Bachelor of Science, Major in Business Administration with Concentration in Analytics and Operations Management

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

The program combines theoretical study and scientific research methods with practical application through course work, field studies, community involvement, volunteerism and supervised independent research. Graduates of the Psychology department go on to careers in social services, mental health, education, research and business. Undergraduates also may choose to specialize in developmental disabilities.

The Psychology major augments a general liberal arts education and provides the basis for graduate training and careers in mental health, community development, education, research, and business and industry. The psychology curriculum acquaints students with the theoretical and empirical foundations of the major sub-fields of psychology (human development, basic mental and behavioral processes, the social context, and individual differences). The curriculum reflects the importance of scientific methods and provides students with hands-on experience in designing and conducting their own research; indeed, over the years, many of our students have been able to present their work at scientific conferences or have it published in academic journals. The curriculum also emphasizes the applications of psychological knowledge and skills in many areas of human functioning and gives students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills through a variety of placement opportunities on campus and in the community.

Business analytics is the process of transforming raw data into business intelligence and insight. As companies generate more data at ever faster rates, the need for business analytics professionals is growing. The Master of Science in Business Analytics program will help you:

• Develop the ability to collect, manage and analyze data from a variety of sources.
• Enhance your understanding of business processes and systems.
• Develop the ability to understand and communicate insights gleaned from descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics.

Private and public firms in fields as diverse as health care, finance, logistics and marketing need business analysts to help them identify and solve problems related to forecasting, customer relationship management and revenue optimization — to name only a few. Experts predict that in the next 10 years, hundreds of thousands of new jobs will be created in the domain of business analytics.

The Master of Science in Plastics Engineering program offers professional training at the master's level designed to provide the opportunity for the study of more advanced theory and practice in plastics materials, design, and manufacturing. There also are concentrations in elastomer technology, medical plastics, and sustainability. This graduate program also is designed to broaden the background of experienced professionals to help them keep up with the latest fundamental developments in the field.

The Bachelor of Music in Composition for New Media balances established coursework in musicianship, performance, and liberal arts with hands-on contemporary training in music and sound composition for all facets of commercial and artistic media. Students in this program compose, mix, design, and arrange music and sound assets for movies, web, television, animation, mobile and educational platforms, games, artistic installations, advertising, industrial media, interactive live performance, Virtual Reality systems and related outlets.

Like all music major programs at UMass Lowell, this program requires:

• An entrance audition on an instrument or voice,
• The submission of a portfolio of scores/recordings/creative work, which consists of three media excerpts around 90 seconds each of original compositions, with supplemental materials, which may include documentation, scores, etc. as needed.

Sociologists study many different subjects: race and ethnicity, social policy, gender and sexuality, family and kinship, the nature of industrial capitalism, the effect of technology on modern society and interpersonal relationships. These are just a few of the many areas sociologists are interested in understanding. What draws these different areas together is the emphasis on understanding social life, both in our own society and cross-culturally.

The sociology major offers students the opportunity to learn about our social world. Courses cover a wide range of fields. As part of their program, students are encouraged to work in the Lowell community. Many students complete corporate or agency internships in which they work within a field setting to gain needed job experience.

Department members value the search for meaningful social change. Students who are interested in working in human services, social work, personnel management, urban planning, elder services, communications, law, education, research, community activism or full-time academic work might consider a major in sociology.   

Policy and Social Problems Concentration
Students may choose a concentration in Policy and Social Problems, which provides a pathway for those who want to focus specifically on applying analytical tools of sociological thinking to social problems and their solutions.

From a competitive perspective, the shift from a manufacturing base to a technology-innovation and knowledge-based economy requires new skills among organizational employees. In conversations with executive staff in major companies in the region we have been told repeatedly that the region's engineers and scientists need to be entrepreneurial. As competition and costs rise, research and development efforts must clearly contribute to business growth and the company bottom line. Thus, companies are looking for technical professionals who can generate new ideas and new businesses.

The MS in Entrepreneurship consists of ten courses (30 credits), including 4 core courses (12 credits), 4 elective courses (12 credits, 6 of which must be in Engineering and/or Science) and a 2 course (6 credit) practicum. Each student will participate in the development and delivery of a team capstone project (through the 2 course practicum) which will be reviewed by an external professional panel. 

Program Outcomes
Using a combination of class work, case work and real-world project activity, students will:

• Understand and leverage the business opportunities accompanying technology innovation within established companies and through the launch of new ventures.
• Develop an understanding of technology innovation and entrepreneurship from both an academic and applied perspective.
• Learn how to appropriately value and finance technology innovations and new ventures.
• Develop the market research and sales skills necessary to position technology innovations to create competitive advantage.
• Develop the management skills required to identify, launch and execute innovative products, services and new ventures.
• Develop an applied understanding of the regulatory and property law issues accompanying the innovation and entrepreneurship processes.
• Develop the project management and interdisciplinary team skills required to manage in an open collaboration environment.

The UMass Lowell American Studies Program offers both a major and a minor. It includes faculty from departments such as English, Cultural Studies, History, Psychology, Sociology and Political Science.

Graduates of the program have pursued careers in government and social services; others seek certification to teach elementary or high school. Having developed skills in writing and analysis, American Studies majors have become successful executives, public relations representatives, product managers, speech writers, press secretaries, and journalists. American Studies has proven a strong foundation for students continuing their studies in law or in library and information sciences.

American Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field practiced around the nation and world. It examines the intersection between such subjects as globalization and economics, music and politics, history and gender, race and environment, technology and art. This willingness to cross the boundaries of traditional disciplines allows for creative critical thinking and research.

The Creative Writing concentration invites English majors to study literary artistry in small group workshop classes that emphasize style, technique, and other aspects of craft. Where most undergraduate programs staff creative writing classrooms with visiting lecturers or graduate students, UMass Lowell retains a permanent faculty of distinguished writers specializing in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Focused on reading widely and writing well, the concentration’s multi-genre, progressively rigorous course of study culminates in a capstone portfolio project.

Students can expect to take part in the English Department's vibrant and active literary and creative community. The campus literary magazine, The Offering, is entirely student-run and -edited, and many creative writing students work on the editorial team or publish work in the magazine. Students have access to any number of public literary events each semester, including student readings, and can meet and speak to award-winning, nationally recognized authors through our Writers on Campus series. Our program, like the other department concentrations, offers a degree in English, and provides a solid foundation for students hoping to pursue a writing life beyond the classroom. Graduates of our program have published work in prominent literary magazines, been accepted in top-ranked MFA programs, released books with major publishers, and won prestigious national awards.

In recent years, rapid advancement in information technology, radical shifts in global culture, and evolving contemporary popular opinion have drastically redefined the career landscape for the performing musician.

In response to these global circumstances, UMass Lowell seeks to train music performers of the modern era who have developed a sense of personal entrepreneurship that can be applied within both traditional and newly emerging performance contexts. For students who seek careers as a modern day performing musician, UMass Lowell offers a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance in the instrumental or vocal area of their choice.

The Theatre Arts Concentration offers a solid foundation in the dramatic arts within a broad-based liberal arts degree. The concentration emphasizes creative, analytical, and communication skills as well as collaboration and teamwork. Students work in genres ranging from classical to contemporary, including opportunities to collaborate on devised-theatre projects. Close attention from our professional theatre faculty and guest artists allows students to develop the skills and confidence to pursue graduate study or professional work in theatre, education, the entertainment industry, and many other fields.

Required and elective courses provide well-rounded study in the history and literature of theatre and a rich grounding in theatrical practice—acting, design, directing, stage management, production, and dramaturgy. Students can concentrate their upper-level coursework within a particular area of their choice—for example, performance, dramaturgy, or design/tech. Our students also have a wide range of exciting internship opportunities through our partnership with the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, and at theatres in Boston and the region.