Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with Concentration in Comparative Cultures

at California State University, Dominguez Hills - Carson Campus USA

Mathematics is about number operations and algebra, motion and change (calculus and differential equations), logical analysis, scienti?c visualization, structure and geometry, the prediction of random events (probability), the extraction of useful information from large sets of data (statistics), the discovery of the best ways to do things (optimization). It is abstract and theoretical, and intensely down-to-earth and practical, all at the same time.

The mathematics major and minor prepare students for exciting and rewarding work in industry, for careers in teaching, and for advanced post-baccalaureate study. Our calculus, differential equations, analysis, and probability and statistics courses enable science students to analyze data and predict outcomes in static and dynamic situations.

The mission of the CSUDH MS in Occupational Therapy Program is to prepare entry-level clinical practitioners with knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to practice in traditional as well as emerging occupational therapy roles with an excellent foundation for later specialization and lifelong learning.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program has been planned with enthusiasm to help prepare students for a professional career focused on helping people achieve skills and utilize resources to live independent and meaningful lives. The program is structured towards producing client-centered therapists with enhanced critical thinking abilities. It aims to produce professionals, who can research, develop, implement, and evaluate procedures utilizing a high degree of independent judgment and to consult where appropriate with other members of the health care team.

Graduate studies in Occupational Therapy prepare students for a professional career focused on helping people achieve skills and utilize resources to live independent and meaningful lives.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree is a full-time Cohort Program. Students within a specific cohort matriculate together and are expected to take the same courses every semester as well complete the requirements of the program at the same time. MSOT students are assigned to specific sections and are given their class schedule by the department. One cohort of 66-70 students is admitted per year, which starts every spring semester.

A total of 7 consecutive semesters (including summer):

• 5 semesters of didactic coursework
• 2 semesters of clinical rotations (Fieldwork II):
  • 3 months each with full-time internship under the supervision of an OTR
  • Students may be required to travel outside the state for completion of FW II
• A comprehensive exam is taken to obtain the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Students enrolled in the MSOT degree program must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. Graduates of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree program will be eligible to sit for the NBCOT examination to become a practicing occupational therapist. Once a successful examination score has been achieved the graduate will be qualified to apply to practice in the state of residence.

Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) is a broad-based, liberal arts and sciences major that focuses on developing exemplary skills in written and oral communication, textual analysis, critical thinking, research methods, and the ability to bring a wide range of resources to bear in approaching complex problems. Because it combines knowledge systems across the meta-disciplines of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences, an IDS major is great preparation for both the workplace and for entry into graduate or professional schools. IDS is part of a national network of Programs for Accelerated College Education (PACE) that are designed for working, adult students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in a reasonable period of time while they maintain a full-time job. While all admitted students are welcome, IDS/PACE students are primarily transfers who enter CSUDH with 60 units and junior-class standing.

Psychology is about people's behavior and about people's experience. Psychologists teach and do research or applied work on subjects relating to the social and behavioral sciences. In order to discover more about behavior, psychologists study both humans and animals. Psychology covers a wide range of topics, from the way our social environment influences us to the inner workings of our bodies. This diversity of topics is reflected in the psychology curriculum.

The Health Psychology Option will provide students with a solid academic background in health psychology. This specialized track is designed to meet the professional needs of college graduates who plan careers in community health and other health care settings such as rehabilitation centers, primary care centers and hospices. In addition, students enrolled in the Health Psychology Option will learn how to promote wellness in individuals and within organizations, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programs. The goal of concentrated study in health psychology is to provide the student with an understanding of the relationships among biological, psychological, and social factors as they interact to influence mental and physical health. This goal is accomplished through an integrated program of coursework and research training. Students can earn up to 3 units of credit per semester for directed research (PSY 598) and thesis research (PSY 599). Our graduate students have been very successful securing funding for their graduate studies through several opportunities at California State University, Dominguez: Graduate Studies and Research travel fellowships, Graduate Equity Fellowship, PEGS RA/TA fellowships, and PEGS travel fellowships. In the Psychology M.A. (Health Psychology track) the student is required to complete 36 units of credit. In addition, the student must successfully complete a thesis.

The Master of Arts in Humanities offers broad interdisciplinary exposure to all of the areas of the humanities – history, literature, philosophy, music and art – and the establishment of an integrative perspective among them, with emphasis on their interrelating effects and influences. Students may concentrate in one of the five humanities disciplines or take an interdisciplinary approach to themes that can be traced across the humanities. The degree is offered entirely on an external degree basis. Students can complete all course work and graduate from the program without coming to campus. This kind of master's program is best for students who are unable to attend classes on campus regularly or those who can study independently and prefer an individualized approach to advanced education. Courses are offered in fall, spring and summer trimesters of 14 weeks each.

The Biology Program at CSU Dominguez Hills is designed to provide students with intensive, progressive and balanced learning experiences in cell and molecular biology, organismal biology, population and community biology, and environmental science.

The Department of Art and Design programs at California State University, Dominguez Hills are characterized by a unique and close correlation among the Art History, Studio Art, and Design Options, and by a strong coordination among the different studio areas. These Options introduce students to potential careers in the art world as well as providing personal fulfillment through creative and scholarly endeavors. Although a minor is not required, those who foresee a career in art are encouraged to complete a minor in the Department of Art and Design.

The Art History option offers a diverse range of courses with emphasis on the cultures of the Americas, Asia, and Africa, as well as the achievements of contemporary and women artists. The Studio Art Option offers students a solid background in both traditional and contemporary media in closely supervised small classes. The Design Option introduces students to careers in the graphic design field. In addition to the major and minor options, the Department of Art and Design offers courses for both General Education and Liberal Studies.

The Earth Science major is one of two programs housed in the Department of Earth Science and Geography. The Earth Science degree is a cross-disciplinary program that trains students for careers involving earth system science, which broadly includes the physical science behind the interactions of the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The Earth Science program also examines the contribution of those systems to natural landscapes and geological hazards, during the modern era and through geological time. Importantly, it also considers the relationship of human populations to these geosystems.

If you are curious about the answers to the following questions, Earth Science might be the right major for you:

• How and when did the Earth form? How has Earth evolved? What is the history of life on Earth? When did the mass extinctions occur, and what caused them?
• What is plate tectonics, and how do tectonic plates interact? How do mountains form? How, where and why do volcanoes form? What causes earthquakes? Can we predict them? Why or why not? How do tsunamis form?
• What are the different drainage patterns for river systems? How do flowing water and ice sculpt the landscape? How does the generation of hydroelectricity change the characteristics of flowing rivers?
• What is groundwater, why is it important to humans, and what are the implications of groundwater contamination?
• What has Earth’s climate been like in the past? How might climate change in the future? What is the greenhouse effect and ocean acidification? What is the carbon cycle, and why is it important?
• What are the differences between non-renewable, renewable and perpetual natural resources? What is the nature of supply vs. demand in regard to water, petroleum, coal, minerals, and other natural resources? What are the pros and cons of various energy sources including nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and carbon-based fuels?

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed to provide quality professional education for persons entering or working in public service professions. The MPA program prepares students for careers as professional managers of public sector or nonprofit organizations, as well as for research, consulting, and teaching careers. The MPA curriculum provides a theoretical foundation for the practice of public management.
After meeting prerequisite requirements, students can finish all other program requirements in two and a half academic years if they complete two courses per semester and two summer courses (depending upon summer scheduled courses). The MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the professional association responsible for evaluating the quality of MPA degree programs. NASPAA is located at 1029 Vermont Ave., N.W., Ste. 1100, Washington, DC 20005-3517.

MPA Health Care Policy and Administration Concentration
This program is designed to provide a quality graduate professional education for individuals entering or currently employed in health services agencies. It prepares graduates for careers in health services administration, planning, policy, evaluation, consulting, and related careers.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program, is designed to accomplish two objectives. The first of these is to prepare students for lifelong professional careers in commerce, finance and industry, as well as for management careers in the public and not-for-profit sectors. A second objective is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to obtain professional, entry level positions in one functional area of the business enterprise, or in some particular field of business.