Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

at University of Massachusetts Lowell USA

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.

Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, students develop the strong managerial, communication, and analytical skills that public and not-for-profit organizations are seeking. At UMass Lowell, a highly ranked research university, close partnerships with such organizations provide learning experiences that emphasize an ethic of public service, while faculty from several disciplines bring their expertise, and various perspectives, to the program.

Students may attend full- or part-time, and the program offers both on-campus and online courses.

UMass Lowell’s MPA program can help students transition to nonprofit management ranks from the for-profit sector, advance within a nonprofit or public agency or Non-Governmental Organization, or start a new job with the credentials - and depth of knowledge - necessary to advance.

Marketing is one of the twenty fastest growing career areas. Why? The intense competition of the global marketplace means that marketers must translate the voice of the customer in a way that enables companies to accurately target the needs of very diverse groups of customers, and translate these needs into valuable goods and services.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing Concentration will give you:

• Exposure to all aspects of the field, including: identifying customer needs, and developing products, services and programs that will satisfy them
• The tools and techniques that can make the difference between success and failure for a business, public agency or nonprofit organization

Coursework is supplemented with an internship program, independent study projects and the activities of the Marketing Society.

A degree in marketing equips graduates for a range of professions, from marketing research to public relations to product management.

The Master of Science program in Security Studies prepares students for careers in the rapid expanding field of cyber security, as well as weapons of mass destruction (CBRNE) and how to address threats to our critical infrastructure.

Students pursuing this area of concentration will develop competency and knowledge to manage the increasingly complex security challenges at regional and international airports, commuter and commercial railways, maritime ports, and roadways of the Commonwealth and the broader region. Emphasis is placed on integrating a “big picture” policy perspective with an understanding of sensor technologies, transportation security, systems engineering, human behavior, and intelligence analysis.

The Bachelor of Science in Meteorology & Atmospheric Science is for students who wish to explore weather and the environment and fulfills the education requirements for federally employed meteorologists. The program guidelines follow those of the American Meteorological Society.

The introductory courses for majors provide the freshmen experience and create common bonds among students in Political Science. Core offerings on American Politics and Policy have been augmented by others on comparative policies of countries ranging from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia to Southern Africa. The Department also offers specialized courses related to gender and citizenship, political economy, race and ethnicity, and public policy of interest to students in a variety of majors across the University.

In addition to traditional courses in political thought, recent course offerings have included work in state theory, feminist political theory, current theoretical conflicts in constitutional interpretation, and the politics of arts and culture.

The curriculum requires a series of courses in basic science and mathematics. These provide a firm understanding of fundamentals, help students develop analytical techniques, and serve as the basis for specialized engineering courses. The curriculum consists of courses that serve as an introduction to engineering, link the basic sciences and engineering, and introduce engineering analysis, synthesis and design. Woven throughout the curriculum are courses in the arts and humanities and the social sciences, which broaden perspectives, maintain and improve communication skills, and expose the engineering students to concepts of values and ethics.

The educational objectives of the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are that our alumni will:

• Actively engage in and make contributions to post-graduate opportunities, whether they are in biomedical engineering practice or other advanced professional training
• Demonstrate depth, breadth, and creativity in biomedical engineering, its underlying sciences, and related technologies
• Utilize their multidisciplinary background to foster communication across professional and disciplinary boundaries
• Demonstrate professional and social responsibilities on health-related issues and the ability to deal knowledgeably and ethically with the impact of technology in our society.

Biomedical Engineering graduates shall meet the student outcome requirements of ABET Criterion 3 as follows:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Applied Biomedical Sciences (ABS) degree program provides a high quality education in biomedical and laboratory sciences, preparing its graduates for employment in a broad range of laboratory and research work environments, including industry, government, medical diagnostics, forensics, and more. Graduates of the program are also very well prepared for graduate and professional degree programs, including medicine and related fields.

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Option - Prepares students for employment in hospital and free-standing clinical/diagnostic and forensic laboratories, as well as biotechnology companies. Students can apply to this option after at least one successful semester in the CS Option.

The first year of undergraduate study is devoted to developing writing skills and subjects in mathematics and science that serve as a foundation for upper level professional studies.

During the second year of study, students learn additional engineering mathematics, basic engineering mechanics and biology for engineers. Course work that addresses environmental engineering with an associated laboratory, and environmental engineering chemistry are introduced in the second-half of the sophomore year.

Junior year courses address topics such as: energy and sustainability, groundwater hydrogeology and remediation, and biological processes in environmental engineering.

The senior year focuses on: chemical fate and transport in the environment, air quality and solid waste engineering. Advanced elective courses are available during the senior year. In the final semester students participate in an in-depth comprehensive capstone design project for the solution of an environmental problem.

The Environmental Geoscience Option is designed to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research and act as consultants in environmental sciences and geosciences. The students in the program will take a variety of courses distributed across three areas – Policy/Economics, Environmental Engineering, and Environmental Geosciences. Course work will be concentrated in the Environmental Geosciences, with the option to take additional courses in the other areas based on student interest.