Bachelor of Science in Art Education

at Grand Valley State University USA

The program offers a flexible, practical education in the theatrical arts. It prepares students for careers in the entertainment industry and for careers that require skills in creativity, collaboration, communications, and problem-solving. In addition, the program provides professional orientation and background within a broad liberal arts framework.

Why Study Theatre At Grand Valley?

• Coursework includes a solid foundation of theatre training taught entirely by faculty members with years of professional experience.
• Students may take courses outside of theatre, pursue a minor, or double major in other disciplines to expand their education.
• Participation occurs at every level and area in theatre production, so students graduate with many marketable skills and experiences.
• The Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts features the state-of-the-art Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre for intimate productions, as well as a traditional proscenium space.
• There are opportunities for students to participate in touring productions.

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.

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.

Students are prepared for engineering careers and leadership roles through ABET accredited programs that integrate academic studies with hands-on learning and paid professional experiences in actual engineering companies. Grand Valley also offers a graduate program in engineering for those who want to expand their knowledge and skills.

Why Study Computer Engineering At Grand Valley?

• Personal attention in small classes and complete hands-on and project-based learning in our student-focused, state-of-the-art teaching, laboratory, and project facilities.
• Opportunity to specialize in areas such as embedded system design, digital system design, computer architecture, software engineering and operating systems.
• Collaborate with our industry partners who sponsor capstone design projects, fund engineering scholarships and provide career opportunities.
• Three semesters of paid cooperative-education work experience prior to graduation in recognized domestic and international engineering companies.
• Join a group of successful graduates who have achieved a nearly 100% placement in industry-based careers or graduate school.

Students explore the ways interconnected physical, institutional, and cultural systems shape our attitudes and behavior toward the environment. The program emphasizes practical approaches to issues through collaborative problem-solving and involvement in research, internships, and community-based projects.

Students pursuing a major in ENS may choose a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and complete 35 to 37 credits, plus the B.A. or B.S. program requirements. Students select interdisciplinary coursework from at least one of four focus areas: sustainable food systems, energy, water resources, and culture and the built environment.

The ENS major is designed with the intention for students to easily combine and supplement it with another major, minor, or certificate to further expand knowledge and career options.

Why Study Environmental And Sustainability Studies At Grand Valley?

• Make connections to pursue a career as an environmental and sustainability professional in industry, government, and non-profit organizations.
• Develop skills in communication, advocacy, outreach, education, and research.
• Acquire first-hand experience addressing complex environmental problems through community-based learning, internships, and research projects.
• Engage in campus sustainability activities at Michigan's top-rated green university.
• Gain the broad educational background needed to create positive change as leaders, decision-makers, and citizens.

We offer major and minor programs in both Spanish and Spanish Education (Elementary and Secondary levels). Spanish major (33-36 credits) and minor (21-27 credits) programs begin at the 300-level, and include courses across a variety of areas, including language study, literature, linguistics, and civilization and culture.

We offer courses on Spanish in a professional setting, including Health, Business, Law Enforcement, and Writing. Students in our program frequently complete portions of their coursework through summer, semester, and full year study abroad programs in countries across the world.

All languages listed below count toward the BA third semester language requirement. We offer:

• Majors in French, German, and Spanish
• Minors in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish
• Three years of language and culture courses in Japanese
• Two years of language in Italian

Why Study Spanish At Grand Valley?

• With such a large Latino population in the U.S. and booming economies outside the U.S., there is a huge demand for Spanish-speaking professionals in nursing, construction management, and media, among many other fields.
• Spanish is the second largest native language in the world, with almost 40 million native speakers in the U.S.
• More than 500 million people in the world can speak and communicate in Spanish, with a growing trend that will reach 600 million speakers by 2050.
• Spanish complements majors in many other fields, such as international relations, international business, culture, and political science.
• The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures works closely with the Padnos International Center to make many opportunities for study abroad available.

Health Communication is one of four undergraduate majors offered by Grand Valley's School of Communications. Students take courses in the health communication core and biomedical sciences. The curriculum features a variety of topics and an experiential approach to learning.

Why Study Health Communication At Grand Valley?

• The program emphasizes a broad understanding of the field combined with a solid knowledge of specific technical skills.
• Students learn critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with an emphasis on learning-by-doing.
• Students frequently participate in creative performances, exhibitions, and publications related to their chosen major field of study.
• State-of-the-art facilities support current and emergent technologies and enhance student competence.
• Internships are available in a variety of professional work settings.

Grand Valley's bachelor of science program is unique in that it embeds professional practicum experiences in food service, community, and clinical nutrition with didactic studies of food culture, nutrigenomics, and sustainability.

Why Study Applied Food And Nutrition At Grand Valley?

• The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics as a Didactic Program in Dietetics, making graduates eligible for further study in accredited internship and graduate programs leading to eligibility to be credentialed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
• AF&N graduates are eligible to be credentialed as a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR).
• The program provides approximately 400 hours of supervised practice experience consisting of community learning, simulation and internship experiences.
• Opportunities for quality improvement studies and involvement in faculty-led research, as well as collaborative projects.
• Use of the culinary and food laboratory for advanced food management classes and the simulation center for clinical practice.

The entrepreneurship major provides students with contemporary business skills. Students learn to identify opportunities, explore targeted customers' problems, build business strategies, test and validate a variety of assumptions, why failing fast and early is critical to success, locate and negotiate funding, execute their plan(s), and launch their new venture, product, or project.

Students who pursue entrepreneurship are required to complete a second business major in a functional discipline. These include accounting, economics, finance, general management, human resource management, marketing, operations management, and supply chain management.

Why Study Entrepreneurship At Grand Valley?

• Grand Valley is a major player within the Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem. Numerous engagement opportunities are provided within the local, regional, and national entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• The Grand Valley chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization is an award-winning group of entrepreneurs and a resource for students.
• Mentoring and support is available from our Entrepreneur-in-Residence, distinguished faculty members, and local entrepreneurial organizations such as Grand Angels, 77 IdeaLab, and StartGarden.
• Students have access to numerous business plan and pitch competitions to gain support and interest in their projects and earn money for their ventures.
• There are opportunities for students to work with consultants to position their new venture to be successful.

The operations management major provides a career path in both manufacturing and service organizations. Strong industry partnerships, experiential learning through real-world projects, case studies, network and consulting, and the possibility of obtaining APICS certification are some of the reasons why one should take this major.

Why Study Operations Management At Grand Valley?

• Courses are taught by faculty members who consult on real-world business issues and are experts in all areas of operations management.
• Current technology is integrated into courses by use of the Internet, e-commerce, and enterprise resource planning.
• Internships and mentorship programs are available so students can earn money while gaining valuable business experience.
• Network with major corporations to gain access to internships and jobs.
• The program is backed by a strong advisory board representing senior executives of major corporations in the region.