Bachelor of Arts in Biology

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - West Campus USA

The BA in business with a concentration in communication is an innovative, transdisciplinary program that prepares students for positions in a variety of professions in which business and communication play an important role in ensuring success.

Students complete rigorous courses within the communication concentration in addition to the skill and core courses required of all W. P. Carey School of Business majors.

Graduates have specific knowledge of business practices and the capacity to effectively communicate complex business information

Students in the BS program in applied computing learn a computer science foundation and then explore the established knowledge and emerging developments in the high-demand areas of database systems, computer networks and cybersecurity. The program also provides the opportunity to investigate interdisciplinary connections, including the combination of computing with its real-world application in other disciplines through concurrent degrees and minors.

Hands-on class projects, internships, industry partnerships and authentic and impactful research conducted with faculty provide numerous opportunities for students to apply their knowledge before they graduate. Students use their programming expertise, systems knowledge and critical thinking skills to effectively problem-solve and articulate their experience through presentations, scientific posters and professional papers.

With a depth of knowledge and experience in databases, networks and cybersecurity, graduates have a strong foundation in systems with established interconnections among these fields that prepares them for graduate study and for careers that include cybersecurity analysts, database architects and network engineers.

Students in the BS program in pharmacology and toxicology study how foreign materials react with human bodies. To have a thorough understanding of the interactions of chemicals in the biological system, students in the program study both biology and chemistry, and they become familiar with chemical interactions at physiological, molecular and cellular levels.

Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the law. The concentration in forensic psychology within the BA program in psychology combines general training in psychology with specialized coursework in criminal law, criminal behavior, the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and legal decision-making.

When courts are faced with cases in which a psychology-related question arises, they may turn to psychologists for help with the case. For example, psychologists might assist the court in understanding a criminal's mental state at the time of a crime or in determining whether a particular jury might have been biased against a defendant based on his or her race. This is the realm of forensic psychology.

This program teaches students about the various roles for psychologists in the legal system and helps them discover which roles they might like to pursue through careers in mental health, criminal justice or through graduate training.

The Bachelor of Arts degree differs from the BS degree in that it does not require two additional lab science courses.

The School of Accountancy's undergraduate BS program in accountancy offers two tracks during the senior year.

The accounting track is followed by most students and is designed to provide a rich educational experience.

The accounting master's internship is the track designed for the most highly qualified students who wish to commit to the MAcc or MTax program during the second semester of their junior year. The internship provides a particularly rich and individualized educational experience during the senior year. It includes a number of distinct advantages for students: a full-time paid internship for credit with a participating accountancy firm, early consideration for scholarships and possible eligibility for a GMAT waiver and a graduate application fee waiver for the MAcc or MTax program (eligibility is determined by the GPA at the time of application).

The BS in applied mathematics is an interdisciplinary program that provides a broad and rigorous foundation in applied mathematics. It includes a foundation in computing and statistics as well as both theoretical and applied mathematics.

The program emphasizes quantitative problem-solving and critical thinking through courses that expose students to a variety of mathematical theories, techniques and applications currently used by analysts and researchers in government, industry and nonprofit organizations.

Forensic science is the study and application of scientific methods to matters of law. The BS program in forensic science emphasizes laboratory coursework in chemistry and biology as both areas provide essential experience with techniques commonly used in crime labs.

Rigorous coursework in the natural and mathematical sciences is required to ensure graduates are competitive in the workforce. The program is enhanced by a focus on oral communication skills that help prepare graduates for the multifaceted, transdisciplinary aspects of careers in forensic science, such as providing articulate expert witness testimony.

The pharmacology and toxicology concentration of the BS program in biology provides an emphasis in the biochemical, molecular and physiological components of drug and body interactions.

The degree program emphasizes experiential learning, and all required core courses have laboratories. By learning in an integrative environment that emphasizes the connectedness of the disciplines, students gain a better understanding of larger scientific concepts and they can view these concepts from multiple perspectives. To have a thorough understanding of the interactions of chemicals in the biological system, students study both biology and chemistry and become familiar with chemical interactions at physiological, molecular and cellular levels.

Undergraduates have the opportunity to conduct independent research under the mentorship of faculty members or in internships outside the school.

The communication program prepares students to do far more than give a speech or two in front of their peers. It provides an extensive understanding of the practical, theoretical and professional distinctions of today's field of communication and equips students with the skills needed to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively through both the spoken and written word.

In the nationally recognized CommLabASU, this program trains and prepares students for in-depth study into 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, including: public relations, risk and strategic communication; media, culture and social technology; communication training and mentoring; dialogue, relationships and communities; and sport communication.

The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers a BS in political science in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

Political science is the study of governmental practices, politics and theories. Coursework in the political science program covers American institutions, international relations, political theory and world affairs. This program helps students gain a basic understanding of the assumptions underlying political science and to develop the necessary research skills for analyzing complex sociopolitical issues. In addition to coursework, students learn through internships, service-learning and research opportunities. The Bachelor of Science degree differs from the BA degree in that it requires an additional statistics course and a methods course.

Graduates of this program are prepared for work as analysts or aides in local, state or national legislative offices, among other roles. Many graduates go on to law school or graduate programs in political science, social science, urban planning or public administration.