Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Administration

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

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

Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the BA degree in History or the BA or BS degrees in Economics; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification.

The BS in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Special Education, focuses on engaged, experiential learning that introduces and supports instructional opportunities that orient and improve the development of sound learning communities and support classrooms of diverse student populations and abilities. Students are exposed to a variety of course content platforms, opportunities for student research and community collaborations and partnerships. Educator candidates actively engage in unique practicum experiences in the studio school model for clinical practice.

The Special Education endorsement may be added by passing the appropriate area exam. You’ll also have the opportunity to earn an additional credential in second language learning (TESOL) that will make you highly qualified and marketable.

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.

The Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology are offered as both a BA and a BS. The BA focuses on qualitative tools like interviews, stories and community engagement while the BS focuses on quantitative research tools like surveys, statistics and data analysis. Both degrees answer the critical question “What is this all about?” Students may also select from one of the following minors or emphasis areas: gender studies, gerontology, leadership, urban studies and veterans studies.

An undergraduate degree in sociology is excellent preparation for graduate work in sociology or for entry level positions in business, social service and government worlds. Sociologists are found as teachers, researchers, employees of government agencies, research bureaus, welfare agencies and large companies. This social science based concentration provides excellent training for careers in law, education, medicine, social work and counseling.

The master’s degree in Elementary Education is an accredited program appropriate for elementary teachers, specialists, department chairpersons, and those who work in informal learning or international educational settings. Candidates choose electives that will support their personal growth and development as an educational leader to impact the communities with which they work.

Diverse candidates will engage in a learner-centered environment committed to the success of historically marginalized and diverse students, research, and community engagement. Within diverse education settings, candidates will: advance pedagogical knowledge, recognize inequalities in educational opportunity, design differentiated assessments to inform practice, critically examine professional practice, and demonstrate commitment to ethical professional practice.  

It is important that both candidates and advisors plan ahead to ensure courses are taken when they are offered in the schedule. Programs must be planned with an academic advisor and meet the approval of the faculty advisor, adhering to the College of Education and UMSL Graduate School policies.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Continually and systematically reflect on professional growth to enhance student learning.
• Integrate technology to create meaningful student learning within the context of a global digital society.
• Apply advanced content and pedagogical knowledge to create authentic and deep learning experiences.
• Extend learning science principles to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum based on learning standards.
• Create and foster effective working relationships with students, school colleagues, families, and community members to enhance student learning and well-being.
• Design and establish a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment that nurtures the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
• Utilize equitable frameworks and inclusive practices to expertly create a variety of instructional and assessment opportunities adapted to diverse learners to encourage all students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary program jointly provided by the departments of Information Systems and Technology (College of Business Administration) and Computer Science (College of Arts and Sciences).

The Computer Science emphasis builds on the foundation of an undergraduate cybersecurity or computer science degree and expects students to have prior background in foundational computer science areas or complete some foundational courses upon entry. This emphasis is designed to be focused on technical aspects of cybersecurity and provides greater depth than that afforded at an undergraduate level.

This M.S. degree in biochemistry & biotechnology is offered in cooperation with the Department of Biology and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. This degree program encompasses both the basic principles and the technological applications of biochemistry and biotechnology, providing students with the training they need to become a part of the broad life sciences industry. The feature of the Professional Science Emphasis is additional coursework in Business electives, giving students a unique perspective on the business, financial, and legal aspects of biotechnology research.  Most courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• 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)

The Bachelor’s degrees in Biology are available as both a BA and a BS, with both designed to prepare students for basic technical positions and graduate or professional studies in the life sciences. Both have the same core courses and general education requirements, but the BA has more emphasis on associated humanities areas, while the BS requires additional in-depth study, laboratory experience, communication skills and background in associated science areas.

The BS in Cybersecurity, Computer Science Emphasis provides a deeper technical and mathematical focus and is suitable for students interested in technical cybersecurity roles in industry and government. It blends technical- and business-oriented skills designed to prepare students for a variety of cybersecurity and IT related careers.

The core coursework includes business or technical writing, introduction to computing, programming and data structures, object-oriented programming, computer organization and architecture, Linux environment and programming, introduction to information security or cyber threats and defense, secure software development, information security risk management and business continuity, computer forensics and introduction to cryptography for computer security, while the emphasis courses are focused on preparation for the more technical aspects of cybersecurity.