Bachelor of Arts in General Studies

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - Downtown Phoenix Campus USA

The BS program in public service and public policy prepares students for work in government at all levels and in nonprofit organizations through comprehensive coverage of topics in public policy, public leadership and management, and urban studies.

Students discover the challenges of management and learn how to lead a public organization and understand the process of policy development. This program examines the public sector and addresses, in a practical way, the challenges facing the public. The program is unique because it enables students to study public service, policy and administration with a professional focus.

Students select one of the following concentrations areas to supplement their core courses, including; American Indian studies, business, criminology, emergency management, health policy, law and policy, nonprofit leadership and management, parks and recreation management, public leadership and management, science and technology, social services delivery, sustainability, or urban and metropolitan studies.

This STEM-designated* concentration program is offered to students who are interested in gaining both global management and data management expertise in order to work in multinational corporations, international nonprofit entities, governmental and non-governmental organizations around the globe.

As global companies and organizations in the Fourth Industrial Revolution continue to rely on data to drive management decisions, it is increasingly important for leaders to have the skills necessary to understand and interpret that data.

Thunderbird School of Global Management has produced unique leaders for 75 years, leaders in every sector capable of tackling the world's greatest challenges. The alumni network comprises 45,000 graduates and 170 chapters around the globe.

*As an added bonus for international students, this program meets special F-1 international student status requirements. This means that international students who graduate with the data science concentration qualify for a 24-month extension to their Optional Practical Training in the United States beyond the 12-month period already provided to international students in non-STEM degrees.

The BA program in journalism and mass communication at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, widely regarded as one of the nation's premier journalism schools, is a highly professional, hands-on degree program that prepares students for careers in media and communications.

Through access to a world-class faculty of veteran and current journalists, and with prestigious internships and hands-on learning opportunities, undergraduate students learn the values and principles that have long formed the core of the journalism profession, and they master the highly specialized, practical skills needed to succeed in today's digital world.

Topics of study can include unique courses in digital media, broadcast news, innovation and entrepreneurship, audience engagement, public relations and Spanish-language news. The Cronkite School's full-immersion professional programs afford students the opportunity to gain experience in activities like hosting the evening news on AZ PBS and creating digital advertising campaigns.

Those with a passion for exercise and health can help optimize people's lives with the BS program in exercise and wellness.

In the BS in exercise and wellness degree program, students develop strong foundational knowledge in exercise physiology, functional anatomy, kinesiological principles, the psychological aspects of physical activity, and electrocardiology. They develop expertise in health, exercise and fitness testing through hands-on experience in labs with state-of-the-art exercise, metabolic and cardiopulmonary equipment.

Upper-division and special topics courses dive deeper into the physiology and exercise prescription for those with chronic cardiovascular, metabolic or neuromuscular conditions, preparing students to prevent, treat or reverse many of these conditions.

The MS program in nutritional science prepares students to translate nutrition science into practical use for human health and wellness. Students immerse themselves in the latest nutrition topics and research partnered with accomplished faculty, developing practical understanding through internship experiences and their own guided research. Building on the scientific foundations of human nutrition, students learn strong writing and problem-solving skills, grow computer literacy, and increase interpretive expertise. Students are afforded research experiences grounded in the latest science that can match their own interests and goals.

Sports nutrition, a new track in the program, provides an option for students to select specialized courses in sports nutrition and exercise science and obtain hands-on training and research with sports dietitians and nutrition faculty who are experts in the field. Students in this track complete the same core nutrition graduate cour but take track-specific courses and electives that focus on sports nutrition, hydration, exercise physiology and other vital parts of the discipline. The culminating experience research is under the guidance of sports nutrition professors in the College of Health Solutions.

The BS program in integrative health provides students with a foundation in integrative health, a holistic approach to wellness that focuses on the mind, body and spirit.

Through innovative and interprofessional approaches to serving and supporting diverse populations, students learn to understand and differentiate the ethics, legalities and standards of practice of integrative health and to think critically about different therapies, modalities and practitioners. Coursework and experiences include an emphasis on research and evidence-based practices and gaining an understanding of the historical and cultural foundations of the integrative health field.

This degree program has the same prerequisites as the nursing major; therefore, students may transition seamlessly to this program and obtain a bachelor's degree in a health-related field.

Thunderbird designed the STEM-designated* global digital transformation concentration within the MGM degree program for students interested in augmenting their digital skills in the areas of management consulting, marketing, design and product development. Students can tailor this cutting-edge academic concentration to fit their specific learning goals. Through collaborative courses offered in partnership with other ASU colleges, students may combine the global management skills gained in the Master of Global Management with digital expertise to create a dual specialization that will continue to be in high demand throughout the global economy.

Digital transformation leadership is a highly sought after expertise. However, technical skills need to be supplemented with a strong repertoire of management and collaboration skills. The Master of Global Management program with a concentration in global digital transformation expands students' choices of electives and fuses technological skills with managerial skills. In this concentration, students combine the global management skills of the Master of Global Management with digital expertise by specializing in the various pathways of global digital transformation through program coursework and applied learning projects guided by our faculty experts.

Prepare to lead community colleges, colleges and universities toward solutions in contemporary challenges. You'll gain the skills needed to operate successfully in environments that demand innovation, excellence, inclusion and collaboration.

The MEd program in higher and postsecondary education is designed to facilitate the professional development of those who work in colleges and universities in administrative roles, as well as academic support and student support positions.

The program develops leaders who have a strong understanding of the theory and practice of higher education administration; possess the ability to analyze issues confronting contemporary colleges and universities; and can exercise innovative and effective decision-making.

Coursework addresses a range of practice-focused topics in the field, including the following: the history of higher education in the United States; organizational characteristics of colleges and universities; important laws and policies pertaining to administrative practice in higher education; how colleges and universities are funded; how to work successfully with diverse stakeholders in contemporary higher education; and how to collect and use data to improve decision-making.

This 30 credit-hour, 10-course program is offered on a 7.5-week calendar in fall and spring semesters (six weeks in summer). Students may enroll part time or full time.

Most courses are offered in a hybrid format with 50% of the content delivered face-to-face (weekday evenings) and 50% delivered through independent or technology-supported learning experiences and fieldwork.

This program culminates with the creation and presentation of an applied project in which students demonstrate their understanding of critical issues in higher education and how to collect and use data to improve their professional practice. The project is also designed to promote graduates' career advancement in higher and postsecondary education settings.

The School of Public Affairs offers a BS in public service and public policy with a concentration in parks and recreation management.

Leisure and quality of life are an essential part of U.S. society. This program provides students a transdisciplinary education in the management of parks, protected areas and community-based recreation services.

The BS program in health entrepreneurship and innovation provides students with a broad background in the principles of innovation, leadership, complexity science, change theory, collaboration and evidence-based decision-making to prepare graduates to manage implementation of innovation in the health care arena.

Through the use of evidence-based decision-making and leadership skills in interprofessional teams, students learn to tackle health care challenges using modern technology, public policy and communication. This unique program situates students at the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling them to develop their own solutions to health challenges.

Program areas of emphasis:

• Develop competence in the design, application and testing of innovative processes and products
• Incorporate current trends with interprofessional teams
• Lead processes of innovation and transformation