Bachelor of Science in Biology/Psychology

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

The first of its kind in Missouri and the region, Northwest’s Data Science major is an interdisciplinary program with four areas of emphasis: computer science, business, molecular biology and geographic information systems.

The geographic information systems (GIS) emphasis focuses on visualizing data through digital and physical maps, analyzing data for locational patterns and trends as well as presenting data in map-based and graphical formats to inform locational decisions in business, government, and the non-profit sector.

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.

Art majors with an emphasis in drawing focus on observational skills. Students are trained to find their own voice and visual language and focus on shifts from observational skills to the conceptual aspect of making art. Faculty ensure students have skills in manipulating various drawing media with graphite, charcoal, ink, water color and mixed media (dry and wet products); acquiring a sense of proportion, rhythm, balance and weight to learn the methods of analyzing shapes and proportions of perspective drawing; and creating the three-dimensional illusions on a two-dimensional surface.

Psychology majors at Northwest learn the scientific study of a person’s thoughts and behaviors. Northwest faculty help students understand three core areas: scientific research methods that enhance critical thinking skills, evidence and claims knowledge; insight of an individual’s personal behavior, motives and thought processes; and the understanding of the biological and social factors that contribute to human development, cognitive skills, relationships and personality.

Art majors with the emphasis in sculpture learn about traditional and non-traditional approaches to the sculptural process. Faculty challenge students to think about space and objects in different ways. Students learn professional vocabulary to methodically discuss their art in terms of principles and elements of design and for the purpose of writing an artist statement.

Students learn technical skills that include welding, basic woodwork, and medal and mold-making. Students use traditional and new processes.

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.

The General Studies major is both an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary program. This provides you the opportunity to explore your interests and is adoptable to your needs by discovering electives from any discipline that appeals to you. As a student of the program, you gain the fundamental skills in problem-solving and communication as well as critical reading, writing and speaking. The goal of this program is to introduce you to contextual framing of any discipline in the arts and sciences and achieve the broad knowledge and training that employers require.

Agricultural Business majors at Northwest gain the knowledge and experiences of agriculture as well as business foundations. Faculty focus on four core areas: agriculture finance, agricultural marketing, agricultural policy and economics of agricultural production.

Agricultural finance teaches students tools to plan expenditures on assets that extend beyond one year; agricultural marketing provides a method of determining the value for land in order to ensure a profitable investment; agricultural policy, students are exposed to tools the government uses to modify free market outcomes associated with the production and marketing of specific crops and livestock; and economics of agricultural production describes the importance of farmers and agribusinesses reliance on factors and events that occur internationally and determine price.

The food services program emphasizes the importance of marketing, management, nutrition, quantity food service, food science and menu design. It is available for students wanting a career in event planning or restaurant and bar management. To ensure student success after graduation, faculty focus on implementing hands-on experiences in the classroom with projects like establishing financial plans for a successful food service operation business.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (comprehensive) is for students who desire a broad approach to their Music education, including applied study, ensemble experiences, music composition, history and theory.

The B.A. in Music can also be paired with an emphasis area, which can include Audio Production, Business or Wellness. The B.A. in Music with Emphasis is intended to provide students with the same broad experience in Music that, when paired with the emphasis area, can lead to careers in Music Production, Arts Management/Administration, Entrepreneurship, Counseling, Studio Teaching and other Music-enhanced careers.