically pursue careers in community and public health practice, health policy, management, research, health education, health promotion, consulting or private practice, and education.

At SIUE, we take our students out into the world and bring the world to our students. Our program curriculum includes subject areas focusing on the languages, literatures, cultures and histories of diverse regions and countries. Our K-12 teacher certification program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CAEP/ACTFL).

Language learners are brought together in a variety of settings including classroom, language lab, study abroad destinations, language conversation hours and student organizations. While offering opportunities to study many different languages from around the world, we provide a balance between delivering courses to students majoring in foreign languages and literature, and contributing to general education course requirements. Study abroad opportunities are offered in countries all around the world.

In addition to our concentration areas in French, German and Spanish, language courses are offered in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Latin and Yoruba. Interdisciplinary minors are available in African studies, Asian studies, classical studies, European studies and Latin American studies.

What can I do with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature?
Increasing diversity in the United States requires more professionals have diverse language skills and cultural awareness. Students graduating with knowledge of one or more foreign languages will have a competitive edge in today’s high level of globalization in the world economy. Some recent graduates from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature hold positions with companies such as Alloy Holdings, Boeing, Express Scripts, Deloitte Tohmatsu, Anheuser-Busch, the AIDS Foundation and Wells Fargo.

The graduate curricula provide advanced preparation for professional work as a teacher and/or performer. Students must successfully complete placement examinations in music theory and music history/literature (or the review courses MUS 500a, b) and a performance audition (if required for the student’s specialization). Certificate degrees are designed to appeal to teachers seeking additional professional training and career opportunities. Many students choose to pursue a certificate alongside an MM, with certain courses counting toward both degrees.

Students who are curious about the world around them, interested in the environment, sustainability, culture and technology should consider majoring in geography at SIUE. Geography is more than learning to read maps and memorize state capitals. The Department of Geography and Geographic Information Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of courses in human, physical, and regional geography, as well as geospatial techniques. Our faculty conduct research on a wide variety of topics at the local, regional and global scale. Majoring in geography prepares students for careers in a wide range of fields.

What can I do with a degree in Geography?
A variety of career opportunities await graduates with a degree in geography from SIUE. We offer the only geography program in the St. Louis metropolitan area and as such, our graduates are in demand for positions in the region’s growing geospatial workforce. Employers include federal and state government agencies; national security contractors; tech companies; engineering firms; utility companies; local and regional governments; agricultural companies; and environmental nonprofit organizations. Our geography graduates work as geospatial analysts, cartographers, imagery analysts, urban planners, retail location analysts, climate scientists, resource managers, sustainability consultants, and park rangers.

The Master of Science in computer science program in the School of Engineering includes applied and theoretical aspects of advanced computing topics. Courses within the Department of Computer Science include advanced operating systems, computer architecture, computer networks, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, database systems and information assurance. Students who choose to complete a thesis directly engage with faculty to develop a deep understanding of the research topic.

What can I do with a degree in Computer Science?
Graduates with a degree in computer science are prepared for positions such as software developer, consultant, systems programmer, project leader, and application software specialist. Graduates also pursue careers as research scientists, technology infrastructure specialists or technology consultants. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts continued high demand and high salaries well into the next decade for computer scientists and software engineers. Students who choose to complete the thesis program during their course of study will be well-prepared to enter a PhD program.

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.

Psychology is all about understanding people, which is not only interesting, but also crucial to workplace success. Psychology is both a scientific discipline which seeks to understand and explain behavior, and an applied profession which seeks to alleviate psychological problems and enhance human potential. In the Department of Psychology at SIUE, undergraduate courses in psychology acquaint students with the methods used and the knowledge gained by psychologists in their continuing efforts to understand mental processes and behavior. Students majoring in psychology study basic psychological processes, such as learning, cognition and motivation; the development of behavior, personality, and coping skills from conception through old age; human interaction in social settings; and the effects of physical and psychological stress upon coping skills and mental health. The psychology program is housed in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.

What can I do with a degree in Psychology?
Students obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology from SIUE will be well-prepared to pursue a variety of both public and private sector careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth among popular career choices for those majoring in psychology is expected to be strong through 2028. Examples include mental health counselor (22%), social and human services assistant (13%), market research analyst (20%) and human resources specialist (5%).

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.

GIS Development and Database Administration
In order to function effectively, every organization needs to make sure its database is always secure, available and performing at maximum capacity. A database administrator is a central figure in securing, maintaining and fine-tuning databases. A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database stores geospatial information consisting of a combination of maps, 3D images, and space or time coordinates, among others. A database administrator who is trained to handle the complexities of large volumes of GIS data will be a sought after asset to any organization.