Master of Science in Communications

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.

Electrical engineers design and build systems to tackle problems big and small. They integrate the fields of electronic circuit design, electromagnetics, digital signal processing, control systems, and power systems to analyze and solve problems involving modern electronic systems. Applications of these designs include consumer electronics, power generation and delivery, telecommunications, alternative energy, aviation and aerospace systems, mechatronics, electric vehicles, and electromagnetic compatibility.

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 diverse engineering companies. Grand Valley also offers a graduate program in engineering for those who want to expand their knowledge and skills.

Why Study Electrical Engineering At Grand Valley

• Prepare for a career designing consumer electronics, power systems, guidance and navigation, aircraft systems, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and more.
• Work with state-of-the-art electronic equipment and tools to analyze and design electrical systems.
• Complete real-world hands-on projects in small, student-focused courses.
• Partner with our industry supporters who sponsor capstone design projects, fund engineering scholarships, and provide career opportunities.
• Join a group of successful graduates who have achieved a nearly 100% placement in industry-based careers or advanced graduate study.

Those who major in statistics get experience and receive training in verbal and written communication skills, which are essential in today's society. Students learn the theory and application of statistical methods and get hands-on experience analyzing real-life data. Numerous minors in statistics, as well as graduate degrees in applied statistics and biostatistics, are also available.

Why Study Statistics At Grand Valley?

• Faculty members who are experts in the field pay close personal attention to students.
• Opportunities exist for students to work collaboratively with faculty members on a variety of research initiatives.
• The coursework ensures widespread application of statistical methods and hands-on experience with analyzing real-life data.
• Students have access to an extensive list of undergraduate courses where they can learn about the branches of statistical methodology.
• The program boasts a nearly 100-percent placement rate into work or graduate school.

Choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in history, or a minor in history or history of science, or select it as a teachable minor. Careful training in research, writing, critical reading, and interpretation makes history graduates attractive to a wide number of employers who value those abilities, especially in fields of law, library and museum work, finance, journalism, and public administration. Students also study history to advance their own liberal education and to train their minds.

Why Study History At Grand Valley?

• Graduates are accepted into top law schools and graduate programs in history, museum studies, and library science.
• Faculty members are devoted to teaching, scholarship, and mentoring.
• Choose from research and internship opportunities for a well-rounded education that includes hands-on experience.
• Opportunities to engage with the community include public history projects and the Veterans History Project.
• Network through student organizations devoted to the program, including the History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society.

• The Bachelor of Arts degree in music promotes the study of music within the context of a liberal education curriculum.
• The Bachelor of Music is designed for students with exceptional ability and particular interest in performance.
• The Bachelor of Music Education prepares students to teach music and meet certification requirements for Michigan's elementary and secondary schools.
• A minor in music is also available.

Why Study Music At Grand Valley?

• Studying music at GVSU, within the context of a liberal education foundation, prepares students to answer the call of a rewarding career and life.
• As an undergraduate-only program, our students have greater opportunities to learn and perform.
• Small class sizes allow students to engage directly with faculty members who are committed to understanding and encouraging each student's unique talent and needs.
• Professors are performers, international competition winners, conductors, composers, theorists, scholars, and acclaimed teachers.
• Grand Valley is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

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.

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 BS in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences prepares you for careers in this highly-relevant field to the Grat Lakes region. The program features a breadth and depth of knowledge that includes the study of stream ecology, fisheries biology, lake ecology, wetland ecology, aquatic invertebrates, and aquatic plants, among others. This curriculum will give graduates a highly desirable skill set which will make them well qualified for a range of career paths.

If you are interested in fisheries biology, you will be prepared to apply for Associate Fisheries Professional certification offered by the American Fisheries Society. Associate Fisheries Professional certification helps you qualify for jobs with state and federal agencies, and with environmental consulting firms.

Students interested in marine biology should plan on taking additional coursework in math and chemistry and complete summer coursework at a marine field station.

Why Study Fisheries And Aquatic Sciences At Grand Valley?

• The degree combines the highly technical expertise spanning the study of chemistry, physics, statistics, geology, natural resource management and biology with a liberal education component, creating a professional with a broad skill set required for success in this high demand profession.
• Flexibility within the curriculum provides you with a broad set of elective courses and opportunities for specialization.
• Authentic experiential learning in field and in laboratory learning environments.
• Opportunities for internships, international and domestic field study, and mentor-guided student research to complement coursework.
• A broad range of research opportunities provide undergraduate students the chance to engage in real-world projects

The CVS program is a 20-month cohort program, which begins in the fall each year. Students are offered a position in one of the sonography majors: Cardiovascular Sonography (adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography, and vascular sonography) or Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General (abdominal and obstetrics/gynecology). Admittance is selectively granted to students who have completed two years of required general education and prerequisite courses. Student applications for placement in the fall cohort are due by February 1 every year. Applications are available online.

Why Study Cardiovascular Sonography At Grand Valley?

• GVSU is the only baccalaureate level sonography program in the state of Michigan. Strong curriculum and knowledgeable, clinically practicing faculty members prepare students for leadership within the field.
• Students enjoy small class sizes, a cohort educational experience, and clinical education at multiple physicians' offices and hospitals. The clinical site placements expose students to diverse experiences, allowing them to network across multiple health systems and develop broad skill sets.
• Laboratory facilities utilize state-of-the-art sonographic equipment to prepare students for current and emerging techniques and protocols.
• A commitment to quality is demonstrated through continuous accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
• Students are qualified to take national board registries through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography before graduation, allowing them to become board-registered sonographers immediately upon graduation. GVSU's sonography programs are the only programs in the State of Michigan with this distinction.

The Professional Science Master's (PSM) in biotechnology offers a series of high-impact life science courses, as well as training in biostatistics and bioinformatics. The PSM program also includes training in scientific communication, ethics and professionalism in science, and business-related topics like project management and business plans. An internship serves as the culminating experience.

The thesis-based (research emphasis) track focuses on an intensive, 15-18 month research project that results in a publishable thesis. Students work closely with a research mentor and are expected to present the results of their research at a professional conference.

Why Study Cmb At Grand Valley?

• The interdisciplinary core program of the PSM provides students with a cross-disciplinary perspective not possible within a single major.
• Courses are taught in a region that is quickly developing into an important center for biotechnology research, industry, and education.
• Rewarding internships are available at the Van Andel Research Institute, Michigan State College of Human Medicine, Spectrum Health Research Labs, Walter's Greenhouses, and other area organizations.
• Faculty members are actively engaged in research, much of it carried out with students.
• Laboratories provide students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment.