Bachelor of Arts in Business (Communication)

at Kaplan Group - Arizona State University - West Campus USA

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.

Today's employment landscape is evolving into one that prizes expertise in an increasing number of specialized fields. The BA program in interdisciplinary arts and sciences allows students to build a flexible, customized degree that is unique to their specific career goals. For example, a business degree with an emphasis in communications can lead to employment opportunities that aren't as easily accessed by a traditional business degree alone.

By providing the opportunity to combine disciplines, the college equips students with the specialized education they need to reach their individual career goals.

This degree program culminates in a capstone internship experience that provides real-world perspective, skills and connections, creating versatile graduates and attractive job applicants for the corporate world

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 BA program in history introduces students to a broad span of history that covers the ancient world through the modern period and extends from Europe to Latin America and the United States. In addition to learning about the origins and development of various peoples, ideas and institutions of the past, students engage in the practice of history by learning to conduct research, analyze historical evidence and formulate arguments using historiographical perspectives and methodological approaches.

The BA program in business with a concentration in statistics is designed for students interested in a curriculum that helps them develop solid business skills with an emphasis in mathematics and statistics. The program involves theoretical and applied statistics with a focus on practical and applied aspects of statistics.

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.

The MA degree in English offered by the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences is a comprehensive program that addresses the many facets of English: its literatures; its linguistic, social and cultural histories; and its capacities for persuasion, exposition and elucidation.

The program is grounded in scholarly tradition but designed for the demands of the 21st century. Its innovative curriculum has been developed to train present and future educators as well as individuals pursuing careers in the wide variety of professions that value advanced critical thinking, research and communication skills.

The world-class faculty is ready to help enhance students' skill set, deepen their knowledge base and put the Master of Arts in English degree to work in their chosen profession.

The MA in social technologies is for those interested in the ways new kinds of social data introduce challenges and opportunities to society.

The program combines a thorough grounding in digital social science with the skills needed for engaging in the analysis of social data. This unique combination provides graduates with the ability to understand and contribute to creating ethical social platforms. They are also well positioned to advise institutions, businesses and government agencies on appropriate policies, and to draw on large-scale trace data to help address significant social issues.

The rapid shift toward algorithmic structures of social interaction represents one of the most significant challenges to society, and questions of equity, privacy and autonomy have become a recurring theme running through many modern social problems. These technologies also may provide the keys for addressing substantial social issues. To critically analyze these socio-technical systems requires both technical abilities and an understanding of social theory.

ASU offers an MA in social technologies for those interested in engaging research at the intersection of data and society. It prepares graduates to be leaders in social data science, working with organizations to help them make ethical and effective use of social data, consulting on broader issues of social change and networked technologies, or continuing on to doctoral work in cognate fields.

Students in the program work through a series of courses that provide a grounding in social theory and digital research methods as well as opportunities to apply that knowledge to social issues.

The MA in interdisciplinary studies offered by the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences is an innovative program that allows students to combine the study of two or more disciplines for their program of study.

Founded on the conviction that solving problems in the 21st century often requires an interdisciplinary approach, this flexible program provides exposure to a variety of research methods, historical perspectives and modes of inquiry.

The program gives students access to faculty members who are active practitioners of interdisciplinary inquiry. Working with the faculty, students may define their own area of emphasis or adopt an existing area within the humanities and social sciences.

The skills and knowledge that students acquire can be directed toward doctoral study or professional goals in any enterprise that engages in research or education.

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.