Bachelor of Science in Biology (STEM)

at MSM Group - University of Missouri-St. Louis USA

The BS in Secondary Education, with an emphasis in Chemistry, prepares students to teach in secondary school settings, grades 9-12. This program requires the selection and completion of required coursework in chemistry and includes field and practicum experiences in high school settings, culminating in Missouri teacher certification.

This program coordinates with the Department of Chemistry where you’ll be exposed to research and teaching laboratories and a wide variety of modern research instrumentation. Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the BA or BS degree in Chemistry; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification.

The BA in Applied Psychology of Child Advocacy Studies prepares students to be trauma-informed professionals who respond appropriately to experiences of traumatic stress and maltreatment in children and adolescents. This applicable, innovative and accessible degree prepares graduates to move into a variety of child serving sectors. This interdisciplinary program is enhanced by hands-on skill development, immersive learning experiences and mentoring from professionals in the workforce and is one of the first three majors of its kind in the country.

The Chemistry & Biochemistry Master of Science degree is a 30 credit hour program that is customizable depending on the interests of the student. Students may choose to focus their coursework in a few, some, or all chemical disciplines including organic, inorganic, biochemical, physical, and analytical chemistry.

A BS or BA in a scientific discipline is the most compatible baccalaureate degree for the MS program, although other degrees will be considered for strong candidates.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry department has a strong research emphasis as well as a dedication to teaching, but is of medium size allowing substantial interaction between faculty and students. There is an international make-up to the faculty and postdoctoral fellows, and there are graduate students presently in the department from the United States and abroad. The department is very well equipped with modern instrumentation and computing resources. These include outstanding NMR, microscopy, X-ray and mass spectrometry facilities, with two 300 MHz and one 600 MHz NMR spectrometers, two single-crystal and one powder X-ray diffractometers, a Bruker Maxis Plus and GC-MS facilities. Areas of research specialization include the traditional areas of inorganic, organic, physical, and biological chemistry, as well as organometallic, supramolecular, surface chemistry, computational chemistry, laser spectroscopy and the study of new materials. Former graduates are employed in research positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in academic positions, and in other areas such as high-tech computer applications.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is situated on landscaped grounds in suburban St. Louis and has a student body of about 15,000. UMSL is a growing campus. Recent additions include a new Computer Science building, the Center for Nanoscience, the Millenium Student Center, the Touhill Performing Arts Center, and a new Science Learning Building containing state of the art teaching laboratories. UMSL is located in suburban St. Louis County about 5 miles from the St. Louis airport, near the intersection of interstates 70 and 170. There are two Metrolink stations on the campus that provide easy light-rail access to the airport, downtown St. Louis, Forest Park (which houses the Zoo, the Art Museum and the History Museum) and to the popular dining/shopping areas in the Delmar Loop and the Central West End.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science is a general post-baccalaureate degree that gives students a broad understanding of political science through intensive study of several subfields within the discipline. The Department’s Master’s program is also designed to give students a firm grounding in scientific-based inquiry into problems in politics. Students learn how institutional design, economic and cultural factors shape the distribution of power and patterns of cooperation and conflict in society within and outside of government. The M.A. degree in Political Science allows students to develop a deeper understanding of political ideas and institutions, more sophisticated research skills, a better grasp of governments abroad, and a broader knowledge of international politics.

American Politics

M.A. program, it is possible to specialize in American Politics, policy processes and institutions, American political behavior, judicial politics, urban politics, political economy, public administration, comparative politics, and international relations. The M.A. degree is useful for students who are already in or planning on a career in secondary education, public policy, or politics. It is also useful for students who are considering doctoral education. It is particularly valuable for students simply interested in learning more about politics and public policy.

The Bachelor of Arts in Modern Language, with an Emphasis in Spanish develops linguistically and culturally competent and ready-to-be global citizens. We offer a broad range of coursework in Spanish, from foundational courses in language and culture to courses focused on literature, linguistics, creative writing and professions, all aimed at developing competencies for the 21st century. We encourage study abroad through our short-term faculty-led programs in Costa Rica and Barcelona, as well as through year-long programs in partner institutions.

The dedicated Modern Language faculty engages learners in and out of the classroom. Expect a challenging, collaborative, and interactive environment in every course. Students are part of a larger learning community connected through our conversation group, numerous activities and study abroad experiences.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with an Emphasis in Art Education prepares students for a career in Art Education. Students who successfully complete all portions of the program will be fully certified to teach Art to grades K-12 in the state of Missouri. Art Education students complete a foundation art program plus additional courses that provide experience with a broad range of studio processes. To be certified, students must pass the Art K-12 Missouri Content Assessment and demonstrate competence in nine Missouri Teaching Standards as documented in a final electronic portfolio called the Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment. Note that K-12 Art certification is grouped with Secondary Education by both DESE and the College of Education.

The studio arts area offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in one of six concentrations: Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Graphic Design and General Fine Arts. Since 75% of the classes required for the B. F. A. are within art, the degree is considered a professional degree program in art, as well as traditional preparation to pursue graduate studies in the field. The department also offers a Minor in Studio Art and a Certificate in Photographic Studies. Classes are taught in the newly renovated Fine Arts Building. UMSL has a transfer agreement with the St. Louis Community College District, which offers a direct transfer to upper division BFA courses to students who graduate with an AFA degree from one of the three SLCC schools.

Studio art faculty are dedicated teachers and committed artists. They exhibit regularly in exhibitions of regional, national and international significance, have developed impressive client lists and are sought after to give workshops and oral presentations on their work. Faculty have received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ford Foundation and been honored by a variety of national and international arts organizations. Their work is included in important public and private collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Library of Congress, Museum of Contemporary Photography, McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Emerson Electric.

The BS in Early Childhood Education, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education, is designed for students who are interested in obtaining Missouri teacher certification. This campus-based program offers field and practicum experiences in elementary school settings. In addition to general education requirements, the program includes education foundation courses, required education courses, clinical experiences and early childhood education courses.

The program, based on best practices, addresses child development theories and practice, curriculum emergence and development, developmentally appropriate practice, differentiated learning, diversity, advocacy, and family partnerships.

The Bachelor of Arts in Modern Language, with an Emphasis in French develops linguistically and culturally competent and ready-to-be global citizens. UMSL offers a broad range of coursework in French: foundational courses in language and culture, courses focused on the many facets of literature and culture and pre-professional courses, all aimed at developing skills for the 21st century.

The dedicated Modern Language faculty engages learners in and out of the classroom. Expect a challenging, collaborative, and interactive environment in every course. Students are part of a larger learning community connected through our conversation group, numerous activities and study abroad experiences.

The History M.A. program offers study in U.S. History, World History, History Education, Public History and Cultural Heritage, and Museum Studies. All students receive disciplined advanced work in preparation for doctoral programs or advanced training leading to teaching or other careers.  Students select one of two options for completing the Master of Arts degree: thesis or research papers.  The first path requires a substantial master's thesis; this path emphasizes depth of knowledge and research competence.  The second path requires several research papers.  This path emphasizes breadth of historical knowledge. Students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies to be sure that they have properly selected their fields of study.
Learning Outcomes

• Conduct empirical historical research based on primary source evidence
• Compose publishable-quality scholarship that makes an original contribution to knowledge
• Evaluate recent scholarship within chosen subfield of study in the context of historiographical trends
• Synthesize historical research in interpretive formats, including written papers and essays
• Demonstrate facility for presenting historical argument orally and describing research and findings to an audience
• Distinguish between different methodological approaches to historical research, writing, and interpretation