Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts

at Kaplan Group - Simmons University USA

You'll critically understand every element of website development — from designing the perfect layout to writing the code behind the scenes — and build innovative, interactive websites.

The World Wide Web has driven a need for web designers and developers. People who understand both the art and the science of web development are particularly valued. Graduates will have a firm understanding of the principles of design as well as an understanding of the technical issues involved in the development of an active website. Students graduating from this major will have an advantage over traditional web designers because they will have both a clear understanding of the elements of web development and deep knowledge of the elements of design.

This major combines existing classes from the Communications and Computer Science programs to create a cohesive major in Web Design & Development. It seeks to draw students who are interested in integrating the two facets of website creation, rather than focusing on either the Graphic Design concentration or the Computer Science major.

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 major in East Asian Studies (EAS) is designed to provide students with knowledge and understanding of East Asia, a region that has become increasingly significant in the post-Cold War era. Students acquire this knowledge by studying an East Asian language as well as courses in other disciplines that may include art history, economics, film studies, history, literature, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology.

The major prepares students for further growth beyond college along a variety of paths, such as graduate study, careers in education, employment abroad or in business and institutions specializing in East Asia, and service within and to the Asian American community.

Our Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics program prepares students to change the world by harnessing the power of information. In fact, Data Science already impacts your world. It is the force behind everything from Facebook ads to personalized medicine.

Data Science and Analytics, a field that also goes by the names of Data Science, Data Analytics, and Predictive Analytics — is also related to “Big Data”, “Machine Learning” or “Artificial Intelligence”. In the Bachelor’s in Data Science and Analytics degree program, students combine computer science, statistics and project management with in-depth knowledge of a specific discipline to become expert analysts. They then apply their expertise in the real world through internships that prepare them for exciting careers in their chosen field.

What can you do with a Bachelor’s degree in Data Science and Analytics?
Many careers opportunities exist for Data Science and Analytics degree holders. Depending on your chosen concentration, or area of expertise, career possibilities for Simmons graduates include:

• Data Analyst
• Big Data Engineer
• Data Architect
• Business Intelligence
• Analyst
• Data Scientist
• Drug Discovery Scientist
• Genomics/Epidemiologist
• Data Warehouse Analyst
• Social Science and Public Policy Analyst
• Ethical Hacker
• Meteorologist

The Financial Mathematics major, which is interdisciplinary among the Mathematics and Statistics, Economics and Management programs, prepares students for careers in the financial services and actuarial industries.

Among the possible very rewarding career paths are becoming a financial planner, a private wealth manager, an investment manager (for a mutual fund, pension plan, or endowment) and an actuary. The major also helps prepare students for the first Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam and for the first three Society of Actuaries exams.

Our majors have had internships at financial services firms, private wealth management firms, investment banks and mutual fund companies. Our graduates work in all these settings, at hedge funds, at insurance companies, and in other settings requiring a deep knowledge of these fields and strong analytical skills.

The major in art includes courses in art history and studio art practice. Students choose either area to emphasize, depending upon interest and career plans. Either emphasis can serve as a foundation for further study at the graduate level. The study of art leads to careers in a wide variety of fields, such as teaching, publishing, arts administration, art conservation, museum or gallery work, commercial art and design, architecture, city planning, painting, photography, or printmaking, etc. In all of these areas, the major in art would profitably be combined with a major in another area, such as English, history, chemistry, philosophy, management, communications, or mathematics.

Students are encouraged to augment the required courses with in-depth study in the liberal arts and additional courses in the major. Students work with their advisor to develop a coherent course program that will meet their educational goals. Students considering graduate study should plan to take as many upper level courses in their major as they can accommodate in their schedules, especially during junior and senior years.

You'll learn to craft intelligent and influential messages — even in 140 characters or less — and comprehensive public relations plans.

The Interdisciplinary Major in Public Relations and Marketing Communications is offered with the Business School and designed to provide grounding and experience in public relations and a firm understanding of the principles and implementation of marketing strategy. At its best, PR/MarCom education embodies intellectual traditions drawn from a wide range of social and hard sciences, as well as professional and liberal arts areas of concentrations. Students receive a BA in PR/MarCom.

The Computer Science major will help you learn to think critically, logically, and abstractly. You will gain both an understanding of the underlying theory and concepts of computing, as well as the facility to integrate theory with practice. Simmons students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science write software that improves quality of life, create incredibly powerful websites, design and implement systems, and develop new technology.

Our Bachelor of Computer Science students explore a wide range of courses focused on systems and technology development. As a Computer Science major, you will develop and adapt new methods for solving highly technical problems at the forefront of technology.

In the Philosophy program, you'll question life's deepest intricacies.

We like students who ask the tough questions
Our aim isn't to memorize facts, but to explore complex problems and competing perspectives through critical analysis and reflection. Our students gain the ability to express their values and thoughts clearly in both speech and writing.

The extensive talents of our Philosophy students can be applied to any field, including law, journalism, business, social work, medicine, education and writing.

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.