Master of Science in Environmental Sciences (STEM)

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

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 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.

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.

The Department of Applied Communication Studies, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, offers a program leading to the master of arts in applied communication studies, with specializations available in corporate and organizational communication, health communication, interpersonal communication, or public relations.

The graduate program in applied communication studies provides students with a broad curriculum, designed to deepen their understanding of communication theory and their ability to analyze, generate and apply communication research, as well as to enhance their knowledge and skills necessary for their development as leaders across an array of communication professions.

What can I do with a degree in Applied Communication Studies?
Graduates with a master's degree in applied communication studies are qualified for careers in business, industry, nonprofit and governmental settings, as well as in higher education (at the community college level). Mastery of communication theory, research methods and application strategies is particularly relevant for students seeking careers in fields such as management, training and development, sales, advertising, public relations, community relations, intra- and inter-organizational communication, consulting, fundraising, event organizing, community health relations, communication training in health organizations, and human resources.

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.

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 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.

Environmental Toxicology
The environmental toxicology specialization provides students with the knowledge to work as environmental toxicology specialists, and prepares students for careers in teaching, research or other related professional fields. Environmental toxicology students study toxic pollutants and their effects on the physical and biological environment, such as identifying and investigating potential sources of pollutants in the environment and minimizing their toxic effects on humans and other organisms. Toxic pollutants in the environment include different organic and inorganic chemical compounds, such as pesticides, industrial waste and heavy metals. Occupations that use environmental toxicology include:

• Risk assessment
• Pharmaceutical development
• Food additive toxicity testing
• Managing regulatory compliance
• Residue or forensic analysis
• Pest control
• Monitoring and field sampling
• Industrial hygiene
• environmental health and safety

Examples of careers for graduates with a specialization in environmental toxicology include environmental toxicologist, staff toxicologist, environmental health, and safety specialist.

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.

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.

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.