Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Studies and Child Development

at MSM Group - University of Charleston USA

The Education program at the University of Charleston (UC) prepares students who will be committed educators, lifelong learners, and community servants. More specifically, the education faculty provides students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become an effective educator.

The mission of the Political Science program is to prepare graduates for employment, scholarship, or further study in the areas of law, public policy, or criminal justice in service to their professional disciplines and social communities.

• The Public Policy Concentration emphasizes the interconnectedness of political science, policymaking, and specific policy areas. This concentration is appropriate for those who want to pursue positions working directly or indirectly with government. It is also appropriate for those who wish to continue their education with graduate studies in social sciences, such as Political Science, History, or Sociology.

Our traditional, four-year BSN program offers an exceptional nursing education to meet the diverse and changing health care needs of the community. We provide opportunities for skill development and outstanding clinical rotation experiences at several different healthcare facilities (including a level 1 trauma center, free standing women and children’s hospital, and more). Students, upon graduation will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN Licensing exam to become a Registered Professional Nurse (RN).

More than 50 years’ experience educating over 3,000 nurses;

• Innovative and accessible courses intentionally designed to meet diverse health care needs of the community;
• Solid educational foundation for career mobility, graduate education and further academic study
• Faculty have professional nursing expertise in diverse health care settings;
• Small clinical/lab/simulation sections with an 8-10:1 student /faculty ratio;
• Interdisciplinary education; • Interprofessional courses with clinical/laboratory experiences;
• Extensive set of electronic library, books, journals and databases accessible online and on mobile devices;
• High fidelity simulation lab on campus;
• Assessment and skills laboratories on campus;
•  Premier health care facilities utilized for clinical rotations less than ten minutes from campus;
• Clinical experiences in a wide variety of health care settings, including a Level I Trauma Center, premier cardiac center and the only free-standing Women’s and Children’s hospital in West Virginia;
• Extensive nursing practicums in the senior year of the program under the supervision of faculty and clinical nurse preceptors;
• NCLEX-RN passage rate above state and national average; and,
• Nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

The Entrepreneurship major is an in-seat residential program on the Charleston campus. It is designed to appeal to learners at all life stages, including traditional freshmen students and adult learners seeking a flexible, efficient, and innovative learning experience. Students who major in Entrepreneurship will develop an understanding of business ventures in all phases, including conception, launch, and sustainability. Emphasis will be placed on innovative and interdisciplinary problem solving, identifying viable business opportunities, securing financial resources, and successfully identifying and reaching target markets using the Business Model Canvas.

Students who graduate with this degree will develop skills that will prepare them for careers as either an entrepreneur who establishes their own business or an intrapreneur who utilizes their innovative skills for another organization.

These skills include:

• Design-thinking problem identification and innovation
• Methodologies for risk assessment and assessment of success and failure
• Identifying consumer behavior patterns
• Research skills
• Analysis of market data

The Financial Planning curriculum is approved by the CFP Board of Standards and prepares students to sit for the CFP® certification examination.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for careers in Financial Planning is strong. The median pay nationally for personal financial advisors in 2018 was just under $90,000 per year (somewhat lower locally) and the predicted job growth for the next 5-10 years is 15%, which is much faster than average. There is a growing demand for financial planners as many current financial planners are close to retirement and many baby boomers are approaching retirement. Some of the career opportunities in Financial Planning include:

• Registered Investment Adviser
• Accounting and Tax Registered Investment Advisor
• Banking, Credit Unions, Trust Companies
• Discount Brokerage Companies
• Wirehouse Brokerages
• Life & Disability Insurance Companies
• Property and Casualty Insurance Companies
• Independent Broker/Dealers
• Government, Academia/Research

The History-Political Science dual program produces graduates who lead our governmental and legal institutions. Students are prepared for a life of productive work in governmental agencies, in legal careers (after law school), and in higher education. They are prepared for a life of enlightened living through integration of the University's General Education Outcomes throughout the curriculum. They are prepared for a life of community involvement through an internship and a Senior Thesis tied to the internship.

History-Political Science Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate will:

• Evaluatepolitical phenomenausing politicalscience concepts and theories.
• Apply historical and global perspectives to political problems and policy issues;
• Formulate research hypotheses using current social science research tools; and
• Demonstrate a breadth of historical knowledge with depth in a limited area.

Elementary Studies and Child Development is a non-certification area within our Education Department. After graduation, you’ll be prepared to work in non-teaching certification roles in the field of education with early-to-middle childhood aged children.

You can add options to your degree plan, such as a double major or minor to increase your marketability and focus on your career goals. Graduates of this program also have the option to return and earn a second degree in Elementary Education, providing them with a K-6 teacher certification.

The Chemistry/Biology - Dual Major provides you with a major in both biology and chemistry. The program consists of interdisciplinary areas of study in both Biology and Chemistry. You will also participate in undergraduate research encompassing several different areas.

This program is designed to educate you about the nature of chemistry, biology, and biochemistry, and to prepare you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in graduate studies or studies in the health professions. At the end of the program, you will be skilled in the use of scientific principles and methodology. This degree combination, along with undergraduate research experience, makes graduates exceptionally competitive for professional schools.

This specially-designed BS degree program allows interested students to obtain a dual-major in chemistry and biology within a four-year timeframe. BS degree holders possessing a strong knowledge base in both chemistry and biology are particularly competitive for professional schools.

Chemistry-Biology Dual Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate will:

1. Apply the major concepts, principles and theories of chemistry to solve problems.

2. Demonstrate safe and ethical laboratory and synthesis skills to obtain accurate results.

3. Search the chemical literature, perform research, and create new scientific knowledge.

4. Evaluate data and communicate the findings of a chemical research project.

The primary mission/purpose of the Radiological Science Program is to provide challenging academic and clinical education for the development of the student as a compassionate, responsible, and multi competent radiology professional. The faculty is committed to:

1) Educating students, in a liberal learning environment, for a life of productive work as a practicing radiographer,

2) Guiding students on their journey to becoming life-long learners by modeling continued education, and

3) Demonstrating the importance of service to the greater Charleston community.

Program Description

• Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
• Baccalaureate prepared graduates
• Two activated classroom laboratories and a CR digitizer on site
• Opportunitiesfor advanced education and becoming multi-skilled in specialized imaging modalities
• Clinical rotationsthrough a variety of health care settings, including a LevelI Trauma Center, Cardiac Center, Pediatric Hospital, and Outpatient Facilities
• Highly selective program offers personal attention and low student/faculty ratio
• ASRT(R) to BSRT(R) Track offers opportunitiesfor professional and educational advancement to practicingradiographers

The mission of the Political Science program is to prepare graduates for employment, scholarship, or further study in the areas of law, public policy, or criminal justice in service to their professional disciplines and social communities.

• The Criminal Justice Concentration focuses on developing the skills needed to pursue careers in law enforcement, criminology, homeland security, or corrections with a focus on those skills needed in management positions. Students are also prepared to pursue graduate studies in Criminal Justice. The program structure encouragesstudentsto double major in other fieldssuch as Psychology, English, or Business. Prestigious internship opportunities with local and state government agencies provide valuable field-work experience in the discipline. Opportunities to present student research at state, regional and national meetings provide students with real world skills and allow them to network with professionals in the field. Students work with experienced and engaged faculty who are published authors and have taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.