Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies

at Grand Valley State University USA

Philosophy graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. The curriculum is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary study.

Why Study Philosophy At Grand Valley?

• The program emphasizes learning the history of philosophy as the foundation for further study and application.
• Courses are offered in all major contemporary schools of philosophical thought as well as in non-Western traditions.
• The study of philosophy is an excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers.
• Study abroad programs directed by faculty members are especially beneficial for students. The GVSU Summer School in China represents a rare opportunity to study many aspects of Chinese culture, including Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian philosophy in China.
• The Undergraduate Teaching Apprentice Program, Philosophy Colloquium/Speakers Series, and the Philosophical Society of GVSU offer out-of-classroom opportunities.

The CSAT major combines with one of two majors in the College of Education; it leads to certification in elementary education with one of the following specialized endorsement areas: special education, Spanish (paired with the Spanish elementary education minor), English as a Second Language (ESL) (with the Applied Linguistics-ESL minor), or early childhood (with the Early Childhood Education minor). A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) may be earned. For certification, the student must:

• Complete both the CSAT major, the education major, and the complementary minor (if required) with a GPA of 2.7 or better
• Have an overall GPA of 2.7 or better
• Pass the MTTC Elementary Education and endorsement-area tests

Why Study Csat At Grand Valley?

• Courses are designed specifically for the major and are taught using best practices identified in research literature.
• The strong pedagogical skills CSAT students develop are valuable in settings outside the school system, where an understanding of effective teaching and learning is important.
• Two of the endorsement areas within the special education major could lead to a master's degree.
• Students have many extracurricular opportunities, such as professional organizations (Student Council for Exceptional Children), service learning in area schools, and becoming active members of the community.
• Elementary education teachers with a Spanish endorsement or an ESL endorsement are in-demand locally and across the country.

• Program Focus. Leadership skills, strategy, and customer-oriented perspective.
• Hybrid Delivery. Two courses per semester - one class in person and one online each week.
• Cohort Structure. All classes taken with the same group of students; enables strong peer learning and professional connections.
• Professional Development. Individualized feedback based on a leadership style assessment. Mentoring opportunities and structured group workshop learning experiences.
• Culminating Experience. Apply knowledge and experience to a business consulting capstone project.

Students of the public and nonprofit administration program learn how to serve the public interest ethically, effectively, and efficiently. They may choose to focus on:

• Community development and planning
• Community health
• Local economic development
• Public and nonprofit budget and finance
• Public personnel management

Why Study Public And Nonprofit Administration At Grand Valley?

• All students participate in service learning courses and internships, through which they interact within the community, apply new skills, and build professional networks.
• Many public and nonprofit administration students participate in study abroad programs and spring break service learning trips.
• Over 90 percent of recent graduates are successfully placed (employed, attending graduate school, or both).
• The Steelcase Library's Johnson Collection on Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is a valuable resource to students and one of the most comprehensive collections in the country on philanthropy, volunteerism, and nonprofit management.
• Students are required to complete one internship and may register for a second, which gives them the experience they need to succeed, make better career decisions, and jumpstart their career by helping them gain employment more quickly.

The program leads to teacher certification for visual art in the Michigan public schools at the primary and secondary levels. Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Why Study Advertising And Art Education At Grand Valley?

The program emphasizes the training of committed artists who desire to work in the field of teaching after their graduation. Art education students:

• Introduce the importance of the visual as a tool for participatory learning across the disciplines and in community settings.
• Receive intensive studio training that enriches students' individual roles as artists and prepares them for diverse teaching environments.
• Experience a comprehensive curriculum that includes educational theory, community-based arts education, and the role of technology in the classroom.
• Benefit from a program that provides opportunities for service learning and for professional development.
• Complete the program with K-12 certification to teach visual arts in the State of Michigan.

Political Science is the study of politics in its many forms, including law-making and criminal justice, war and international conflicts, protest movements and revolutions, campaigns and elections, political ideas and ideologies, and human rights. Our courses provide the tools to understand these phenomena, and they also develop skills in research, analysis, writing, critical thinking, and speaking.

Students can choose a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. A minor and a teachable minor are also available.

Why Study Political Science At Grand Valley?

• Small class sizes ensure students get personal attention from expert, student-focused professors who are passionate about political science.
• Students can study and intern for a semester or summer in Washington, DC, through our partnership with The Washington Center. Local internships are also available.
• Students gain research, writing, speaking, critical thinking, and data analysis skills valued by graduate programs and employers.
• Studying political science helps prepare students for success in a range of career fields, including nonprofit organizations, international affairs, law, business, education, advocacy groups, and in local, state, and national government.
• We have a strong network of GVSU political science alumni across the country and around the world who are eager to help new graduates find opportunities.

Students are prepared for engineering careers and leadership roles by way of B.S.E. and M.S.E. degree programs that integrate academic studies with hands-on learning and paid professional co-op experiences in engineering companies.

• Biomedical engineering
• Computer engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Interdisciplinary engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Product design and manufacturing engineering

Why Study Engineering At Grand Valley?

• Extensive hands-on and project-based learning in small, student-focused classes.
• Three semesters of paid cooperative-education work experience prior to graduation in recognized domestic and international engineering companies.
• Strong support from industrial partners who fund many engineering scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students, as well as sponsor Capstone design projects.
• Nearly 100-percent placement rate into work or graduate school for our graduates.
• Program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, abet.org

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program offers an intentional learning opportunity in the context of everyday business situations for experienced professionals. The program is designed for organizational leaders who have set their sights on an executive leadership role.

The Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) degree is for students with a passion for the life sciences who want to gain extensive research experience as an undergraduate. CMB focuses on determining how cells develop and function, and how biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA and proteins, interact under normal and pathological conditions. CMB also explores the applications of this knowledge in fields such as biotechnology, medicine/pharmacology, and genomics.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in CMB consists of a series of high impact laboratory and computational courses. Each student has the opportunity to choose an independent research project to study a variety of cell and molecular processes that are relevant to human disease or agriculture. Together, coursework and research prepare CMB students to enter the workforce in fields such as forensics or biotechnology or to pursue graduate training in the life sciences or professional school programs (eg. medical, dental, or genetic counseling).

The CMB department also offers a minor in CMB, a combined degree program (B.S./M.S.) and undergraduate and graduate certificates in bioinformatics and genomics.

Why Study Cmb At Grand Valley?

• The CMB graduating class is consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of life science programs in the country by the Educational Testing Service.
• The degree incorporates extensive research experience into the curriculum. Most students work on their independent research projects for two or more semesters and present their research data at scientific meetings. Employers and medical school officials agree this experience is one of the most important considerations for hiring in the life sciences or admission to medical school.
• Faculty members are actively engaged in research with students, taking advantage of Grand Valley's state-of-the-art research equipment.
• Campus is located in West Michigan, which is quickly developing into an important center for biotechnology research, industry, and education.
• Rewarding internships are available at the Van Andel Research Institute, Karmanos Cancer Institute, area hospitals, biotech start-ups, Walter's Greenhouses, and other area organizations.

The integrated science major is designed for students seeking certification to teach at the elementary and/or middle school levels. It provides students with broad exposure in all of the sciences and emphasizes the connections among the scientific disciplines and their relevance to society.

Why Study Integrated Science At Grand Valley?

• Coursework is designed specifically for the major and taught using best practices identified by the research literature.
• Limited class sizes maximize interactions between faculty and students, as well as among students.
• There is a high success rate in passing the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification on students' first attempts.
• There are many opportunities to be extensively engaged in scholarship and professional growth, professional organizations, and conferences.
• Integrated science majors are active in the community and involved in service learning in area schools.