Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analysis - Biology

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

An MPPA from UMSL can help you change your community and the world by teaching you the skills needed to become an effective leader in the government and nonprofit sectors. Our graduates include city administrators, community development specialists, nonprofit executive directors, and directors of development.

As a NASPAA-accredited program, UMSL's MPPA is ranked in the top third of graduate public affairs programs by US News and World Report and is the highest ranked in St. Louis. The MPPA is a 40-credit-hour program led by 16 core faculty and adjunct instructors who are committed to your success. To fit your busy schedule, our courses are generally held in the evening or on the weekends and our program offers competitive tuition rates, internships and financial aid.

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

This program coordinates with the Department of Mathematics. Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the BA or BS degrees in Mathematics; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification.

The Department of Biology offers two ways of achieving the Master of Science degree. The first is a non-thesis option suitable for those who may already have extensive research experience, for educators who seek to upgrade their academic skills but do not require research experience, or for those who need to broaden their biological background. The second is a traditional apprenticeship in research leading to a written thesis. All students admitted to the graduate program are considered to be in the non-thesis program unless they have been accepted into an individual faculty lab. Starting with a common core, both the non-thesis or thesis option may be developed into a final degree program in either of two broad areas in biology: 1) Cell and Molecular Biology or 2) Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.

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 BSW program stresses the critical, empirical, and applied aspects of social work while incorporating a liberal arts perspective throughout the curriculum. Students are required to complete 43-credit hours of human behavior, practice, research and policy courses in social work, 30-credit hours of related area coursework and 570-clock hours of fieldwork in a social services agency, providing a strong focus on community and agency field work in a social work setting. The practicum provides students the opportunity to practice what they learn in the classroom in generalist social work practice activities.

Professional social work education enables students to integrate the knowledge, values and skills of the profession into competent practice.

The BA in Physics is designed to combine the rigorous study of physics with additional studies of languages and the liberal arts and is tailored to students wishing to preserve the option for specialization in graduate school without sacrificing the advantages of a liberal arts education. This program provides undergraduates with a broad-based education in the fundamental concepts of physics and with the experimental and theoretical skills essential to practicing scientists. This degree is ideal preparation for a career that combines science with other fields, such as science journalism, science policy or patent law.

Students seeking to major in physics are designated as ‘pre-physics majors’ until they have completed both Physics 2111 and Physics 2112 (or equivalent courses) with grades of C- or better.

The St. Louis Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program combines strengths of two universities to provide a flexible engineering program for the St. Louis Community.

• First two years at UMSL for pre-engineering and general education courses.
• Transition to the Wash U campus to complete upper-level engineering courses.
• Professors are industry professionals with graduate degrees and tenured WUSTL faculty.
• Students may attend part time or full time, which allows them to take advantage of internships and co-op positions.
• The Engineering Program matches quality with affordability. The cost for engineering courses is the UMSL tuition plus a fee.

The MA in Economics is specifically designed for those seeking to work as professional economists. Students acquire knowledge and a versatile set of skills that are highly valued in the workplace. A unique feature of the program is the opportunity to take a large number of courses in applied economics and data analysis and to gain knowledge through individual and group projects.

The M. Ed. Program in Special Education explores important core knowledge in Special Education. The program's primary goal is to empower professionals as thoughtful educators who use best practices when assisting and empowering students with disabilities. Research and data-based decision-making are emphasized throughout the program. Graduate students will apply learned and evaluated research into practice in their courses, and learn to analyze multiple types of assessment data. The M.Ed. Program in Special Education consists of an initial required core of courses, a concentration area corresponding to the chosen emphasis area, and a capstone or exit course block.

When graduate students are accepted into the program, their transcripts may be reviewed, as necessary,  to identify compliance with state education certification guidelines. Students who wish to be certified in the education of children with cross-categorical disabilities will be required to fulfill general certification requirements, as well as graduate coursework. Upon completion of this advanced degree, professionals will have developed an in-depth knowledge-base related to

• Various learning contexts within and outside of the school setting
• The multiple influences on educational practices in schools
• The characteristics and instructional needs of learners with disabilities
• Assessment strategies for monitoring instruction
• Instructional best practices
• Using research to inform practice in the classroom
• Diversity awareness
• Contexts that affect student learning
• The powerful interactions between setting events and specific learner outcomes
• A life-perspective of students with exceptional learning needs, both young children who transition into kindergarten and those transitioning into adulthood.

The BES, with an emphasis in Early Childhood, is perfect for students excited about education, but looking for challenges outside a traditional classroom. The BES will prepare you for a career as an educator in agencies and institutions that emphasize informal learning in different settings. This degree is designed to be a creative, flexible, and inter-disciplinary bachelor’s degree that emphasizes practical skills in multiple settings.

Students gain skill and insights that can be applied to roles as educators, managers and directors, program planners and curriculum developers. This degree program does not lead to Missouri teacher certification.

Outcomes and Career Outlook

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able apply a unique understanding of social justice by addressing institutional and social barriers that limit access, equity and achievement; conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner that views failure as an opportunity to learn; apply reasoning and critical thinking while making connections among information, data and arguments to synthesize and interpret information; apply unique leadership, management and communication skills using oral, written, nonverbal and visual communication skills in a variety of formats and contexts; apply knowledge and skills to effectively manage early childhood programs; and demonstrate a unique application of best practices when teaching young children.