Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

at Kaplan Group - Simmons University USA

At Simmons, you'll learn advanced language skills and speak eloquently about subjects ranging from civilization to literature.

Our students are eager, intuitive and hard-working, expanding their understanding of French culture through in-depth courses and independent learning.

We encourage our students to develop their global perspective through study abroad opportunities. Our students go on to successful careers in fields such as education, writing, marketing and law.

With a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, you will be able to write insightfully, read closely, think critically, and do independent research in ways that serve you in a variety of career paths or further degree programs.

Students will be able to read closely, write critical essays driven by their own insights in conversation with those of published scholars, do research independently, reflect critically on their own analytical thinking, and talk intelligently about their insights in discussions or formal presentations.

Students will be able to discuss how literary works fit into the context of their times and grow out of a society with a particular history and politics. They will be able to discern the complex relationship of representation to issues of power in relation to race, class, gender, and sexuality.

The goals of the Program in Women’s and Gender Studies are to educate students in the theoretical, empirical, and methodological perspectives for considering the status and experiences of women; to consider gender in diverse national and international contexts by studying the multiple and contested meanings and roles of gender; and to develop an understanding of how gender is related to other social categories including race, class, age, sexuality, religion, and nationality. Women’s and Gender Studies courses, whether taken as part of the major or to enrich another discipline, invite students to understand past and present experiences in order to prepare for challenges and opportunities in their future personal, work, and social lives. Majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies has led to careers in management, law, academia, counseling, education, library, museum or archival work, health care, social services, public administration, writing, publishing, and the media.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon graduation students with a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies will have gained the following skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Critical-Historical Awareness – Students will be adept at considering gender in diverse national and international contexts as a result of studying the multiple and contested meanings and roles of gender from an historical, a multidisciplinary, and a trans-national perspective and will have developed an understanding of how gender is related to other social categories such as race, ethnicity, social class, sexuality, religion, and nationality.
• Interdisciplinary Content – Students will have acquired theoretical, methodological, and empirical perspectives for studying and critically analyzing the history, status, and experiences of women from diverse backgrounds.
• Disciplinary Skills – Students will be skilled at integrating theory and practice and will be able to communicate effectively in both writing and speaking.
• Practical Skills – Through independent learning or internships, students will be prepared to enter the workplace, graduate programs, and community-based volunteer work with an understanding of social justice issues informed by interdisciplinary scholarship and feminist perspectives.
• Leadership Skills – Students will continue in leadership roles that they have either begun or further developed while at Simmons.

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.

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.

Sound economic analysis is the foundation of business, government and nonprofit organizations.

Do you want to be an effective decision-maker and influential leader?
To succeed in economics, you'll need a strong understanding of issues like health care reform and inequality, institutions such as the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund, and debates about government debt, globalization and sustainability.

Our program will help you develop the analytical, research, writing, quantitative and communication skills you'll need to produce significant research papers and confidently present your findings.

Outside the classroom, faculty interact with students in the Economics Liaison, discussing economic news and debates, organizing special lectures, and attending off-campus events. The Economics Liaison also collaborates with the Department in organizing a series of activities aimed at helping students secure internships and transition to careers and graduate school. In addition, students prepare for career success through the Department's Econnect program, featuring events like the annual Economics Student-Alumnae Networking Dinner and alumnae-led workshops on networking, negotiation, interviewing, résumé development and LinkedIn.

Our students combine their passions, incorporating their expertise into fields like finance, community development and government. Study in economics is also excellent preparation for law school and graduate study in economics, public policy, international relations, management, finance, and many other fields.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Health degree program equips students with the knowledge to face pressing health challenges, including health inequities by race, gender, and sexuality, infectious and chronic diseases, food and water safety, sanitation, and environmental issues.

What you will learn with a Bachelor’s in Public Health?
Students earning their Public Health degree learn how to interpret public health data, frame a public health issue, review and apply scientific literature, and present findings on approaches to the issue. The interdisciplinary coursework covers emerging research, trends, and solutions that can act as long-term prevention of an issue on a widespread scale—like the eradication of disease.

Through the curriculum and hands-on learning, students in the Public Health major are shaped into confident, skilled advocates capable of influencing a healthier, more educated public.

All undergraduate Public Health degree students complete 12 core courses spread across the four years to establish a strong foundation in fundamental and emerging topics in the field, including human development, health communications, microbiology, global health, environmental science, and epidemiology.

The Public Health bachelor’s degree culminates in a capstone requirement of either an internship or research experience, providing students with a rewarding, hands-on learning experience to deepen their in-classroom knowledge. Learn more about the course options in our Program Requirements below.

In addition to the BS in Public health degree, students can add a public health minor to science, pre-med, health profession studies, or social work for a broadened perspective of the reach of their field.

Studying History deepens our understanding of the world and its interconnections, its diverse peoples and cultures.

Do you want to make history?
Studying History reveals the changes and continuities that ebb and flow around us. Diseases, agriculture, civil rights, childrearing practices, political dynasties, and furniture all have histories. The past shapes the present, from the environment to forms of government, to the way we think about gender and race.

Our faculty introduce students to a variety of time periods, regions, and approaches to history. You'll learn how history is made through your own investigation of the past. Choose courses that follow a theme like Revolutions, a geographic focus like East Asia, or an era like the 20th Century. You'll refine and apply your knowledge through research projects and internships.

Follow your passion while developing valuable skills in critical reading, writing, research, and analysis. Our students build fulfilling and versatile careers as teachers, lawyers, librarians, archivists, consultants, and museum curators, as well as in business, health care, and government.

Health informatics is a rapidly growing field that strives to improve the quality and safety of patient care.

Make a difference in health care
With a firm foundation in information technology and computer science, our students tackle critical issues — like how to improve healthcare information security, manage clinical workflow tasks, provide information systems which support research and clinicians' work, and control health information databases — and solve real-world problems.

Through hands-on learning our students can learn about tele-health, Electronic Health Records implementation, and other exciting transformations in the health care industry. Alongside our experienced faculty, you'll apply concepts, theories and practices to achieve better health outcomes.

Our students are well-prepared for careers in IT departments at hospitals, health care centers, and in companies developing software for the health care industry.

You'll learn to speak and write articulately in Spanish, and immerse yourself in Spanish culture from history to literature.

The ability to speak Spanish is a critical skill in today's world
Our students are ambitious, compassionate and diligent, broadening their understanding of issues and perspectives in Spanish and Hispanic American cultures.

No matter your career path, fluency in the Spanish language will set you apart from the competition. We encourage our students to develop their global perspective through study abroad opportunities. Our students go on to successful careers in fields such as law, health, business, government and education.