Bachelor of Science in Biology

at Concordia University, St. Paul USA

Child Learning and Development majors focus on the fundamental processes of child and adolescent development within the contexts of families, schools, peer groups and larger cultural contexts. The major prepares students for a wide range of careers in education, psychology, social work, family medicine, public health, family law and public policy. This major does not lead to a Minnesota teaching license.

This program is designed to prepare students for creative professions like graphic design and other communications-related fields that rely on visual imagery. Students will gain an understanding of design theories and practices related to production in all areas of graphic design for traditional and emerging digital media. Upon completion of the program, students will have advanced craft, theory, process, and technical skills, and the ability to produce thoughtful and informed work in such areas as institutional branding and identity, new media, web development and interactivity, package design, publication design, advertising, illustration, signage and exhibition design, sustainability, spirituality, or social change.

Students graduating with a Sociology major develop lifelong skills in scientific thinking and understanding human thought, behavior, and interaction. The developed educational outcomes in combination with the internship experience prepares student to enter a career of choice or graduate school.

The Church Music major develops students into well-rounded church musicians, preparing them for careers as music professionals in a Christian worship setting.  It enjoys all of the opportunities in Concordia's Music program, but also provides these additional features:

• There are organ, choral, piano, guitar, instrumental, composition, and self-designed tracks, thus equipping students to lead both traditional liturgies and contemporary worship formats.
• Each track shares the core musicianship (music theory/analysis/writing/ear-training/keyboard harmony) and music history courses. Private lessons and ensembles applicable to each track are also part of the core.
• Each track has specialized courses, culminating in a senior project/recital in the track.
• The program culminates in recital performance in the student's chosen track(s) and an internship in a metro area church.
• Students may add Director of Parish Music Certification by completing the Lutheran Theology minor, compiling a portfolio, and passing entrance and exit interviews with the Department of Theology and Ministry. This leads to rostered church worker status as a Commissioned Minister in The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

With several tracks available, the Church Music Major at Concordia allows students to pursue music ministry in the area that best suits their interests and talents.

In the business program, students will learn to think about the overall picture of a business’s operations and how it interacts with larger market forces. A business management major at Concordia St. Paul will develop business skills in leadership, team-building, and project management. They will explore core business principles in marketing, finance, management, law, economics, and accounting with an emphasis on international perspectives and ethics.

Students studying business management develop crucial business skills in project management, team-building, HR management, and negotiations to enter the broad field of management. Using core business principles in marketing, finance, management, economics and entrepreneurship, develop a personal management style, learn motivation tactics, and utilize strategic planning skills with an emphasis on ethics. Investigate various dimensions of business decisions by delving into case studies and working as a consultant with area businesses to develop strategies for competitive advantage and growth.

This program is designed to prepare students with practical marketing skills and knowledge that will be directly applicable to the business world upon graduation. Students learn marketing theory and apply concepts in activities such as electronic commerce, direct marketing, advertising, sales presentations, case analysis and marketing plans. These activities expose students to the practical, challenging and interesting projects and situations they will encounter in their careers. Students develop leadership skills and explore ethics and environmental sustainability. In addition, students earning a BS gain a strong foundation in consumer behavior, social media, and global marketing.

The BA Public Health degree involves learning the science of protecting the safety and improving the health of communities through education, policy-making, and research for disease management and prevention. Being a public health professional enables you to work around the world, address health problems of communities as a whole, and influence policies that affect the health of societies.

Students graduating with a Family Science major develop lifelong skills in scientific thinking and understanding human thought, behavior, and family interaction. The educational outcomes in combination with the internship experience prepare students to enter a career of choice or graduate school.

The Sport Psychology major focuses on current psychology and kinesiology applications as foundational concepts in sport psychology. Students learn sport and psychological theory and have numerous opportunities to bridge theory into practical applications. This degree prepares students for careers in injury rehabilitation, fitness/wellness centers, coaching, and health and wellness education. The program also serves as preparation for post-baccalaureate study in areas such as sport psychology and sport management.

Depending on their career goals, math majors can choose to earn a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics at Concordia University, St. Paul. In earning either degree, students will develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary for today’s technological world.  The BS degree is more credits and offers students more opportunities to explore math applications within the math major, while the BA degree is fewer credits and is designed to be paired with a minor or a second major such as secondary education, computer science, business, science, or a variety of other possibilities.  All of the courses in the math major are offered face-to-­face in small classes (usually less than 20 students) and the emphasis is on actively solving problems in class. Throughout the curriculum, students will learn to use technology, including computer algebra systems, geometry modeling software, spreadsheets, 3D printers, and computer programming to model and solve problems. In some courses students investigate topics and learn to present their ideas professionally.  Some of these topics lead to independent research projects that students can present at undergraduate research conferences and help the students earn honors in the major. There is also an active Tri-Pi math club that offers social events to build comradery amongst the math students. Our math majors have followed a wide variety of career paths and are currently working as data analysts, risk analysts, inventory analysts, high school teachers, college professors, statisticians, health professionals, lawyers, and researchers.  Instead of asking “What can I do with a math major?”, you should ask yourself “What can’t I do with a math major?”