Master of Science in Finance (STEM)

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - Tempe Campus USA

The MS program in actuarial science emphasizes broad awareness and appreciation of current issues faced by insurance industry practitioners as well as innovative resolutions provided by actuaries.

Students to advance their knowledge base by applying mathematical and statistical concepts and data analytics to the disciplines of risk management, finance and insurance. It also includes a new focused set of professional learning outcomes aligned with the needs of the ever-evolving insurance industry, while keeping the core technical learning outcomes in place. These guide students' development of professional competencies through coursework, independent projects and opportunities outside of the classroom, while remaining firmly based on a strong foundation of scholarly technical work in actuarial science.

Actuaries must pass a series of intensive professional exams to become credentialed. Program graduates are prepared for the examinations required to become credentialed professionals by the Society of Actuaries or Casualty Actuarial Society and to be competitive employees in the insurance and finance industries.

The MSTP program uniquely prepares its graduates to have an impact in today's science and technology decision-making. It is designed to train future leaders, policymakers and analysts in tackling diverse and complex policy issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence in ways that are socially responsible and that contribute to a more just and vibrant future.

This cohort-based program attracts students of the highest caliber and can be completed in one year or over an extended period on a part-time basis. It is suited to anyone interested in a career in which they work to ensure, through responsive and effective policy development and implementation, that science and technology serve society. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds.

The program provides students with knowledge and tools to analyze and answer complex questions around science and technology policy issues, including:

• How are science and technology influenced by the policy process?
• What is the rightful place of scientific expertise in public policymaking?
• What values and assumptions underlie society's current understanding of science and technology?
• Who should make decisions about science and technology policy? Only experts? Or should lay people also have a voice?
• How should policymakers deal with the risks and uncertainties that come from new science and technology (e.g., biotechnology, nanotechnology, geoengineering, information technology)?
• How can policymakers balance concerns about science and technology, while maintaining innovation and international competitiveness?

Students work on topics as varied as responsible innovation, technological convergence, social and environmental sustainability, health and well-being, energy, equity, security, data privacy, infrastructure, democracy, STEM education, the role of science, and space exploration and policy. They are able to describe the historical, social and institutional foundations of science and technology policy; discuss the complexities of science and technology policy decisions, decision-making under uncertainty and the role of experts; employ effective policy communications skills and techniques; and work collaboratively and effectively with experts from different backgrounds, including scientists, engineers and elected officials.

Graduates are able to apply critical skills and methods to science and technology policy analysis, apply cutting-edge approaches to ensuring socially responsive and responsible technology innovation, and contribute to developing and implementing creative solutions to many of today's most complex challenges.

The BA program in business with a concentration in sports business is attractive to students with an interest in the sports industry.

This concentration provides students with the necessary skills to build knowledge and understanding of the development of the strategic business process in sports organizations and its relationship to media. The program offers a strong focus on applied elements of the sports industry, especially as it relates to media and its impact on the industry.

The proliferation of mass communication (including television, game systems and social networks) has transformed sports into a highly commercialized industry and, in turn, sports continue to generate revenues for these businesses. The interaction between sports and media has led to a multitude of applications of business knowledge to these fields.

A global perspective and social justice are at the core of the BA program in museum studies at ASU.

The courses focus on the most prescient international themes and issues at the forefront of contemporary museum and heritage studies. These include various ethical and legal issues, such as decolonization and repatriation claims; the impact of Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 on the cultural sector; activist curating; the role that institutions can play in fighting climate change; and the impact of tourism on heritage sites; among other current topics.

In order to reflect the breadth of the sector, the museum studies degree students select their own concentrations, in consultation with their advisor, in areas such as art history, anthropology, history, liberal studies, education, global studies, justice studies, parks and recreation, and other approved subjects. These courses offer a range of learning opportunities led by scholars and museum practitioners from across the ASU campus. Optional internships enable students to work directly with working arts professionals in their field of interest.

The BMus in performance with a concentration in guitar is a program that focuses on the study of classical guitar literature and techniques. Goals include enabling students to express themselves musically while emphasizing the skills necessary to pursue careers as professional musicians. The course of study includes extensive performance experiences.

The MS program in computer science affords an opportunity for students employed in industry to seek a breadth of advanced education in computer science.

The program reflects the dual nature of computer science as a scientific and engineering discipline by allowing emphasis on theory as well as practical applications. Students can study topics such as:

• Artificial intelligence
• Big data
• Cloud and distributed computing
• Cybersecurity
• Database management and information retrieval
• Database systems
• Data mining and machine learning
• Distributed computing and operating systems
• Imaging, graphics and visualization
• Simulation modeling and systems

The MID in industrial design is a studio-based program in which students learn to design new products and service systems that solve critical global problems.

Students engage in research, brainstorming, idea visualization, prototyping and testing of creative solutions that address critical problems faced in the world today.

Graduates of this program are adept in using principles of design innovation, sustainability and systems thinking in problem-solving.

The MS program in communication disorders prepares students to become certified speech language pathologists in a full-time residential program that can be completed in 20 months. The program trains students to evaluate and treat clients with speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders.

The first year develops knowledge and skills for the assessment and treatment of communication disorders in people of all ages. Students complete clinical practicum with clinical faculty educators. In the second year, students acquire additional clinical skills with two full semesters of external placements.

This program offers research and clinical opportunities in different settings, including inpatient and outpatient medical sites, public schools, early intervention programs and private practices. A part-time employment program is available for speech-language pathology assistants in public schools. Those seeking specialized training can pursue a multicultural and multilingual certificate.

The Asian languages faculty in the School of International Letters and Cultures offer a graduate program leading to an MA in Asian languages and civilizations with a concentration in Japanese.

ASU's Japanese MA program allows students to pursue their interests in Japanese history, literature and culture through advanced training in modern and classical Japanese, and through in-depth study of specific historical and cultural periods. The training equips students with the skills to do original research in primary sources and with the critical and methodological background to understand their chosen fields. Areas of particular faculty strength include early modern and modern literature; film, animation and popular culture; translation studies; modern history; Japan's warrior cultures; and transnational studies, especially Sino-Japanese literary and cultural relations and kanshibun genres.

The BA program in French offers the opportunity to study the language, literature and culture of France and francophone countries.

Students gain competence in reading, writing, and oral and aural skills in the French language and take a number of related courses on topics such as:

• Art
• Cinema
• Colonization
• Government and political science
• History and civilization
• International business
• Linguistics
• Literature and theater
• Popular culture
• Religion