Bachelor of Science in Physics with Emphasis in Astrophysics (STEM)

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

The BSBA, Finance Emphasis degree is a 120-credit hour program that requires at least 48-credit hours in business courses, with a minimum of 18-credit hours in Finance courses. The core business classes include financial and managerial accounting, legal environment of business, information systems concepts, business analytics and statistics, supply chain management, financial management, management and organizational behavior, marketing and strategic management. Once you've completed the required courses, you can customize your degree with business electives or even select a minor.

Graduates of the BSBA, Finance Emphasis will be prepared to enter the workforce and succeed locally and globally across various industries. The finance curriculum prepares you for careers in corporate financial management and the financial services industry.

Bachelor of Science students are prepared for a career in the chemical industry, graduate work in the chemical sciences, health sciences, medicine, business, marketing or law. The BS degree is intended for those who want to become professional chemists or as preparation for graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry.

The BS in Physics with an Emphasis in Biophysics is designed to prepare students for a professional career in biophysics, biological physics or a related interdisciplinary field; for graduate studies in biophysics, biological physics, or a related interdisciplinary field; for training as a medical physicist; or for professional training such as medical school. Other emphasis areas offered include: Astrophysics; Engineering Physics; and General Physics.

Outcomes and Career Outlook

Upon completion of the BS in Physics, with an emphasis in Biophysics graduates will be able to demonstrate a solid understanding of basic physics concepts including classical mechanics, electricity, magnetism, thermal and statistical physics, modern electronics and quantum mechanics; understand basic biological concepts, from organ systems to biochemistry; understand the basic concepts of biophysics, and the various areas of interdisciplinary science where biophysics concepts and techniques are applicable; solve problems, think critically and use analytical reasoning as applied to scientific problems; be proficient in communication of the results of scientific work; conduct original scientific research as part of an interdisciplinary problem-solving team; identify possible errors in scientific data; and assess the significance of observed results.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies provides a flexible, individualized program of study for the self-directed learner. Individual students work closely with professional advisors and faculty from different academic disciplines to design their individual degree proposal. Approved programs of study are well-designed, coherent, structured to meet the student’s unique educational goals and not readily available under any other UMSL degree program. Interdisciplinary Studies students have designed individualized majors in areas as varied as art therapy, gender studies, gerontology, international studies, nonprofit administration and more.

The BS in Physics with an Emphasis in General Physics is designed to prepare students for a professional career in physics or a related field, or for graduate studies in physics. Other emphasis areas offered include: Astrophysics; Biophysics; and Engineering Physics.

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 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 Bachelor of Liberal Studies enables students to combine structured areas of academic emphasis in ways more relevant to their interests than the standard academic major. This degree may be completed online, at one of UMSL’s off-campus sites or in person on the UMSL campus offering convenience and flexibility. Students who participate in this online program must declare their areas of study (two minors or a minor and undergraduate certificate) at the time they declare that BLS is their intended degree. The plan of study must be approved at the beginning of the program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will:

• Have technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression (Performance)
• Understand the common elements and organizational patters of music and their interaction (Musicianship Skills and Analysis)
• Have a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music (Composition/Improvisation)
• Have basic knowledge of music history and repertories through the present time (History and Repertory)
•  Be Able to work on musical problems by combining their capabilities in performance, aural, verbal and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; history and repertory (Synthesis)
• Be Able to develop necessary professional abilities and dispositions in order function in a field-based business internship (e.g. marketing, management, public relations, etc.)

Educational leaders and community stakeholders have expressed interest in establishing partnerships with college and workforce preparation professionals from various sectors to address the transition challenges of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged elementary, middle school and high school students who are underprepared to fully participate in and effectively contribute to the global economy as fully functional citizens. Proactive, sustained effort and attention to this crisis is paramount and can contribute to the development of academic and vocational pathways that will inspire a renewed hope among extremely vulnerable student populations and contribute to economic development in our region and beyond.

As there is a renewed national emphasis on PK-16 pipeline initiatives, it is vital that this program can respond to community needs for student services professionals who have the talent and skill to serve as educational liaisons and facilitate collaboration between K-12, community colleges, career and technical education institutions, and 4-year institutions in order to prepare all students for success, whether they choose to pursue a college degree, vocational training or transition to the workforce immediately following high school.

The Master’s degree with an emphasis in Higher Education has been flexibly designed to include an expanded focus related to college access, equity and affordability, social justice, and workforce preparation, as well as student services and higher education leadership. The enhanced curriculum targets K-12 teacher leaders, college and career preparation professionals, and other student services professionals who want to transform the college access and workforce preparation culture in elementary and secondary schools, which would culminate in the creation of transition plans and intensive student support services to ensure success for ALL students.

Student support professionals will be provided with the necessary tools to empower youth and adolescents; a renewed emphasis will be placed on students who are culturally connected to marginalized communities or underrepresented populations to promote achievement and success among these groups. Institutional and community commitment to student success will contribute to realistic and achievable academic and vocational pathways that are vital for a healthy, sustainable economy and region.

Our innovative program aims to provide the foundational tools for practitioners to consider several career pathways: 1) student services professionals in public or private schools who can complement the work of school counselors to provide proactive academic, vocational or workforce planning support to elementary, middle and high school students; 2) student services professionals who will pursue entry to mid-level staff or leadership roles in higher education institutions to effectively serve students who have transitioned to college to earn a postsecondary degree and require various forms of support in order to experience academic success and persist to graduation; 3) educational liaisons who work with K-12, community colleges and 4-year institutions, as well as business and health care agencies and community agencies, to serve as transition planning advocates for all students; 4) student services professionals who have an interest in working with private college preparation agencies to promote and support college access and preparation; or 5) higher education professionals interested in organizing, mobilizing, and leading advocacy efforts related to public policy formulation and analysis within government agencies and national higher education and professional associations, including the American Council on Education, NASPA, etc., as well as higher education think tanks and non-profit research and advocacy organizations, such as the Institute for Higher Education Policy.

Our experienced, student-centered faculty nurture student growth through a targeted immersion in the program curriculum, which serves to build comprehensive competencies to pursue work in these areas. Faculty provide personalized mentoring experiences and incorporate real-world case studies into the curriculum to expose students to practical opportunities to apply concepts to professional practice.