Master of Science in Microbiology (STEM)

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - Tempe Campus USA

The MA program in classical liberal education and leadership is an integrated, interdisciplinary course of study that is student-learning centered, employing the Socratic method of classroom dialogue. This Master of Arts degree program fosters a learning community of students and faculty oriented to the classical, holistic pursuit of knowledge.

The curriculum focuses on philosophy, politics, literature, ethics, economics and history. It combines theory and practice with ideas and application, incorporating inquiry about the good life with the practical challenge of leading others --- nations, societies and individuals --- in the pursuit of a way of life that accords with the precepts of justice and the ethos of humanity.

Intellectual, moral and civic education are understood to be component parts of a genuine liberal education; all are necessary for the flourishing of the individual and society. As Aristotle taught, there is no substitute for doing the right thing in the right way. This is true in how children are educated, neighbors are lived with, and nations are governed. The classical liberal education and leadership program aims to prepare the next generation's teachers, scholars, civic leaders and statesmen to meet the challenges ahead with foresight, integrity, prudence and imagination.

Students in the BA program in chemistry take a wide range of courses that prepare them to understand and take on important problems using atomic and molecular scale approaches in areas as diverse as climate change, sustainability, public health, nanoscience, forensics, cosmetics and food chemistry, patent law, sales and marketing.

The Bachelor of Arts program in chemistry is a flexible option for students interested in a liberal arts degree with a strong grounding in physical science. It is ideal for students seeking to complete two degrees. Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry have opportunities to explore a wide range of interests from laboratory science to working in the public sector in regulation or law.

Students wishing to pursue a scientific graduate degree should consider the BS in chemistry.

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 BFA program in art with a concentration in art education involves creative teaching and learning processes and strategies, first-hand experience teaching art for a range of ages, the study of art history and global cultures, and practice in a variety of studio areas.

The program focuses on engaging with artistic inquiry and education in K-12, community and museum settings. Students investigate issues related to teaching art from multiple perspectives, including:

• Creativity and critical thinking
• Ecological connections
• Inquiry-based learning
• Interdisciplinary curriculum development
• Multicultural contexts
• Studio and conceptual art practices

In addition to their art education coursework, students are required to take coursework in the various studio areas offered in the School of Art. Students declare their Bachelor of Fine Arts concentration at the time of their ASU admission. Following admission, if students wish to change their concentration, they may meet with their School of Art academic advisor.

Chemical engineering deals with the application of chemistry, physics and mathematics to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. Chemical engineering also involves the design of valuable new materials and chemical products.

The BSE program offered in chemical engineering builds on a broad base of knowledge within the basic and mathematical sciences and engineering and offers excellent career opportunities. Chemical engineers are engaged in the development and production of a diverse range of products, including high-performance materials needed for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic and environmental applications. The modern discipline of chemical engineering is intertwined with biology and biomedical engineering.

Students in the BS program in biochemistry take courses in areas ranging from basic chemistry, through the properties and function of biomolecules and the mechanisms of cellular function, to living organisms.

With a concentration in medicinal chemistry, students learn how to apply chemical and biochemical thinking to the design and function of medicines. Students take classes in advanced organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry and learn the fundamental chemical basics of drug design, synthesis and mechanism of action.

The MS program in molecular and cellular biology focuses on the fundamental molecular events at the core of all life. It encourages interdisciplinary, innovative, world-class research, allowing students to choose from a diverse range of research and training opportunities that extend beyond the traditional boundaries of biological research.

The MS program in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity is designed for graduate students who want to pursue a thorough education in the area of cybersecurity and information assurance. This program offers a thesis and nonthesis project portfolio option.

This concentration program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed in science and engineering for cybersecurity. This includes computer and network security, software security, data and information security, applied cryptography and computer forensics.

According to the National Security Agency, information assurance is defined as the set of measures intended to protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and nonrepudiation. This includes providing restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection and reaction capabilities.

Cybersecurity courseware at ASU has been certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation Program to satisfy the standards for Information Systems Security Professionals (NSTISSI 4011) and Senior Systems Managers (CNSSI 4012).

Combining the physical environment with human interaction, the BA in geography program emphasizes humanistic and cultural traditions.

Students pursuing undergraduate studies in geography typically concentrate on knowledge-building in understanding various cultural phenomena or in studying regions such as: Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Europe, Latin America and North America.

Civil engineering majors have two options within the accredited BSE program: civil engineering and civil engineering with sustainable engineering concentration. Regardless of choice, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering in civil engineering is accredited by ABET.

The bachelor's degree in civil engineering with a concentration in sustainable engineering incorporates systems modeling and life cycle approaches to assessing the resiliency and material selection across all areas of urban infrastructure or built environment, currently addressed within the civil engineering degree. The program is designed to provide students with exposure to material from several disciplines that comply with the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability and apply them to traditional civil engineering areas.