Master of Arts in Political Science - International Politics Emphasis

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

The M.S. in Computer Science has three different options to choose from, offering a wide range of career opportunities. All graduates will have a broad computing background and will be exposed to a wide range of technologies. They will also be prepared for team work, independent research, and technical reporting and presentations.

The department offers a Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, which provides students with advanced theoretical and methodological training for research and management careers in criminal justice.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the theories, methods and substance of issues in criminology and criminal justice and demonstrate an ability to synthesize knowledge in these areas.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of interdisciplinary underpinnings (e.g., from sociology, psychology, political science, economics) of criminology and criminal justice issues and policies.
• Develop critical thinking and communication skills through the application of criminological theory and social science research methods.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the structure and functioning of the fundamental institutions (e.g., legislatures, police, punishment, supervisory) that are part of criminal justice systems.
• Develop comprehensive understanding of the role of research and its application for informing policies about criminal justice issues.

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 Information Systems & Technology is a 120-credit-hour program that requires 30-credit-hours of core businesses classes, 24-credit-hours of IST specific coursework, 6 hours of approved electives and 60-credit hours of non-business courses.

The core business classes include financial and managerial accounting, legal environment of business, information systems concepts, business analytics and statistics, financial management, management and organizational behavior and more. The IST required courses include managerial applications of object-oriented programming, information systems analysis, data networks and security, database management systems and information systems design.

Cybersecurity is currently one of the most critical issues facing individuals, organizations, governments and society. Media reports are replete with breaches of information security and the adverse consequences for all stakeholders involved. At the same time, industry and government reports indicate a continued severe shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent across both public and private sectors.

UMSL offers dynamic, industry-driven cybersecurity curricula at the master’s level. The Master of Science (MS) 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). It is designed to equip students with a vital combination of business and technical knowledge, and it produces professionals who can protect information resources and manage people while making cybersecurity a priority in each technology initiative.

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 BA in Philosophy is designed for students with an interest in expanding their thought process. Studying philosophy makes you more open-minded: you’ll encounter the ideas of people who have lived lives very different from yours. Undergraduate philosophy majors are well prepared to generate higher scores on standardized tests (like the LSAT, GMAT and GRE) than many of their non-philosophy classmates and employers in many fields actively seek out and welcome philosophy graduates because of the diversity and proficiency of their skills. A BA in Philosophy prepares students well for careers requiring advanced study including law, medicine and academia.

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 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 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.