Bachelor of Science in Biology/Psychology - Pre-Physical Therapy

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

Accounting majors at Northwest have the choice of two accounting tracks, one for students who wish to become Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and the other for students wishing to work in managerial accounting. The courses offer the highest quality education to prepare students for employment in public accounting, managerial accounting, financial services and corporate finance.

Depending on the state in which students reside, legislation has made it mandatory for students to complete a minimum of 150 credit hours prior to taking the CPA exam. Most states, including Missouri, have passed this legislation, known as the 150-hour requirement. At Northwest, however, students are not required to complete 150 credit hours to obtain an accounting degree.

Northwest recognizes that public accounting isn’t for all students and therefore you may tailor classes toward your own interests through the private industry track as an alternative. Many accountants have chosen careers outside public accounting (income tax, auditing and management services), which prove to be extremely successful, rewarding and satisfying. However, students interested in public accounting, you are encouraged to fulfill the 150-hour requirement.

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 with an emphasis in interpersonal communication study how people create, send and receive messages, and analyze the ways in which messages affect the perception of the relationship. Students learn methods of identifying problems in communication, correcting problems, and training and developing communication abilities for members of various communities. At Northwest, faculty focus on communication theory and ensuring students are efficient in public speaking, writing, group behavior, persuasion and interpersonal communication.

Speech and theatre education majors become certified to teach grades nine through 12 as well as serve as a play directors and forensics or debate coaches. Faculty focus on ensuring students have the skills and techniques to effectively teach as well as a comprehensive understanding of theatre and all communication areas.

Students majoring in speech and theatre education have access to hands-on experiences beginning their freshman years and direct at least one production prior to graduation. To prepare students for a successful college experience and career, faculty provide a mentoring program that matches new students with upperclassman to help balance school and extracurricular activities.

A comprehensive major in Geography: Geographic Information Science (GIS) prepares students for a job in  science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as humanities and social sciences.

At Northwest, students work directly with geography faculty who specialize in GIS. The interdisciplinary program is designed for students interested in spatial technology careers, including urban planning, precision agriculture, remote sensing, cartography and global positioning systems. Additionally, students have access to several state-of-the-art computer labs and the latest versions of industry-standard GIS software packages to ensure they are competitive in the job market.

Comprehensive communication majors emphasizing in public relations learn methods to understanding targeted audiences, and explaining products, services and missions to a specific audience. Faculty focus on oral, written and verbal communication skills as well as problem-solving skills to effectively meet the needs of management and the targeted audience.

All faculty members teaching public relations classes have professional experience, providing practical knowledge as well as professional contacts in the field.

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.

Physics is the study of basic principles that govern the universe such as the underlying laws of matter, space, time, etc. Physics majors at Northwest get hands-on learning opportunities while using experimental equipment using the gamma ray spectroscopes to study nuclear physics and electrical circuits to study and understand the components and how they work.

Physics emphasis areas include:

• Biological Science
• Computer Science
• General
• Geological Science

Agronomy majors at Northwest gain fundamental training in the study of crop and soil management. Faculty focus on three core areas to ensure student success: fundamental principles of producing healthy, bountiful and sustainable crops; science of soil as a natural resource and component of agro ecosystems; and methods of determining and implementing solutions to crop and soil management systems.

This major offers three different areas of focus:

• Crop Science
• Horticulture
• Soil Science

The digital media major at Northwest is an interdisciplinary program involving an emphasis in computer science, art or mass media. The courses offer a cross-section of skills in design as well as written and visual communication. The major produces graduates who are proficient in art, photography, design, communication, computer programming and legal or ethical considerations as they relate to media.

The new media emphasis focuses on content creation, coding and design. Students learn HTML, CSS and study methods businesses use to create winning digital strategies like social media, search engine optimization and digital advertising sales.