Master of Physician Assistant Studies

at Grand Valley State University USA

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.

The biology program prepares students for leading positions in a wide range of careers that improve human welfare and environmental stewardship. Students can customize their program by specializing in areas that focus on biomolecular processes, ecology and evolutionary biology, general studies for preprofessional programs, or teacher certification

Why Study Biology At Grand Valley?

• Students receive extensive hands-on, student-focused, and project-based learning from expert faculty members, supported by state-of-the-art lab and field facilities.
• Opportunities for internships, international and domestic field study, and mentor-guided student research are available to complement coursework.
• Students make valuable connections through networking opportunities with faculty, peers, alumni, professional organizations, and industry stakeholders.
• A broad range of research opportunities provide undergraduate students the chance to engage in real-world projects.
• Graduates enjoy successful careers in conservation, ecology, zoology, and teaching, as well as admission to graduate studies in veterinary studies and human medicine.

As the field of communication has evolved, research-based decision making has become increasingly important. Specifically, communication professionals must be able to acquire and assess relevant information and effectively integrate their analysis into the decision-making process.

The Master of Science in communication is a versatile program that meets the needs of those in the field of communication. Students will enhance their professional effectiveness and their leadership skills, and they will find it beneficial to their career development

Why Study Communications At Grand Valley?

• Faculty members specialize in teaching communication concepts and skills that are relevant and in-demand.
• Students will gain leadership skills, knowledge of theory and research and their application, the ability to access information to solve communication problems, and the ability to effectively implement information into the decision-making process.
• The program is designed with working professionals in mind. Courses are scheduled during evening hours and offered downtown at Grand Valley's Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus. The program also incorporated hybrid/online courses as well as individualized projects that count toward the completion of program requirements.
• Taken part time, the versatile program can be completed in two to three years, with assistantships available on a competitive basis.
• The program has many ties with business, community, and cultural organizations, and has contacts with experts in a variety of areas in communications. These contacts serve as outstanding resources both within the classroom and for internships.

Coursework is in history, economics, geography, and political science as well as in the social studies specific pedagogy.

Students choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Those seeking the B.A. must demonstrate third-semester proficiency in a foreign language.

Students seeking teacher certification also complete the professional program offered by the College of Education. The major meets State of Michigan content standards for teacher preparation in social studies.

Why Study Social Studies At Grand Valley?

• Students study the world from a variety of perspectives, giving them strong interdisciplinary training and skills.
• Our majors are trained to research problems and engage in problem solving through written and verbal communication.
• The curriculum prepares students to teach a complex subject in a changing world.
• Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members to learn the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching social studies.
• Social studies majors are highly sought after by schools that want to hire teachers capable of teaching a variety of courses.

The MIS emphasis provides students with an understanding of concepts, principles, and techniques to design, develop, and implement enterprise information systems. These specialized skills equip students with a strong technical background, but emphasizes the business knowledge and analytical skills necessary in today's business environment.

Students will:

• Understand the integrated cross-functional nature of business processes.
• Configure key business processes in an enterprise system.
• Investigate data analysis methods to support business decision-making.
• Utilize enterprise software (SAP S4/HANA) to execute business processes.
• Explore various business intelligence tools to visualize and interpret data.

Why Study Management Information Systems At Grand Valley?

• Current and emerging technologies are integrated into courses to provide unique experiential learning.
• Faculty members have a combination of academic accomplishment and professional experience and represent a variety of backgrounds in the field.
• Local and international companies recruit students from the program for paid internships and entry-level positions.
• The program is well regarded and offers highly marketable skills.
• Students take upper-division courses in the heart of an exciting business environment in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

You may pursue a graduate degree via one of two tracks. Track 1 is an intensive four semester applied program for those who have completed the pre-professional requirements and a bachelor's degree. Track 2 is a six semester program, with the first two semesters meeting pre-professional requirements, and the final four semesters an intensive applied program.
Opportunities for supervised clinical practice are provided in community-based healthcare and educational settings located within two hours of GVSU's Health Campus, with opportunities outside this radius potentially available upon request.

Why Study Speech-Language Pathology At Grand Valley?

• GVSU is known for interprofessional health sciences and is one of two universities in Michigan offering all therapy programs.
• All four semesters include community-based clinical placements and clinical application infused into academic coursework.
• This intensive program provides the opportunity for students to complete their degree and begin their career sooner than other speech-language pathology programs, while obtaining all of the same knowledge and skills acquired in other programs.
• Named one of the top speech-language pathology graduate programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
• Fully accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Economics is more than a business field. Students will study human behavior to explain and predict how people and organizations interact and why they do what they do. That might involve how managers can increase their profits. It's also about how to feed the hungry; what to do about deforestation in Brazil; and whether minimum wages really help the poor. Economics also looks at societal issues like distribution of wealth and income, health care, education, crime, poverty, pollution, and drugs.

The economics program offers you flexibility to choose between a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.

The department offers an "Honors" designation if you achieve a minimum 3.2 G.P.A. both overall and in your economics courses. This designation provides you the opportunity to engage in high profile projects and policy courses.

Why Study Economics At Grand Valley?

• Economics stresses well-developed analytical skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills, which are desirable to employers.
• Faculty members work closely with students as they form career goals and select courses to help achieve those goals.
• Networking opportunities include Omicron Delta Epsilon (the economics honor society), economics club, real estate groups, professional development series, and student organizations.
• Internships are available and apply classroom learning to authentic work experiences.
• Campus is located in the heart of an exciting business environment in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.

Legal studies students may earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. The B.A. requires third semester proficiency in a foreign language. The B.S. requires completion of courses in statistics and research methods. A minor, not approved by the ABA, is also available.

Why Study Legal Studies At Grand Valley?

• The legal studies major is approved by the American Bar Association and features a critical-thinking foundation that focuses on professional skills.
• The program prides itself on the diverse professional experience of its faculty members, most of whom are licensed attorneys with experience working in areas of civil and criminal law.
• Faculty are engaged in scholarly research and writing and have been recognized as award-winning teachers and mentors.
• The program's advisory board consists of attorneys and paralegals who give guidance on matters such as curriculum, internship and employment opportunities, and trends in the legal field.
• The legal studies internship program allows students to get college credit for work in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and other organizations that engage in law-related work.

Microbiology encompasses the study of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasitic protozoa, which are organisms that inhabit every corner of our biosphere, and whose impact on human affairs, both positive and negative, is immense. Understanding the biology of microbes has important applications in biotechnology, medicine, public health, and ecology.

The program provides a strong foundational preparation in genetics, biochemistry, physics, and mathematics. These courses in the field focus on critical thinking, research methods, and hands-on laboratory experience.

Students are provided with the foundational tools necessary to progress into subsequent graduate academic programs at the master's and doctorate levels in a variety of disciplines, including microbiology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry.

The program can be tailored to meet the needs of students who plan to enter professional programs, such as medical, dental, or other health professions, after completing the undergraduate degree.

Why Study Microbiology At Grand Valley?

• The microbiology major fulfills the requirements of most graduate and professional schools.
• A majority of courses are taught by experts with a doctorate in their respective fields.
• The laboratory-rich, hands-on aspect of this major prepares graduates for opportunities in a variety of fields requiring these technical skills.
• Students have opportunities to contribute to scientific research while receiving one-on-one mentoring.
• Many students travel to professional meetings with their faculty mentors to present research findings and meet other experts outside of Grand Valley, which provides networking opportunities and strengthens presentation skills.

Legal studies students may earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. The B.A. requires third semester proficiency in a foreign language. The B.S. requires completion of courses in statistics and research methods. A minor, not approved by the ABA, is also available.

Why Study Legal Studies At Grand Valley?

• The legal studies major is approved by the American Bar Association and features a critical-thinking foundation that focuses on professional skills.
• The program prides itself on the diverse professional experience of its faculty members, most of whom are licensed attorneys with experience working in areas of civil and criminal law.
• Faculty are engaged in scholarly research and writing and have been recognized as award-winning teachers and mentors.
• The program's advisory board consists of attorneys and paralegals who give guidance on matters such as curriculum, internship and employment opportunities, and trends in the legal field.
• The legal studies internship program allows students to get college credit for work in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and other organizations that engage in law-related work.