Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies

at Kaplan Group - Simmons University USA

Statistics is the science of learning from data. Statistics is the “glue” that holds together all of modern quantitative research in areas as disparate as public health, medicine, and the social, political, and physical sciences. Today, the demand for those trained in statistics is large and growing. The major in Statistics includes a foundation in mathematics, a core of applied and theoretical statistics courses, and relevant computing courses. A Statistics major can usefully be combined with any major in a field that makes use of quantitative methods.

There are two tracks within the statistics major: the Biostatistics track and the Mathematical Statistics track. The Biostatistics track will be attractive to students who are comfortable with mathematics and who wish to apply statistical methods in medicine and/or public health. (It is a perfect complement to a major in Biology or Public Health.) The Mathematical Statistics track is intended for students with a stronger than average mathematical background who are interested in applying quantitative methods beyond medicine and public health.

The intellectual domain of Africana Studies (AST) consists of four major areas:

• The study of African and European American relationships beginning in the 16th century.
• The study of African/African American community building, i.e., African Americans’ founding and organization of economic, educational, religious, and cultural institutions and related achievements of self-determination.
• Africanity and diaspora studies in the Americas, Africa, and Europe.

Africana women’s studies which seeks to study race, gender, and culture in ways that allow us to understand often interrelated diasporic experiences across the globe.
Each of these areas may be examined further by focusing upon specializations in the humanities (e.g., literature, film, journalism), social sciences (e.g., research, public policy, health care), physical sciences (e.g., environmental studies), interdisciplinary studies (e.g., women’s and gender studies, management, education) or in professional programs (nursing, teacher preparation, social work). An AST major or minor is appropriate for students with strong interests in studies of Americans of color; in the intersectional study of race, gender, and class in the humanities or social sciences; or in one or more subject areas indicated above. The department prepares students for the labor market and continued professional and graduate training by providing a solid foundation of critical, analytical, and technological skills. Pre-graduation internships are available for all interested students. Study abroad and modern language skills are highly recommended. Students interested in dual degree programs or self-designed majors should consult with program faculty to design an individualized program.

Simmons University offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree that provides exceptional training in social work and scholarship.

Our BSW students learn through classroom settings, multiple field placements, and innovative practices such as simulations where you will have the opportunity to practice and hone your skills. Students in our BSW degree program benefit from our nationally regarded School of Social Work (SSW) — including acclaimed BSW faculty, remarkable alumnae/i and Simmons University's ideal location in the Fenway and Longwood Medical Area.

In Simmons' Bachelor of Social Work degree program, we’ll prepare you to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. You’ll learn the theories needed to understand human development, how society functions, and how policy impacts individuals and communities.

Nurses are always in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Furthermore, the need for trained nurses will never disappear.

Trained nurses with a BSN degree from Simmons University have the ability to work anywhere around the country—or even internationally. No matter where you end up, no two days will be the same in your nursing career. The constant changes and challenges of the healthcare field are undoubtedly demanding, but, more importantly, incredibly rewarding.

Nursing majors at Simmons graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, prepared for the registered nurse licensure (NCLEX) exam, graduate school, and entry-level nursing positions in offices, homes, hospitals, and schools.

Our mathematics students are problem solvers who go on to great careers using the quantitative and analytical skills they developed at Simmons.

Do you like a challenge?
Our students learn to think about problems in a whole new way. You can combine one of our majors with an interest in economics, management, computer science, or another science. Many of our students use their biostatistics major to build careers in public health doing exciting things like designing clinical trials for new medications and treatments.

Our faculty is always on the forefront of using new teaching methods, including cooperative learning groups, computer laboratory investigations, writing-to-learn and flipped courses, as well as traditional instruction. Our students go on to successful careers and graduate study in fields like statistics, scientific programming, public health, "big data" and teaching.

Students earning their Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Simmons develop a keen understanding of government institutions, the processes of decision making, and public policy.

Political Science students have many opportunities to learn from experts in the classroom—like our Warburg Chair in International Relations—and to attend leadership-focused events with visionaries like Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Gloria Steinem. Students also intern for local and national politicians, government agencies, and advocacy groups here in Boston—all just a short walk or T ride from campus.

Why study Political Science?
Politics implicitly affect every aspect of our daily lives. If you’re interested in international affairs, public policy, terrorism, the environment, and/or civil rights, studying political science will quench your thirst for information. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program at Simmons have the breadth and depth of knowledge required to analyze what shapes the political landscape in the United States and around the globe—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Best of all? They have the confidence to speak up for what they believe in, striving to make changes to make the world a better place.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree program at Simmons University explores the vast discipline of biology—including animal and plant physiology, developmental biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, ecology, and biotechnology.

Biology is the study of life and includes a broad range of biological disciplines. Undergraduate students are well- prepared for graduate studies and careers with a strong foundation in biological principles and methodology, as a result of the department’s student centered classroom, laboratory, and research experience. For students desiring a broad education in the life sciences, ranging from the molecular and cellular level to that of populations and ecosystems, this major provides maximum flexibility in preparation for careers in biology, biotechnology, and related fields; it also serves as excellent preparation for graduate and professional schools.

Why study Biology?
Biology is the science and study of life. All living things fall under the umbrella of biology: humans, animals, plants—it is an enormous and all-encompassing discipline that consists of many fields and subfields. Biology is critical to medicine and healthcare, forensics, technology, and wildlife and environmental conservation.

A bachelor’s degree in Biology from Simmons cultivates an extensive understanding of the basic principles of biology, including the structure, biochemistry, function, and metabolism of cells, as well as genetics and the theory of evolution.

Students in our Communications degree at Simmons University are progressive and innovative, whether they're working on a publication, shooting a video, designing a website, or crafting a clever tweet.

Why pursue a degree in Communications?
Communication is key in all aspects of life; it is how we interact, connect, and make impressions on each other and the world around us. The Communications degree at Simmons University focuses on how people use messages to generate meaning within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media.

Generating and conveying meaning is central to the work we do in our Communications major, as is an emphasis on media convergence—the intersection and interaction of the multiple media disciplines.

By combining new media practices with a firm writing foundation, our students cultivate the tools necessary to thrive in today's evolving market.

Are you ready for the future of journalism?
You'll actively engage with the challenge of communication for the screen, the page, and the web while gaining an understanding of the impact of the media on society and the individual.

Our faculty are seasoned media professionals offering their expertise in all journalism activities — like our student run newspaper and award-winning radio station — and developing projects that show students what the front lines of media really look like.

You'll hone your skills through internships in Boston and beyond and enter this rapidly changing industry with an impressive portfolio, ready to take on anything.

Our students are on the cutting edge of marketing theory, developing innovative social media campaigns, and engaging in the ongoing online conversation. The marketing landscape is constantly changing, including pressures in the global economy, sweeping changes in technology that have altered the ways in which organizations distribute their products and communicate with their customers, the shift from mass marketing to relationship marketing with the resulting array of market segments and subcultures, and the continued challenges and opportunities posed by issues of social impact and corporate ethics.

Our students work in teams to gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from industry and market data and craft marketing plans for local organizations. You'll learn to design compelling marketing campaigns that reflect your understanding of branding and consumer behavior, as you prepare for marketing opportunities in the workplace.