Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology

at California State University - San Bernardino USA

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, provides the foundation for students interested in becoming multiple-subject credentialed K-8 educators. This degree offers three concentrations: General, Integrated, and Spanish Studies. The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies Integrated Concentration provides students the opportunity to complete a Bachelor's degree and a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) accredited multiple-subject teaching credential as a part of a seamless, singular degree option. The General and Spanish Studies Concentrations are considered pre-credential degrees and allow students the flexibility to earn a stand-alone Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies that is not directly coupled with a CTC multiple-subject credential while allowing students the choice of a concentrated area of study. With these pre-credential concentrations, students earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and can apply for a CTC multiple-subject credential program at a later date if desired.

Occasionally, students with specialized educational or professional objectives may find that the existing degree programs offered at the university do not satisfy personal needs or career plans and that a carefully structured, interdisciplinary program of study is more appropriate.

The B.A. with Special Major is an interdisciplinary program intended for students with unusual interests and abilities who have the initiative and desire to design their own major with the aid of faculty and professional advisors. The purpose of these individually-designed special majors is to provide a carefully controlled opportunity for exceptional students to design, with faculty approval, a flexible interdisciplinary course of study that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Admission normally is limited to students who can design (with the aid of a faculty committee) individualized programs organized around a coherent topic or cross-disciplinary subject that involves two or more departments. Occasionally, short-term interests in interdisciplinary programs may be served by more structure and degree plans organized by faculty for groups of students.

The B.A. with Special Major is not intended to bypass normal graduation requirements or to avoid certain requirements of a regular major offered at CSUSB or at other nearby institutions. The self-designed major should not substantially duplicate any existing degree offered at CSUSB. Likewise, a Special Major cannot be developed in areas such as architecture, agriculture, or engineering where the campus lacks the necessary faculty expertise to guide the student and supervise the culminating project. Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 including work taken at all institutions and must maintain a 3.0 average in the courses required for the self-designed major.

Although the Special Major is a unique program that suits individual goals, has potential to combine fields and functions, and can add distinction to the degree, such an interdisciplinary program may pose professional obstacles and be difficult to explain to graduate schools and employers. Career goals and prerequisites for higher degrees should be reviewed before proceeding with this major. In particular, students who will be seeking a teaching credential should consult with faculty in the College of Education to see how a Special Major might impact subject matter requirements for teachers.

Interested students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies to begin the application and screening process. Prospective majors should be prepared to present a one-page description and justification of the program which outlines the concepts, goals and objectives to be fulfilled by the Special Major. If, after discussing the tentative interdisciplinary interests of the student, the Office of Undergraduate Studies believes the student should be encouraged to prepare a formal application and proposal for a Special Major, a packet of information and forms for justifying and submitting the proposed interdisciplinary curriculum will be provided to the student. If the student has not yet found faculty members who are interested in helping the student develop the curriculum and guide their study, the Office of Undergraduate Studies will suggest possible faculty committee members.

The Department of English at CSUSB is a vibrant community of teachers, scholars, and writers committed to the interdisciplinary exploration and development of English Studies. Our B.A. in English integrates four distinct approaches that are rarely united in English programs: literary studies, creative writing, linguistics, and rhetoric/writing studies. Students in our program gain an in-depth understanding of the imaginative, discursive, and practical aspects of language, as they read, interpret, synthesize, and write texts of various kinds. With this background, our graduates are prepared for careers in writing, business, public relations, advertising, technology, public health, teaching, and many other fields. They can also pursue graduate studies in a wide variety of disciplines, including law and medicine. Additionally, our graduates will find themselves well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of civic and community engagement.

The English major consists of a common, multidisciplinary core, and a choice of four concentrations that allow students to focus their coursework in literature, linguistics, creative writing, or rhetoric/writing studies. As a fifth option, the Department offers an individualized concentration where students, under the direction of a faculty advisor and with the approval of a faculty committee, can create their own course of study based on their personal and professional interests.  Our English Teacher Preparation Program also provides prospective secondary school English teachers a subject matter CSET waiver before they enter a credential program.

The Master of Arts in Education program at CSUSB prepares students expand their teaching practice or to take their place in any number of educational careers. The program prepares teachers to become leaders in transformative education, a process of change by which schooling practices effectively promote learning in a variety of educational settings. Inquiry and reflective practice are the foundations of the transformative process, a process that allows teachers to evaluate current school practices and imagine teaching and learning in new ways. It is our goal to educate teachers who in turn can assist their students and colleagues to develop to their full potential and become reflective, contributing members of local, regional and global communities. The program values lifelong independent and collaborative learning that fosters leadership for change.

The MSIST program prepares students for leadership positions through its cybersecurity or business intelligence and information systems technology tracks. Students graduate with the ability to identify and solve business problems, manage organizational risk, secure and manage computer network systems, ensure business continuity, design and implement data warehouses, and use business intelligence tools to collect, integrate, analyze and use analytics tools to mine big data for the purpose of supporting managerial decision making at all control levels—frontline, managerial and strategic.

The Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Studies (BCTS) is designed to provide candidates with significant occupational and teaching experience the opportunity to have that experience count as partial credit toward a baccalaureate degree.

A Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts represents a broad, interdisciplinary approach to earning a higher education degree. The Liberal Arts B.A. is designed for students, who might not necessarily desire a career in education, to obtain a multidisciplinary degree that is transferable to many of the needs of the twenty-first century.

Students are encouraged to check that they have met the prerequisite requirements for each course in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration in which they are planning to enroll. Prerequisite requirements listed for each course are strictly enforced.

Enrollment in 3000-, 4000- and 5000-level courses in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration is restricted to students who have completed at least 60 semester units (i.e., have achieved junior standing). Course prerequisites are strictly enforced.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy

The sociology major offers students a rigorous program of study to examine social phenomenon, develop theoretical and methodological proficiencies, and apply a critical understanding of complex social issues and processes. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid sociological foundation to analyze social structures and contribute to transforming and diversifying our social world.

We offer a Social Services and Community Research concentration to further develop students' understanding of community dynamics and strengths, and promote civic engagement through the application of analytical skills to collaborate with community organizations on projects to benefit and empower the community. The Sociology program also prepares students to pursue graduate degrees in sociology, social work, counseling, and other social sciences fields. Additionally, many of our Sociology graduates pursue careers in helping professions, education, criminal justice, law, health care, etc.