Master of Science in Integrative Studies - Organizational Design Thinking

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

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.

Engineering Management
The integrative studies degree with a focus in engineering management is intended for professionals with engineering, engineering technology or science backgrounds who are seeking advanced study for career enhancement. Through a combination of coursework from the Schools of Business and Engineering, you will gain knowledge and develop skills for managing technical people and projects in industry, business, government and other technology-based environments. With rapid changes in the global technology markets, it is imperative for managers to be equipped with management skills that will allow them to overcome organizational challenges and effectively handle personnel, resources and customers.

Economics is a social science that examines the decision-making process regarding the use of scarce resources such as land, raw materials, labor, machinery, physical structures, etc. At SIUE, students choosing to major in economics will pursue a core program of courses designed to provide a thorough grounding in economic theory. This core program of study is followed by more specialized study in such areas as money and banking, labor and industrial relations, international economics, public finance, industrial organization, and antitrust policy. Our economics students also receive strong training in data analysis, and most upper-level courses involve a project in which students solidify their economics knowledge and research skills. Students develop their programs with the counsel of a faculty advisor.

Students pursuing economics at SIUE will complete a course of study designed to lay a foundation in both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Supply and demand, pricing, and the tools utilized to predict the effects of government interventions and regulations on the markets are only a few of the questions that can be answered through the study of microeconomics. The examination of the national economy, including economic growth, unemployment, and factors that affect inflation, fall under the area of macroeconomics. Also included in the study of macroeconomics are domestic factors, such as monetary and fiscal policies, as well as international factors, such as trade and exchange rates.

What can I do with a degree in Economics?
Many career opportunities are available to students graduating with a degree in economics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that opportunities for well-prepared economists will grow 14% through 2022. Career opportunities will be best for students with strong analytical skills, related work experience, and those who choose to further their education and attend graduate school or pursue a PhD. Although most students will go on to pursue graduate and doctoral education, some entry-level opportunities, primarily in the federal government, are available for those with a bachelor’s degree.

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 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.

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 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.

Finance
The finance specialization prepares students for decision-making positions in the areas of corporate finance, investments, and management of financial institutions. Courses in finance are designed to help students understand the complex world of global finance and business. The specialization emphasizes financial knowledge and skills that are necessary to succeed in today’s diverse and highly technical business world.

The department and outdoor venues on our beautiful campus, situated on 2,660 acres, provide excellent opportunities for innovative biological study. The College of Arts and Sciences' outdoor classroom consists of a 75-acre lake, a 35-acre botanical garden and 380 acres of forest and restored grasslands set aside as a nature preserve. The Department of Biological Sciences is located in Science Building West, a modern, science education facility with fully equipped teaching and research labs. The department is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology in microscopy, physiology, histology, cell biology, microbiology, genetics and toxicology research, and includes extensive botanical and zoological teaching collections. Opportunities for plant and animal research are available in our greenhouse and vivarium facilities.

What can I do with a degree in Biological Sciences?
Numerous career and advanced training opportunities are available to persons holding a master’s degree in biology. These include doctoral training in biology and in the health sciences; secondary and junior college teaching; environmental assessment; and employment in educational, industrial, and governmental laboratories and agencies.

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.

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 Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a terminal studio degree designed to further the individual development of degree candidates and to provide them with professional competency in the studio arts. Areas of concentration in the Department of Art and Design include:

• Ceramics
• Drawing
• Graphic Design
• Metalsmithing
• Painting
• Photography and Digital Imaging
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Textiles

At SIUE, all areas of study are taught by College of Arts and Sciences faculty who are practicing art professionals who, maintaining vigorous national exhibition schedules, make SIUE one of the most comprehensive studio art programs in the region.

What can I do with a degree in Art and Design?
A graduate degree in art studio is intended to prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including work in museums, art galleries, cultural institutions and academia.