Bachelor of Arts in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

Geology majors at Northwest study the solid portion of the Earth. Faculty focus on three core areas: rocks and minerals, the surface process that shapes the Earth, and tectonic forces that have occurred in the scale of geologic time.

By studying rocks and minerals composing the solid Earth, students learn where and how they are used daily. The surface process that shapes the Earth focuses on how rivers and glaciers sculpt the land, ultimately influencing soils, farming and national parks. Through the study of tectonic forces, students learn the history of Earth, its internal processes and gain an understanding of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Comprehensive communication majors emphasizing in rhetoric at Northwest learn to research, create and deliver persuasive messages and listen critically to these messages. In this major, students study the core areas of communication theory, public speaking, writing, group behavior, persuasion and interpersonal communication. Additional areas of study include intercultural communication, argumentation and classical, modern and postmodern rhetorical theory and method as applied to an American issue.

Professionals in the field are civically engaged, critically analyze how people develop persuasive messages as well as how those messages affect public perception of the subject. They identify logical and ethical problems within persuasive messages, or with their effects on particular groups or communities and intervene to increase awareness and understanding.

Physical Education majors at Northwest study physical activities, sports, leadership, team-building, self-confidence and developmental changes and methods to apply their knowledge to teaching. This major prepares students to teach physical education courses at the elementary and secondary education level

Faculty incorporate practical teaching knowledge through which students learn about implementing a curriculum in the classroom, creating a positive classroom environment, methods of effective communication, incorporating technologies and techniques of assessing learner’s progress in the classroom.

Earning a Political Science degree at Northwest prepares students for multiple employment opportunities in public service and private sectors including federal, state and local government, law, criminal justice system, municipal planning, city management, urban affairs, education, non-profit administration, campaigns and elections, public policy analysis and internal development and relations.

The major has three areas of emphasis: the american institutions (formerly criminal justice) emphasis provides an understanding of legislatures, police prosecutors, public offenders and courts and corrections; the public administration emphasis focuses on the decision making process and job opportunities in public organizations and local, state, federal and international agencies; and the global affairs emphasis studies the global trends and events, and enhances intercultural understanding.

Students majoring in mass media with an emphasis in multimedia journalism learn about the creation of news content. Faculty teach the practice of compelling writing skills and research techniques as well as production including layout, formatting, editing, photography and videography. At Northwest, students have opportunities to gain hands-on experience as soon as freshman year.

The environmental geology major teaches students about geology as it relates to human impacts on the natural world. Faculty focus on three core areas: hydrology, natural disasters and geology and natural resources.

Hydrology relates to water and water resources. Students learn where and how water is distributed, the definition of “good” water, and how to retrieve and protect the good water. Students study natural disasters and how human activities influence these disasters. Geology and natural resources is the study of the production of gas, metal and stone, and the relationship between natural resources and modern society.

Chemistry is the study of the science of matter and it’s transformations from one form to another. At Northwest, students majoring in chemistry will gain practical laboratory experience and foundational knowledge in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry and analytical chemistry.

The medicinal chemistry emphasis focuses on the synthesis of drug substances, the influence of properties and chemical structure on the activity and potency of drug substances, and how different classes of drugs work in the body. The program gives students the flexibility to tailor their curriculum to various career paths in research and development or admission into pharmacy, medical or graduate school.

A Foods and Nutrition major at Northwest is the study the science of nutrition and how nutrition impacts the human body. Faculty focus on teaching students skills to modify and assess individualized nutrition such as meal plans; nutrition counseling as it relates to human behavior; food science; food preparation; and food service management.

The program is a three-step process. First, students complete Northwest’s accredited didactic foods and nutrition program requirements; second, students apply to and complete an accredited dietetics internship after graduation; and third, students take the national registered dietitian exam.

Marketing is the process of understanding and satisfying customer needs. Advertising, personal selling, determining customer groups to target, making products available in stores, and maintaining inventories are just a few activities that help organizations sell their products and services. A major in marketing at Northwest is an interdisciplinary program that provides students an opportunity to interact with surrounding businesses, complete projects that can be utilized in a portfolio, and prepare students for future interviews.

Photography majors study and apply visual elements of art and develop an artistic direction through photography. Faculty focus on teaching students proper techniques and methods of creating and printing photographs digitally, non-traditionally and through a darkroom. Students spend many hours working in the studio gaining hands-on experiences and preparing projects for presentation.