Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language or English Interpreting

at Kent State University USA

The Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations empowers students to make a difference on a global scale. Whether students are interested in human rights, economic development, international law, peacebuilding, climate change, or some other global question, the program encourages them to understand international problems from a range of perspectives and see more clearly how they can make an impact on them.

The major is interdisciplinary, which enables students to explore issues from such perspectives as political science, economics, and geography, as well as history, literature, and pan-African studies. IR students also engage in advanced language study, enhancing their ability to communicate globally, and they are encouraged to study abroad if they are able. The program has permanent arrangements for study in Florence or Geneva, and more customized opportunities are also possible.

Because of their broad exposure to global issues and their language training, IR majors go on to rewarding careers in almost every imaginable sector, including international organizations, non-profit agencies, business, law, and government. To all of those areas, they bring a multifaceted understanding of the global system, and wherever they go, they make a difference.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of global economics, politics, geography, literature and societies.
• Demonstrate knowledge of at least one foreign language through intermediate II.

The Master of Arts degree in Sport Administration provides students a knowledge base in management theory and application in sport settings. The program culminates with an internship, research project or thesis.

Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration and the M.A. degree in Sport Administration.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate the knowledge and experience necessary to become successful as a professional in the sport industry.
• Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of the industry in a professional career.
• Engage and expand the number of international promotional, scholarly and educational research/presentation opportunities in the profession.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art is a pre-professional program that develops students' conceptual prowess, technical competency and independent problem-solving to meet the challenges of a career or advanced study in the visual arts. Through studio critiques, the study of sophisticated art and design concepts, mastery of skills and technologies and critical analysis of historical and contemporary issues, students learn to analyze and evaluate visual art and to apply this knowledge to their own creative practice. Graduating students demonstrate their competence by producing a cohesive body of work presented in their senior thesis exhibition to a panel of faculty reviewers.

The Studio Art major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Ceramics concentration offers students the opportunity to hone their command of ceramic material to create both artistic and functional forms. Students find new ways of practicing an ancient craft, drawing on both traditional and contemporary thought and practice. In addition, they investigate practices from around the world for a global context in understanding the medium.
• The Drawing concentration cultivates foundational through advanced observational, conceptual and experimental processes to enable students to explore ideas across media and disciplines. All majors in the School of Art are able to complete a sequence of drawing courses to strengthen their drawing as a tool for visual thinking and recording. The concentration encourages advanced students to work with a wide range of approaches and to pursue drawing in diverse contexts.
• The Glass concentration challenges students to explore glass as a creative medium, both technically and conceptually, within the broader context of contemporary art. In addition to the fundamentals of glassblowing, students learn glass casting, slumping, fusing, flameworking, enameling, cold-working and assembly. Both interdisciplinary and mixed media approaches are actively encouraged.
• The Jewelry, Metals and Enameling concentration guides students in developing their own artistic signatures by exploring historical and contemporary concepts. Students are able to absorb a range of techniques and technological processes, using such specialized equipment as 3-D printers and large-scale Ferro enameling kilns.
• The Painting concentration is rooted in observation and technique while stimulating abstract, conceptual or material-driven ideas about painting and contemporary art practices. The curriculum supports a variety of specific approaches to painting — including collage, figural, landscape and abstraction — while simultaneously promoting an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizing engagement with contemporary practices. Advanced painting students work in consultation with faculty advisors to pursue individual directions and interests.
• The Print Media and Photography concentration introduces students to all traditional print forms as a foundation for conceptual approaches. Students are able to learn print techniques such as intaglio, lithography, relief, silkscreen and large-format digital printing. In addition, students can explore traditional and experimental photography and develop print matrices. Students learn how to develop printed and photographic works of art through layering, problem solving and thoughtful material applications.
• The Sculpture and Expanded Media concentration encourages proficiency in foundational methods of making-modeling, carving and assembly. The concentration is a springboard for students to learn how to communicate ideas through sculptural works. Although sculpture classes are rooted in the history of object-making, new forms of sculptural practice (installation, time-based practice, sound and kinetic works) are all part of a comprehensive three-dimensional program.
• The Textiles concentration fosters creative thinking, critical inquiry and development of technical facility. Students study the artistic and cultural legacy of textiles in conjunction with historic and contemporary practices. Components of the program are the traditions of textile making (built on repetition, geometry and order) linked with digital design and technology. Students learn felt-making, surface design, screen-printing and weaving (hand-manipulated, loom-controlled and digital).

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems provides students with a focus on the creation and supervision of the information systems that are commonly used in organizations of all types and sizes. There is a primary emphasis on problem-solving involving cloud computing systems and infrastructure, creating intuitive systems, business modeling and agile design, data management and business intelligence, cloud systems integration and project management and business experience.

Examples of information systems include airline reservation systems, mobile apps, bank automated teller systems, trading systems for stock exchanges, social media platforms and accounting/auditing systems.

Students can select electives to complement their knowledge base and interests such as in application design and development and other computing infrastructure that focus on the creation and maintenance of application used in smart phones and similar technologies and prepares students for careers as development engineers and system analysts. Students learn to use and manage cloud-based platforms to support and manage business processes and operations in organizations. Some material taught in courses correlate with the knowledge needed to pass professional certification exams.

Students participate in an internship, which involves a summer or a semester of paid professional experience in industry. Internship experience helps show the relevance of on-campus courses to professional work, helps students focus their career plans and often enables students to secure better jobs upon graduation.

The Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology provides advanced study for students interested in the application of psychological principles to learning and instruction. It encompasses a variety of different disciplines, including cognitive psychology, human development and learning theory. Students are exposed to the latest research findings regarding how people learn most effectively and efficiently. They also apply these principles to the design of instruction, and study how to most accurately assess different types of learning.

The M.A. degree program is appropriate for classroom teachers, professionals in a variety of settings and students wishing to pursue doctoral-level training in educational psychology.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Describe the various schools of learning theory that have informed educators.
• Conduct literature reviews and design empirical research to examine issues associated with how individuals learn.
• Apply principles of human development and learning when developing and selecting educational approaches.
• Identify best practices for maximizing student learning.
• Systematically design effective instructional programs to meet the academic needs of learners.
• Demonstrate knowledge of theories and principles of learner motivation.
• Describe social learning principles and their application to instructional practice.
• Evaluate teaching and learning practices with a variety of types of assessments.
• Competently evaluate educational programs and approaches.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary program that provides a strong academic foundation in biological sciences and chemistry, practical training in the various biotechnologies and a solid understanding of their application in industry and biomedicine. The science of biotechnology extends across many areas of biology and chemistry and provides cutting-edge technology tools for modern biology and biomedical research. The curriculum includes a research experience at Kent State and/or an internship at a biotechnology company.

Biotechnology graduates have employment opportunities in biomedical research and in the rapidly growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and information to complex issues in biotechnology
• Use problem-solving and data-gathering skills to comprehend issues in biotechnology.
• Develop inductive reasoning and technical communications skills in the context of working in a complex group environment.
• Analyze scientific papers and expand skills for listening to and critiquing scientific seminars based on the literature or current research.
• Effectively communicate scientific information.
• Develop collaborative working relationships with research mentors and laboratory members.

The Master of Fine Art degree in Studio Art is designed to prepare students for careers as independent visual arts through the cultivation and refinement of a successful studio practice. The program emphasizes intensive personal investigation and the development of strong aesthetic and conceptual understanding. In addition to time in their own studio, students have opportunities to enhance existing skills and knowledge by observing undergraduate class demonstrations and critiques.

The M.F.A. is the terminal degree in the studio arts and is a requirement for those who intend to teach visual arts in higher education.

The Studio Art major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Ceramics concentration offers an intense focus on artistic development. Through mentorship and a broad spectrum of course offerings, students work closely with faculty advisors to find their own voice as artists. Studio practice is supplemented with art history seminars, visiting artist lectures, summer workshops and travel study programs to New York City, culminating in a solo M.F.A. thesis exhibition.
• The Drawing concentration draws upon contemporary practices and discourse in the field to prepare students for a life in the arts. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines and techniques in order to develop a body of work that reflects their independent investigations in drawing. Studio practice is supplemented with art history seminars, visiting artist lectures, summer workshops and travel study programs to New York City, culminating in a solo M.F.A. thesis exhibition.
• The Glass concentration is based on the belief that successful creative work results from spending time with one’s ideas and receiving constructive and supportive criticism from faculty and peers.  The concentration aims to create an atmosphere where students pursue ideas and engage in an extended scholarly dialogue. While building on the legacy of the American Studio Glass Movement, students are fostered to be leaders in redefining the future of studio glassmaking.
• The Jewelry, Metals and Enameling concentration allows students to build individual research strategies for developing a coherent and distinctive body of work. Investigations of inter-media and interdisciplinary relationships are part of the curricular focus. Students are expected to be conscious of and involved in contemporary practices, discourse and trends, nationally and globally, among the field and within the larger arts/crafts/design movements. In addition to time in their own studio, students have opportunities to enhance existing skills and knowledge by observing undergraduate class demonstrations and critiques. Students are encouraged to use both traditional and contemporary studio practices while having access to an array of metalsmithing equipment, enameling kilns and a digital fabrication laboratory..
• The Painting concentration draws upon contemporary practices and discourse in the field to prepare students for a life in the arts. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines and techniques in order to develop a body of work that reflects their independent investigations in painting. Studio practice is supplemented with art history seminars, visiting artist lectures, summer workshops and travel study programs to New York City, culminating in a solo M.F.A. thesis exhibition.
• The Print Media and Photography concentration aims to strengthen the students’ personal vision through emphasis on the conceptual aspects of the printmaking and photography disciplines. Students have access to studios for lithography, etching, relief, silkscreen and digital media, in addition to a darkroom, press room and digital fabrication laboratory.  Enrollment is deliberately kept small enough to make possible the faculty mentor/student relationship.
• The Sculpture and Expended Media concentration encourages proficiency in foundational methods of making-modeling, carving and assembly. The concentration is a springboard for students to learn how to communicate ideas through sculptural works. Although sculpture classes are rooted in the history of object-making new forms of sculptural practice (installation, time-based practice, sound and kinetic works) are all part of a comprehensive three-dimensional program.
• The Textiles concentration focus on guiding young artists into the world of the professionally active studio artist. Digital design and technology go hand-in-hand with traditional fiber art techniques, while pushing students to think conceptually, experimentally and across disciplines.

Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced professional competence in some aspect of studio art as exemplified by considerable depth of knowledge and achievement of a significant body of work.
• Demonstrate a deep and comprehensive awareness of historical and cultural contents of art production.
• Demonstrate advanced skills of aesthetic judgement and assessment, as well as integration/synthesis and independent thought.
• Demonstrate an awareness of contemporary art making and relevant issues through dialogues with professional artists and curators.

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Physical Science prepares students for teacher licensure in physics and chemistry, grades 7 to 12. Students take a broad range of science-content courses in biology and geology and specialize in physics and chemistry content. Students in the Physical Science major complete most of their content coursework during their first three years, and then begin their methods coursework during the spring of their third year. During the final year of the program, students complete remaining content courses, science teaching methods courses and a year-long placement in a local school district, which concludes with 13 weeks of student teaching in the spring. Physical Science students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor early in their program because many courses must be sequenced carefully.

Students are required to complete Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Plan multiple lessons using a variety of inquiry approaches that demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of how to engage all students in learning science.
• Plan a learning environment and learning experiences for all students that demonstrate chemical safety, safety procedures, and the ethical treatment of living organisms within their licensure area.
• Plan fair and equitable assessment strategies to analyze student learning and to evaluate if the science learning goals are met.

The Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences–Pharmacology provide substantial opportunity to conduct research in molecular targeting, drug design and drug delivery in developing new approaches to treat disease. The multidisciplinary program enrolls a select group of graduate students interested in research-based careers in pharmacology, and provides a balance of classroom and laboratory work involving faculty at Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Strong research foci exist in the areas of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative and blood brain barrier pharmacology. Interdisciplinary approaches to research and theoretical problems are strongly emphasized.

The Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences–Pharmacology is offered in consortium with Cleveland Clinic and  Northeast Ohio Medical University.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in German provides instruction designed to develop competence in oral and written communication; insights into language form, usage and meaning; and knowledge of German literature, cultural history and contemporary issues. Additionally, students will be introduced to basic skills in German-to-English translation.

The flexibility of the major makes it easy to combine with a second major, such as the History, International Relations or Political Science major or another foreign language major.

Students wishing to teach may combine the German major with the Education minor to prepare for multi-age (K–12) teacher licensure in Ohio.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Perform language tasks at intermediate high and advanced low levels of proficiency as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Proficiency, in ACTFL terms, is understood to describe a range of qualities rather than an absolute norm and will vary according to task type, language function, topic, skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and so forth.
• Contribute to most informal and some formal conversations with sufficient accuracy, clarity and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion.
• Read a wide variety of texts written for native speakers of German and not edited or adapted for non-native speakers.
• Compose routine social correspondence and write cohesive summaries, narratives and descriptions of a factual nature in German.
• Demonstrate an historical knowledge of German history and culture and understand the diverse nature of culture throughout the ages.
• Discuss cultural differences, distinguishing between fact, opinion and stereotypes.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively to diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
• View concepts, issues, events and themes from the perspectives of diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
• Esteem diversity.
• Maintain an ongoing assessment of their own cultural values and behaviors.