Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies (STEM)

at EDUCO - University of Nebraska - Lincoln USA

An actuary is a mathematically-oriented business person who will most likely be a manager or supervisor at some point in his/her career. Thus, a course of study culminating in a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a major in actuarial science is an excellent educational background for prospective actuaries.

The actuarial science program is designed to prepare students for the current industry demands. Because the demands change on a regular basis, oftentimes the number of hours, the sequencing of courses, and the specific requirements change for this major. Students should continue to consult with the department for the appropriate selection and listing of course requirements.

The actuarial science program is proud to have been named one of the first Centers of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries.

What you will learn
The work of an actuary typically involves analyzing the various contingencies (birth, death, marriage, retirement, sickness, and losses due to accidents or negligence), which face society, and their impact on the many types of financial security arrangements, both public and private. A creative aspect of actuarial work lies in the forecasting of events. Actuaries are frequently called upon to make decisions that affect the fiscal soundness of financial security programs well into the future. Quality actuaries are in high demand resulting in a high job placement rate and high starting salaries.

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers courses in Arabic, German, Japanese, the Romance Language group (French, Spanish), and the Slavic group (Czech, Russian). Whenever possible, the courses are conducted in the language that is studied. The aim of instruction is reading, writing, aural and oral proficiency, and an understanding of the life, literature, and culture of the country. Lectures and films in the language studied are offered during the school year for the benefit of the students in the department. Language laboratories supplement class work.

The goal of any financial system is to allocate monetary resources to those individuals, companies, and governmental units that have the best ideas for usage. The study of finance focuses on the organization and development of capital markets and financial institutions in achieving the optimal usage of funds. As a finance student, you might want to examine how conflict of interest affects managerial performance, how risk influences investment decisions, or how investor psychology can impact the price of stocks and bonds. The finance faculty offer strong support for the exploration of such topics and the curriculum is designed to prepare students in areas of high employment demand.

The finance major offers coursework in the following areas of specialization:

• Banking and Risk Management
• Investments
• General Finance

Finance students must declare one of these specializations as a formal option within their major. Multiple options cannot be chosen. Students are encouraged to meet with their Business Advising and Student Engagement (BASE) advisors on a regular basis. The department chair is also available to answer questions regarding the selection of courses or other questions related to the finance curriculum.

What you will learn
Students will learn to apply the principles and techniques of time value of money, quantify and interpret risk/reward relationships using a variety of metrics, estimate the fundamental value of traded and non-traded assets, identify resources of risk and implement appropriate risk management techniques and analyze market conditions for strategic planning.

The advertising and public relations major prepares students for careers in a wide variety of communication-related areas. Recent graduates have accepted positions in more than 20 states and several other countries in diverse careers such as retail and corporate advertising and marketing, media sales, brand management, media planning, account management, research, public relations, media relations, special event planning, mobile and digital communications, creative concepting, sports media relations, digital insights and analytics, copywriting, and layout and design.

The advertising and public relations faculty members believe that a successful career must be built upon a solid foundation, an education that combines theory and practice. To achieve that end, the major offers courses in copywriting, layout, media planning, graphics, campaign development, research, management, coding, and strategic communications. The curriculum is designed to emphasize strategy, planning, and implementation in creative problem-solving.

Much emphasis is placed on individual relationships between faculty and students, an interaction vital to a student’s creative development. An advisor also helps each student tailor an academic plan to meet his or her interests and needs.

In advertising and public relations classes, students often work with actual clients who present real-life problems. This experience gives students a professional perspective on problem solving in many sectors including nonprofit, retail, small business, and community organizations as well as large corporations. Students are encouraged to augment their academic experience with internships.

The Department of History offers topical and period courses of general cultural and educational value to all University students to broaden their range of historical experience and sense of perspective. The particular aim of the history program is not only to provide knowledge for students who are preparing for a career in education, but also to give instruction that will aid those with interests in law, journalism, library, and museum work; in local, state, and national public service; and in business where knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs is particularly useful.

Construction management (CNST) is a complete undergraduate degree program available to students within the Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction located at Nebraska Hall on the Lincoln City Campus and at the Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI) on the Scott Campus in Omaha. Construction is one of the largest and most diversified industries in the country, accounting for approximately four percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). The key professional in this vast enterprise is the “constructor,” a term given to leaders and managers in the construction industry who are responsible for planning, scheduling, and building the projects designed by architects and engineers. These highly-specialized efforts are indispensable in meeting the country’s growing need for new structures, infrastructure and environmental controls that are of high quality and are cost effective, efficient and sustainable.

Construction firms vary in size from large corporations to small proprietorships and partnerships. These are often classified according to the kind of construction work they do—general contractors, heavy and highway contractors, specialty contractors—including mechanical and electrical—and residential builders and developers. Many firms engage in more than one category of work. Some larger companies incorporate the architectural and engineering design functions as part of their role as a design/build firm. Collectively, constructors manufacture our entire built environment—buildings for housing, commerce and industry, highways, railroads, waterways, airports, power plants, energy distribution systems, military bases and space center complexes. Thus, the construction management field is broad, requiring a unique educational background for its professional practitioners.

Although the range of construction activities appears wide and diverse, the general education requirements for construction management are universal regardless of a particular firm’s area of specialization. Since construction is primarily a business enterprise, the graduate must have a sound background in business management and administration as well as an understanding of the fundamentals of architecture and engineering as they relate to project design and the actual construction process in the field. Professional expertise lies in the fields of construction science, methods and management. A working knowledge of structural design, mechanical and electrical systems, methods and materials, soil mechanics and construction equipment is also essential.

What you will learn
Professionals in construction management make up the most diversified industry in the nation. As constructors, these individuals provide leadership for managing, coordinating, and supervising the construction processes during the concept development, design, and construction and facility management stages. Students will spend time at a building site as well as managing the contracts, execution of the building plans, and quality assurance. As part of the college's Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, students will also enjoy innovative research and hands-on opportunities outside the classroom. There is a high demand for UNL graduates in this area.

The mechanized systems management (MSYM) major prepares students for delivery, management, and technical support of engineered systems for agriculture, food, energy, and water. Students will develop technical, systems analysis, and management skills. This major is ideal for students interested in working with machinery and equipment systems from a practical perspective. The MSYM program includes hands-on coursework in power and machinery systems, processing and handling equipment, and sensors and controls combined with coursework in business, management, agriculture, and natural sciences that prepares students for a wide range of careers in a variety of industries related to agriculture, food, energy, and water. The program offers four options for specialization:

• Production Option
• Business Option
• Technical Option
• Processing Operations Option

Students in the MSYM major benefit from small classes and personalized faculty advising. Students have the opportunity to work part-time in the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory and numerous departmental research projects. Students are encouraged to participate in student clubs such as the Mechanized Systems Management Club, the Tractor Restoration Club, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Quarter Scale Tractor Team.

A major in sociology within the College of Arts and Sciences provides students with vital intellectual and occupational skills. This includes analytical thinking; creative problem solving; effective written and oral communication; collecting, analyzing and interpreting data; and gaining expertise regarding the impact of social and cultural dynamics on individual and societal trends. Students may pursue broad training in sociology, or they may pursue a specific Focus Area, such as Crime/Deviance, Family, Health, Social Inequality, or Social Research. We also encourage students strongly to seize the opportunities provided for internships and a variety of research experiences, which play a key role in helping students define their career trajectory and build a resumé.

Our majors pursue careers in a variety of fields that reflect their substantive expertise, such as:

• Social-Justice Related Activism
• Law and Criminal Justice
• Education and Social/Human Services
• Research—especially public health and medicine, public opinion research, market research/marketing, as well as occupations requiring data collection, analysis, and project direction skills (e.g., nursing, policy work, journalism, engineering, computational sciences)
• Public Service/Government and Administration
• Private-sector for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations
• Management and Human Resources

We also encourage students to combine their interest in sociology with one of the many interdisciplinary programs/certificates offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and beyond. This includes but is not limited to Conflict Resolution, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Global Studies, Human Rights, Humanities and Medicine, Public Policy, Women’s and Gender Studies, plus the Center for Great Plains Studies and the Center for Civic Engagement.

The Department of Anthropology synthesizes humanistic and scientific perspectives on human biological and cultural diversity as well as the evolutionary trends seen for humankind. Students and faculty bring this integrated perspective to interactions and collaborations with others in a variety of departments and programs in each of the Colleges across the University.

Courses in anthropology acquaint students with the range of human behavior as differentially explored within each of the subdisciplines within anthropology—archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Research or methodological courses outfit students with valuable analytic and research skills in qualitative, quantitative and GIS analysis as well as in content-appropriate analytic protocols, as for the analysis of archaeological and ethnographic materials.

The School of Accountancy is separately accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The School's mission is to provide an exceptional educational opportunity, create high impact research, and engage and collaborate with the community. More specifically, the School of Accountancy community accomplishes its mission in advancing accounting education through:

• Fostering intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, business insights, and accounting expertise
• Creating high-impact, relevant research
• Engaging and collaborating with professional communities

The courses in accounting are designed to give business students a basic proficiency in accounting as an analytical tool for understanding business and public affairs, and to develop essential theory and application for those specializing in the field. Students who complete the College of Business program with a major in accounting and/or the master of professional accountancy (MPA) degree are well-prepared to accept positions in industry, commerce, government service, or public accounting.

Students interested in the accounting discipline are strongly encouraged to work closely with faculty members in the School to understand requirements and options available for those interested in careers as certified public accountants and options to pursue the five-year master of professional accountancy program. Requirements and processes vary with each of these options.

What you will learn
Students gain a solid foundation of accounting technical expertise and business insights, develop research and communication skills, become sensitive to ethical business practices, and interact with accounting and business professional communities. Internships before graduation are also common.