Bachelor of Arts in Communication

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The B.F.A. is a professional art degree program that provides a more intensive course of study than the traditional B.A. in Art, with a specialization in Studio Art. The degree prepares students for entry into the professional art world and/or graduate school. In the B.F.A. program, students can concentrate in a number of studio areas, including Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, and Ceramics, as well as New and Mixed Media. There are separate specialization programs for B.F.A. students studying Art, Digital Art and Graphic Design.

The B.A. in History is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to research and interpret the past. Emphasis is placed upon active participation in the creative process of historical inquiry.

Students planning to go to graduate school are strongly advised to attain proficiency in foreign languages.

Students interested in obtaining certification to teach this subject area in secondary education need to contact an advisor in this department to carefully plan the course work to satisfy degree and some teacher certification requirements. A degree in this major is required for participation in teacher education certification options.

Throughout time, music has both reflected and driven philosophies, social, political and cultural movements. Those who study and practice music engage in these rich contexts, which continue to define and shape our world.

Are you interested in teaching music? Our program offers low student-teacher ratios and one-on-one instruction in applied studies that provide the personalized mentoring and guidance needed to achieve professional success. The Dr. Grier Williams School of Music was established in 2020 after receiving the largest cash gift in the history of the University of West Florida. Students in the school of music and members of the Argo Athletic Band now benefit from an endowed scholarship fund in excess of $7 million. This transformative gift has created a new landscape of opportunity for our school, leading to unprecedented growth and innovation across our music curriculum.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at the University of West Florida attracts students wanting to chase their dreams of bright lights and standing ovations. A pre-professional degree in performance or stagecraft, this program is teeming with opportunities to hone your craft, gain hands-on experience and build a foundation to jumpstart your career on or behind the stage.

Specializations: Musical Theatre, Acting, Design and Technology

Music Theatre
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre provides students with a hands-on, personalized education. Students work closely in classes and on stage with faculty who provide training and experience to accelerate students to a professional level. This program affords the opportunity for you to hone your craft with industry professionals.

Acting
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting degree provides students with a core curriculum that is challenging, dynamic, and relevant to today's professional theatre world.

Design/Technology
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design and Technology provides students with an interactive program that prepares them for careers in scenic, lighting, and costume design and the technology skills that support each field.

The M.S. in Data Science (M.S.D.S) offers students who hold bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, business, health or related fields an opportunity to broaden their knowledge in the field of data science. Data Science is an interdisciplinary field consisting of mathematics, statistics, computer programming, data management, machine learning, and visualization.  Data scientists are trained to capture, maintain, process, and analyze data from large and complex data. Students in the M.S.D.S. program will learn to extract and communicate meaningful information from data sets and become capable of communicating their findings in a way that positively affects decisions in business, healthcare, industry, government, and the defense industry. Graduates with the ability to understand and use big data are already being employed by institutions and industries including government, healthcare, scientific research facilities, and colleges and universities. Students who graduate with the M.S.D.S. will be able to manipulate, manage, and interpret data suitable to the employer's needs. The M.S.D.S. program is designed for students seeking careers in science, industry, or government; or for students who plan to pursue doctoral studies.

Technological breakthroughs in areas such as biochemistry, botany, ecology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, and physiology are being used to solve problems in agriculture, the environment, and medical oriented industries. Preparing students at all levels in the education system to work in the sciences is important to solving future problems and making new discoveries. The Department of Biology focuses on areas of modern biology and biotechnology offering a degree in two specializations: B.S. General Biology and B.A. Biology Teaching. The specializations include a series of seven core courses fundamental to all areas of biology.

The Criminal Justice program focuses on the issues of law, crime, law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice system. The program’s primary purpose is to prepare students to assume entry level positions in various criminal justice occupations and to eventually assume administrative responsibilities, to conduct research in the field, or to pursue advanced degrees.

An accelerated bachelors to masters program is available for exceptionally well qualified students.  Please see the requirements for this program at the end of the courses requirements section.

The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities program affords students the opportunity to select one of two specializations: Arts Administration or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Students should note that courses taken for the chosen discipline may not be used to complete the requirements for additional majors or minors.

Students in Arts Administration will gain a broad understanding of the various administrative functions within any arts organization. These functions include but are not limited to Marketing, Fundraising and Management. The student also receives intensive training in the chosen artistic discipline including Art & Design, Music or Theatre. The program offers a solid foundation for either employment in a professional environment or additional graduate study in Arts Administration.

The Department of Computer Science offers several graduate programs that provide instruction on a variety of modern topics in data analytics, software engineering, parallel and distributed computing, and cybersecurity giving graduates the edge to be highly competitive in today's IT job market.

With one of the most affordable tuition plans in Florida and state-of-the-art facilities, our Computer Science Master's program offers cutting-edge curricula and learning environments, with professionally-oriented, hands-on study material.

The department annually awards several scholarships, fellowships, and out-of-state tuition waivers to new and returning students. The department also has limited opportunities for teaching/research assistantships for new and returning students. Please see the departmental website for additional information.

The Bachelor of General Studies degree program provides interdisciplinary study across academic disciplines and professional fields. It is designed for nontraditional students whose age, residence, academic interests, or career objectives require a more individualized university degree. The Bachelor of General Studies degree program is designed to:

• Meet the University of West Florida’s mission to provide students with access to high-quality, relevant, and affordable undergraduate learning experiences, and therefore better serve the general educational needs of region;
• Provide students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree while maintaining family, military, and/or employment obligations;
• Offer a degree option including studies in several disciplinary areas;
• Give students the option to complete courses at the Pensacola campus, Emerald Coast campus, and/or online; and
• Provide students an opportunity to build upon the associate of arts degrees offered by other institutions.