Master of Science in Community Resources and Development With Concentration in Parks and Recreation Management

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

Understanding the intersections between business and politics is more important than ever for managers and executives in the private, nonprofit and public sectors. The World Economic Forum's latest Future of Jobs Report and McKinsey Global Institute's Jobs of the Future report both have suggested that transdisciplinary, virtual collaboration and cross-cultural competence are extremely important job skills for the near future. Thunderbird's MGM program with a concentration in global affairs equips students with the knowledge base and hard skills needed to thrive in the growing job markets at the nexus of global business and international politics.

This concentration is designed for students who aspire to take on management and executive positions in government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Commerce, the State Department and the Treasury Department or similar roles in the government of a student's home country. The global affairs concentration also positions graduates for leadership roles in international organizations such as the World Bank or World Trade Organization and in major companies that require analysts to monitor policy trends, managers to oversee global supply chains and representatives to advance global business interests to governments, both domestic and foreign.

The program is designed for students interested in working in sustainable tourism, hospitality, travel and related fields. The concentration in sustainable tourism opens up a world of opportunities, allowing students to take courses in sustainable tourism from ASU's Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at the Downtown Phoenix campus, located in the heart of the state capital's thriving business district.

Students specialize in sustainable tourism management, mastering the principles and practices of successful sustainable development in the tourism field. Together, a diverse cohort learns to integrate economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability as it relates to tourism; conduct sustainability audits for destinations and businesses; evaluate community impacts of tourism; innovate and evaluate sustainable tourism practices; and perform business planning and management. Students receive specialized, hands-on training in international business, cross-cultural relations, global political economy and regional business environments.

Graduates enter their profession ready to oversee initiatives in research, development, implementation, execution and evaluation of sustainable tourism plans for businesses and destinations. Graduates are prepared to enter today's complex and exciting global economy at the top of organizations that operate across borders. They join a global network of Thunderbird alumni who hold leadership positions in global organizations worldwide.

The BS program in community health develops leaders who are dedicated to addressing health challenges at their source while also creating partnerships to leverage resources. This program is designed for students who want to create healthy, sustainable communities.

Community health professionals work in partnership to address health needs of diverse populations. Students learn to understand the components of a healthy, sustainable community; advocate for diverse individuals, families and communities; and provide health education, health promotion and service coordination.

Graduates of this program provide health education, health promotion, care coordination, disease management, health care navigation and advocacy services for individuals, families and communities.

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.

The MS program in physical activity and health offers a unique opportunity for advanced training with options to focus on exercise science, fitness and conditioning, or physical activity and health promotion alongside faculty who are immersed in the latest research.

This program prepares students to translate and apply evidence-based exercise science, fitness and lifestyle behavior change approaches to improve health and well-being and prevent chronic disease across the lifespan. It also prepares students to design fitness and conditioning programs for athletes.

Students in the program develop competencies in research design, statistical methods and the ethical conduct of research studies and they have the opportunity to conduct a mentored research project as part of a thesis, if desired. They also learn to apply theoretical models of behavior change for the development and implementation of interventions to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of physical activity and other health and wellness behaviors. Students develop and demonstrate their knowledge of the causes, risks factors and impact of exercise, physical activity and fitness on the disease process in cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cancer, musculoskeletal health and functional fitness through a critical examination of epidemiological research and exercise intervention studies.

The BA program in community development equips students with tools to collaborate with, empower and educate diverse community constituents by drawing on grassroots and inclusive frameworks such as sustainable development, social and environmental justice, participatory democracy, social and economic equity and social accounting.

The core curriculum provides students with the intellectual tools to integrate their concentration areas, engage in transdisciplinary problem-solving and prepare for careers and graduate programs that increasingly cross disciplinary boundaries. An interdisciplinary studies student could choose to integrate concentrations like business and project management, psychology and social welfare, communication and justice studies, public administration and ethics, digital culture and computer gaming or many other unique combinations.

Interdisciplinary studies is an approach to answering questions, solving problems and addressing contemporary social issues from multiple perspectives. Interdisciplinary studies students take an active role in designing their educational plans and defining their career goals. The degree emphasizes written communication, versatility, self-assessment and critical thinking --- essential skills for today's dynamic world.

The BS in food and nutrition entrepreneurship addresses significant and ongoing changes in the food industry by preparing students with sound nutrition principles and business acumen that will enable them to competitively participate in a growing field.

The program encompasses important areas of knowledge and skills for future nutrition entrepreneurs, whether they intend to innovate within an organization or launch a food or nutrition-related business. Key topics include how to develop an online presence, supported by evidence-based principles, thorough social media, blogging, podcasting and video; how to launch nutritionally sound startups and businesses for individual practice and consulting; and how to innovate within the food industry through research and development.

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior. This diverse field includes mental health and counseling as well as child development, neuroscience and brain function, memory and decision-making, behavior analysis, statistics and crosses into other disciplines such as medicine, law, business and economics.

Emphasizing critical thinking and reasoning, and quantitative research methods and writing, this BS program in psychology goes beyond the classroom with practical experiences through internships, service-learning and faculty-supervised research. (Some opportunities are not available to students enrolled in the degree offered through ASU Online.)

The Bachelor of Science degree differs from the Bachelor of Arts degree in that it requires two additional lab courses and advanced statistical training, providing a greater depth of knowledge in the biological and neuroscientific aspects of psychology that are increasingly important both for research and for clinical practice. The advanced statistical training further prepares students for careers and graduate training involving psychological research, clinical research and legal policy research.

The MS program in regulatory science is designed for students interested in protecting public health by controlling the distribution of products such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, as well as agrochemicals. In particular, the ASU regulatory science program focuses on drugs and devices, preparing students for careers in the pharmaceutical, medical research and medical device industries.

The field of regulatory science focuses on the application of regulations throughout the lifecycle of medical products and compliance with regulations in the development, approval and marketing of medical products. This advanced degree incorporates a transdisciplinary approach to meet the unique needs of regulating bodies and the industry. While earning the Master of Science in regulatory science, students delve into all aspects of regulatory affairs including clinical research, ethics, quality systems, legal aspects and global regulatory practices in the regulatory field.

The BA program in communication is a broad-based program that trains individuals to speak and write competently, manage relationships well, problem-solve effectively and understand the role and function of communication in public forums, organizational settings, relational exchanges and intercultural situations.

The curriculum provides an extensive understanding of the practical, theoretical and professional distinctions of today's field of communication. Utilizing the nationally recognized CommLabASU, students perform in-depth study of what contributes to and detracts from effective human communication, recognizing that the art of communication is far more nuanced than simple speaking and writing prowess.

Students may pursue one or more focus areas that are designed to amplify their academic and professional preparation in specific contexts.