Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The M.S. in Environmental Science provides advanced research and educational opportunities in the earth and environmental sciences. Departmental areas of concentration include coastal science, paleoclimatology, landscape ecology, geographic information science, aquatic biogeochemistry, and soils science. The program includes both thesis and non-thesis tracks. The non-thesis track provides a foundation for employment in the private and public sectors of the environmental fields. In addition, the thesis track prepares students for advanced study leading to the doctoral degree. Contact the department for information regarding the graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Teachers change lives. UWF's elementary education program will prepare you to become a skilled teacher with detailed coursework and supervised experiences in grade school classrooms. In addition, you will develop your awareness and understanding of diverse cultures and people.

Why Study Elementary Education at UWF?

• This competitive major prepares you for the ever-changing world of elementary education. Graduates are eligible for professional certification from the State of Florida to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. 
• Unlike many other elementary education degrees, our program includes endorsements in both reading and English speakers of other languages, known as ESOL.
• We will prepare you to teach reading, writing, science, mathematics, social studies, critical-thinking skills and problem-solving to elementary school students.
• We are accredited by the State of Florida and the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation.

What You Will Learn

• Our immersive curriculum will prepare you for real-world experiences.
• The degree includes 64 semester hours of coursework in general and subject-specific methods and strategies with a focus on engaging elementary students in meaningful learning experiences.
• Through engaging hands-on field experiences in local elementary schools, you will learn to work with children of varying needs and have a positive impact on their lives. You will learn to engage students in inquiry, facilitate learning, develop curriculum and collect, analyze and interpret data to inform your instruction.
• We offer numerous scholarships and a limited number of yearlong paid internships for high-achieving students in high-need Escambia County schools. These internships fulfill the student teaching requirement.

The B.A. in Economics is typically of interest to students with strong academic credentials and a desire to make a difference by helping to shape policy in a wide range of areas in society. Economics majors will develop conceptual and analytical skills for making policy-oriented decisions based on analysis of fundamental resource allocation issues. Economists work in a broad range of policy areas and address questions such as the following: What is the best way to fight environmental pollution? What is the appropriate role of government in economy? What rules should govern trade among nations? What is the appropriate economic policy for developing and increasing immigration? What are the effects of tax cuts, budget deficits, and welfare policies on the overall economy? Economists may address fundamental policy issues such as these and others within narrower fields such as health care, agriculture, education, crime, politics, urban and regional development, law, history, energy, and the environment, among many others. The B.A. in Economics is structured to provide the opportunity for students to earn minor degrees in many of these specialized fields.

Most economists are concerned with practical applications of economic policy and work for a wide variety of public, private, and governmental organizations. The job market for individuals with both undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics is robust and tends to be less cyclical than the market for students with many other degrees. The B.A. in Economics provides a comprehensive foundation for students who wish to obtain a graduate degree in economics and is also recognized as excellent preparation for graduate programs such as Law or the MBA.

Students are urged to consult with faculty members associated with the Economics program and its recommended minors for detailed information about the program’s academic learning outcomes and to develop an appropriate course of study for their intended career path.

The Sport Management program prepares students for entry-level careers as potential leaders and administrators in the sport industry and for further study in graduate school. Possible positions may be found in collegiate athletics, municipal parks and recreation departments, community sports programs, professional sports leagues, amateur sports organizations, and commercial sport industries such as fitness and activity centers, sport camps, and other private sport organizations. An internship in the field along with a capstone course for students is required in this degree.

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.

The purpose of the program is to prepare students for careers in federal, state, county, and local criminal justice agencies, including management and administration; careers in public or private criminal justice research and analysis; teaching positions at community and state colleges; and/or continued education at the doctoral level.

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) has two options: an internship option (Option 1) and an area research paper option (Option 2). Each option requires a minimum of 33 credit hours, including 24 credit hours of criminal justice coursework. The internship option (Option 1) requires 15 credit hours of required coursework, a 3-credit hour internship, plus an additional 6 credit hours minimum of criminal justice electives and 9 credit hours of criminal justice or noncriminal justice electives. The area paper option (Option 2) requires 15 credit hours of required coursework, a 3-credit hour area paper, plus an additional 6 credit hours minimum of criminal justice electives and 9 credit hours of criminal justice or noncriminal justice electives.

The B.S. in Physics focuses on the study of matter and its motion.  Ultimately, the goal of physics is to understand how nature behaves from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the entire universe, making it the most fundamental natural science. The various topics covered include electricity and magnetism, electronics, fluids, mechanics, optics, quantum phenomena, concepts of relativity, thermodynamics, waves, and several related laboratory activities.

The Physics Department offers the traditional B.S. program in Physics with specializations in Physics or Engineering Physics.  In addition to graduate school, a trained physicist may enter the employment market as a research scientist. Those with an engineering physics background are eligible for entry-level jobs as engineers in organizations such as the Department of Defense, NASA, and the various national labs.

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.

The B.A. in Political Science provides students with a foundation in the liberal arts and social sciences. Courses in the degree plan cover fundamental questions pertaining to the governance of human societies, the origin and evolution of law and justice, the comparative performance of democracies and dictatorships, the exercise of political leadership, the origins of war, and the maintenance of peace. Students will analyze competing theories of human nature and political organization subjecting them to the test of reason, history, and experience. The political science major is appropriate for many students, including those seeking a professional degree in government and public service, specific expertise in international security and diplomacy, familiarity with political organizations, and preparation for employment in advocacy, corporate, education, or non-profit sectors.

The Pre-Law Specialization emphasizes core courses in American government, with attention paid to American political thought, constitutional law, and judicial politics. Students then take courses across a broad array of subjects, including political theory, as well as history, economics and business, philosophy, literature, communications, and statistics. The political science/pre-law major is appropriate for students seeking a pre-professional degree in law.

The Exercise Science major is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the fitness industry, cardiac rehabilitation, clinically-related health fields, and graduate school. The program has specific courses (APK 4125 Exercise Testing and Prescription, APK 4114C Physiological Basis of Strength Development) that prepare students for certifications such as the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM EP-C) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (NSCA CSCS). The course work precedes a capstone course that allows students to receive valuable work experience just prior to graduating. The University of West Florida’s undergraduate degree program in Exercise Science is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and addresses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) needed to pass the ACSM Exercise Physiologist-Certified exam. The curriculum is endorsed by the NSCA for meeting their recommended educational guidelines.

The B.S.B.A. in Accounting is an included program in the University's accreditation by AACSB International. The B.S.B.A. in Accounting is designed to provide students with basic conceptual accounting and business knowledge as a foundation for career development. The Accounting Specialization also provides the traditional background in accounting and is the first step towards state designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).