Bachelor of Science in Physics (STEM)

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The B.A. degree in Philosophy is an ideal liberal arts major and provides students with foundations for a great number of careers in areas such as business, writing, teaching, public administration, law, environmental advocacy, the social and human services, and advanced studies in other humanities. The degree program helps students develop skills for problem solving in everyday life and emphasizes comprehension, communication, interpretation, criticism, and evaluation.

The B.S. in Cybersecurity prepares graduates to be leaders in the protection of data assets and analysis of potential threats to system and networks. The curriculum focuses on the techniques, policies, operational procedures, and technologies that secure and defend the availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of information and information systems, in local as well as more broadly based domains. The major helps prepare students for careers as information systems security professionals, senior system managers, and system administrators responsible for information systems and the security of those systems.

The goal of the baccalaureate degree program is to prepare students to embark upon a professional career in Mechanical Engineering or to begin a graduate study. Graduates will be known for their accomplishments in the early stage of their careers and they should:

• Develop mechanical engineering solutions individually and through interdisciplinary teams within a global and societal context.
• Professionally and ethically engage in technical or business activity through engineering ability, communication skills, and knowledge.
• Continue professional growth through post-graduate education, continuing education, or professional activity.
• Contribute to the Northwest Florida regional economic development.

Mechanical Engineering is one of the largest, broadest, and oldest of the engineering disciplines.  It is the engineering discipline that applies the principles of engineering, materials science, thermal sciences, mechanics, mathematics and physics for the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. Because of the extremely rapid growth and changes relating to the application of mechanical engineering principles, the curriculum is designed to concentrate on a solid core of foundation courses. Electives are included to permit a student to delve deeply into selected subject matter and to learn other pertinent subjects.

Mechanical Engineers are capable of working in a wide variety of industry sectors, including aerospace, manufacturing, energy, environment, transportation, materials, and structures.

The Legal Studies Program provides students with a broad understanding of basic principles of law and the role and function of the legal system.  While no specific major is prescribed for admission to law school, many pre-law students elect to major in Legal Studies.  The Legal Studies Program, in addition to preparing students for law-related careers, provides a foundation for law school or other graduate education. All of the full-time Legal Studies faculty are attorneys who are graduates of ABA-Approved law schools and are available for law school advising.  Legal Studies students are encouraged to work closely with Legal Studies Advisors in planning their programs. Satisfactory completion of program requirements leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Legal Studies.

The M.A. in International Affairs prepares students to confront the challenges of an increasingly globalized world.  The program is well-suited for students considering or presently pursuing a military or national security career, as well as those interested in international public service or policy work.  The curriculum emphasizes international politics, including relations between countries, trade and diplomatic negotiations between countries, foreign policy, strategy, security, intelligence, and military conflict.  Several courses emphasize policy-making and decision-making processes, institutions, national and regional politics, culture, and diplomatic relations.  The program consists of 33 semester hours plus successful completion of a comprehensive examination or a thesis. All new students should be advised by the departmental advisor.  In addition to the university requirement that students maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, students must also make a 3.0 or higher GPA in five of their six core courses.

A bachelor’s degree in Psychology enables students to study human behavior.  An understanding of psychological processes entails understanding the multiple influences created by the biological characteristics of the organism, the effects of learning and experience, social and cultural dynamics, and developmental change.  As a scientific discipline, the study of psychology requires competence in research methodology and critical thinking.  Psychology is also an applied discipline with applications in behavioral and physical health, business, education, medicine, and law, among others.

Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Psychology will be prepared to pursue a wide range of science- and research-related careers at the bachelor’s level or to pursue an advanced degree in a STEM related field.  Students will attain a high-quality scientific degree focused on knowledge in the discipline of psychology, integrity in the application of that knowledge, effective project management, and excellent critical thinking and communication skills.

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 BS in Interdisciplinary Sciences is a multidisciplinary program that provides a strong foundation in one area of the sciences and flexibility to add content and skills from other HMCSE STEM programs.  The academic goal of this program is to afford students the opportunity to make connections between ideas and concepts across disciplinary boundaries and to be capable of defining and examining scientific problems from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The BS in Interdisciplinary Sciences is built upon a foundation within the UWF HMCSE STEM disciplines (Biology, Earth & Environmental Sciences, and Computer Science, ) and allows for additional coursework from Chemistry, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics.

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.

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.