Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (STEM)

at Kent State University USA

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science empowers students to be engaged global citizens and informed consumers of information who are competitive in a range of careers. Graduates work in the public and private sectors across the United States and around the globe. Many also go on to graduate programs or to law school.

Students in the major are provided internship and study abroad opportunities, including two semester-long, 15-credit hour internship programs, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, the Department of Political Science offers study-abroad courses in multiple countries during the summer, and students often also take advantage of Kent State programs in Florence, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. More information can be found on the Department of Political Science website.

The Political Science major comprises the following concentrations:

• The American Politics concentration investigates the political context of life in the United States in courses on public opinion, elections and the media, as well as Congress, the presidency, and the courts.
• The International Relations-Comparative Politics concentration focuses on international policy and politics, including aid and development, energy and oil, human rights and regions of the world (e.g., Latin America,  the Middle East and Russia).
• The General concentration allows students to design their own specialization rather than choosing a specific area to concentrate.
• The Public Policy concentration explores how governments address major policy questions such as health care, environmental protection and foreign policy. Courses introduce students not only to policy questions and implications, but also to the skills involved in policy analysis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis skills.
• Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of national and international issues and political systems.
• Demonstrate multicultural literacy.
• Demonstrate competence with quantitative statistical and qualitative analysis tools.

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Middle Childhood Education prepares students for teacher licensure in selected subject areas, plus reading, for grades four to nine. In addition to content coursework and a substantial amount of field experiences, the Middle Childhood Education major includes intensive pedagogy courses that prepare students to understand the unique social, physical, cognitive and emotional needs of the young adolescent; these courses are taken as a cohort. Student teaching occurs during the final semester of the program.

Students choose two concentrations from the following:

    The Language Arts concentration includes courses in communication, grammar, literature, reading and writing.
    The Mathematics concentration includes courses in algebra, trigonometry, calculus, geometry and statistics.
    The Science concentration includes diverse courses in chemistry, biology, geology and physics.
    The Social Studies concentration includes diverse courses in economics, history, political science and geography.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and disposition needed to work collaboratively with diverse others.
• Demonstrate content knowledge in two licensure specialization areas.
• Demonstrate in-depth instructional and planning skills to effectively meet the needs of all their students.

The Master of Science degree in Business Analytics provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of analytics that balances the technologies, analytical methods and business expertise needed to glean useful information from data to make strategic business decisions. The language of business today is dependent on information and data management, and the emergence of advanced technologies for capturing, preparing and analyzing data provides unprecedented opportunities for those with business analytics expertise that spans all industries and organizations.

Students in the Business Analytics major gain the technical, analytical, communication, decision-making and leadership skills needed to be successful business analysts. The curriculum includes integrative capstone analysis projects, and there is an internship option for additional professional development through the on-site College of Business Administration's Career Services Office.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Identify key characteristics of the business problem
• Identify opportunities and constraints of various data analytical frameworks and tools.
• Formulate appropriate data analytic techniques to solve the business problem.
• Perform necessary data preparation steps (retrieve, clean and manipulate data).
• Demonstrate necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to implement several data-analytic frameworks using different tools.
• Lead and work with teams to frame the business problem.
• Convey in writing the outcomes of analytics for stakeholders.
• Use visual outcomes of analytics to communicate orally effective messages for stakeholders

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design, Technology and Production fosters the artistic development of theatre designers, technicians and artisans. Students study both traditional theatre practices and new methods, materials and technologies. Students must demonstrate continued progress through annual portfolio reviews, course work and production responsibilities. In addition, students are expected to complete a significant production assignment each semester.

Students will be able to apply design and technology concepts for the school’s theatrical and dance productions. Kent State’s Center for the Performing Arts houses three theatres, performance and rehearsal space, a scene shop, a costume shop and laboratories for costumes, drafting, lighting and scenery. In addition, the School of Theatre and Dance oversees the outdoor venue Porthouse Theatre.

The B.F.A. degree program prepares students for M.F.A. degree study, as well as such occupations as scenic designer, costume designer, lighting designer, sound/projection designer, prop master, scenic artist, stage manager, production manager, wardrobe supervisor, technical director and stage technicians.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate ability to conceptualize and realize a design aesthetic consistent with the overall artistic concepts of a production.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate basic elements and principles of design theory.
• Demonstrate ability to understand and articulate basic elements and principles of composition related to line, shape, color, texture and sound.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the aesthetic use of color.
• Demonstrate understanding of aesthetic use of sound.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate design ideas and realities to other personnel involved in the production, including directors, other designers, stage managers and actors.
• Demonstrate ability to produce and communicate design ideas with freehand drawings.
• Demonstrate ability to provide formalized, accurate production models and drawings by hand and/or through the use of current industry standard software programs.
• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the total design process, including the progression of raw materials through multiple design "shops" and the roles that various craftspeople play in the creation of a finished product.
• Acquire knowledge of federal, state and local health and safety codes, best practices and industry standards as they relate to theatrical venues and production elements.
• Prepare and present a professional resume and a portfolio of design- and technology-related work that demonstrate one's abilities, strengths, processes and experiences.
• Acquire experiences in the design/technology aspects of theatre in a variety of formal and informal settings.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art is a liberal arts program that provides students with the breadth of study that complements core work in the visual arts. Students may choose one or more studio art minors or a second major outside the arts to prepare themselves for a wide range of careers or for further specialized study.

Students in the program are encouraged to take advantage of travel opportunities to New York Chicago, London, Paris and China. In addition, students can participate in study abroad full semester or summer experiences at Kent State's Florence, Italy, location.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability (skill) to do competent work within their chosen media and an understanding of the processes and materials involved.
• Demonstrate an understanding of larger contemporary and historical contexts within which the visual arts have been created.
• Demonstrate an understanding of design and visual literacy in their work.
• Use skills in oral, written and digital presentation of work and of ideas associated with visual arts production, use and appreciation.

The Master of Science degree in Chemistry provides opportunity in research in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, as well as biochemistry. Many of the research topics are built around interdisciplinary themes in biomedical research (bioanalytical, bioinorganic and biophysical chemistry) and materials science (nanomaterials, liquid crystals, photonic materials, spectroscopy, surface science).

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

• Demonstrate an improved knowledge of a specialization within chemistry.
• Plan and execute chemical experiments.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Emerging Media and Technology offers students the space to play, imagine and solve problems. The degree program draws on a number of disciplines, including emerging media, design, information sciences, human-computer interaction and communication. The technology curriculum is grounded in social science and the humanities, introducing students to theories of how technology shapes and changes people and societies. Students learn technical applications and skills in problem solving, design, user experience, creative applications and programming. Students synthesize technical and organizational skills in a series of experiential, hands-on and project-based courses in which they work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate competency in the technical skills needed to pursue jobs in emerging media and technology, which includes web development, coding, data, human-computer interaction, creative applications, programming and problem-solving.
• Utilize emerging media technologies to design better experiences, improve existing systems and analyze digital social structures.
• Recognize the rapidly changing nature of emerging media and technology and learn the skills needed to adapt.
• Apply interdisciplinary solutions to solving technical, social and human problems related to emerging media and technology.
• Employ teamwork and project management as a problem solving technique.
• Critically analyze the effectiveness of their own work and the work of others.

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.

The Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication Design is recommended for students who already hold an undergraduate degree and are looking to enter the design industry or related fields and wish to advance their studio skills in print design, illustration, web design, 3-D design, motion graphics, interactive design, corporate identity, information architecture, interaction design or information graphics. The program offers individualized plans of study, experiential learning, design history and research. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged.

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

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic skills and knowledge of design processes, principles, vocabulary and history.
• Develop a body of creative work at a level appropriate for a graduate designer/illustrator/photographer.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering Technology provides students with the opportunity to study computer systems and software-hardware interface so that they are capable of analyzing the problems in the computer and networking industry and producing computer engineering, networking and software solutions. The major's curriculum includes materials necessary for students to be eligible for industry certifications (e.g., Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA) for career advancement.

Computer engineering technologists focus on hardware or software issues. When companies need custom applications and network systems designed, they call the computer engineering technologist. In this age of heavy computer usage, with companies using computers for a large variety of functions, the computer engineering technologist is invaluable in keeping equipment running, updating software, maintaining connectivity and interfacing with users.

Computer engineering technologists typically work for large companies, installing, testing, operating and maintaining the computer network ins. They may also find employment with companies that sell computers, at computer repair stores or at independent emergency repair facilities. Other common work locations include computer and peripheral manufacturing facilities, computer distribution facilities, computer research facilities and educational institutions.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• A general understanding, and a depth of knowledge in core computer engineering concepts, principles and applications.
• An understanding of recent, current, and upcoming trends and related applications in computer engineering.
• An acknowledgement of necessary design steps involved in making complex computer systems; and a practical understanding of the skills necessary to analyze existing systems.
• A practical knowledge of tools and techniques to design innovative solutions from requirements specifications.
• An understanding of the ethical issues involved with the use of computer engineering related technologies; and a clear desire to strive for the best practices.