Master of Social Work

at EDUCO - University of West Florida USA

The Maritime Studies Program is designed to familiarize students with the dynamic cultural and natural resources of the maritime environment. Students gain the necessary knowledge and expertise to enable them to participate and contribute to our growing understanding and management of the maritime environment.

Maritime Studies prepares students for careers in the diverse and exciting maritime world. This degree provides a broad understanding of the diversified field by integrating maritime themes, transferable skills, and a knowledge base to enter a variety of maritime-related careers. The maritime industry is a major global employer with thousands of opportunities in many areas. The marine environment covers 71% of the earth and continued technology advancement has increased pressure on its resources. Understanding and managing maritime resources is becoming increasingly important, requiring a wide range of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that this Maritime Studies degree will provide.

The hallmark of the Maritime Studies Program is its flexibility because it allows students to tailor their degree program to their individual interests. It requires only a few specific core courses to provide an overview of the main areas in Maritime Studies. Students complete their degree programs with elective courses from a wide range of disciplines such as Anthropology/Archaeology, Marine Biology, Environmental Studies, History, Art History, Literature, Law, Political Science, and Leisure Studies.

Academic study is only part of the essential training needed for students of Maritime Studies. They also must have a structured field experience in which methods of sampling, recording, and other practical aspects of professional work in the field environment are learned.

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 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 M.A. in Psychology provides students with the study of human behavior. Graduate training in Psychology entails in-depth exploration and understanding of the core foundations of the biological bases of behavior, the social bases of behavior, the acquired bases of behavior, and the individual bases of behavior. As a scientific discipline, the study of psychology also requires competence in research methodology, statistics, and critical thinking.

The M.A. program is designed for students interested in acquiring a broad view of political science or who wish to specialize in international 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.

The B.A. in International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that brings together courses from various academic disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, and business.  The program has the aim of training students to approach global issues from a variety of perspectives preparing them to be global citizens and workers in an interconnected world.  Upon graduation, International Studies majors may pursue opportunities in government, military, business, policy analysis, foundations, the media, humanitarian agencies, and organizations with a presence abroad.  International Studies students choose from three different concentration tracks of study: diplomacy and international affairs, security studies, or international business and economics.

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.

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.

Advanced training in communication is more vital than ever as our society is reshaped by access to information, technological advancement and increases in global interaction. Graduate students in the Strategic Communication & Leadership program will gain skills needed to excel in the career of their choice, from health care and business to nonprofit foundations and education, and more.

Why Study Strategic Communication & Leadership at UWF?

In our master's programs, you will begin to understand the ways in which exercise is not only tied to improved fitness and athletic performance but also to physical and psychological health.

The M.S. in Movement Sciences & Health offers two specializations: Exercise Science, and Physical Education and Sports Performance.

The perfect combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience will prepare you to succeed in the workplace. Additionally, you will build a professional network that provides mentoring related to career options within your profession, potential employment opportunities, and furthering your graduate education.

What You Will Learn

You will be guided through the curriculum by faculty who are dedicated to your individualized learning. They will get to know you and work closely with you to achieve your professional goals.

The program is based heavily on hands-on experiences where you will have the opportunity to utilize a variety of state-of-the-art laboratories, research tools and equipment.

In the Exercise Science specialization, you are prepared to successfully acquire nationally recognized certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

In the Physical Education and Sports Performance specialization, you will learn how to lead individuals in various physical activity settings, including education, sports, fitness, wellness and health. You will examine, evaluate and apply research on skill development and learning in physical education, coaching and physical activity.

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.