Bachelor of Science in Communication - Public Relations

at Northwest Missouri State University USA

A major in Agricultural Media with an emphasis in journalism focuses on the development of stories that are relevant to the agriculture community. Students learn to advocate for agriculture by explaining science, technologies and complex agricultural issues through various platforms. Coursework includes classes in agricultural science, advertising, marketing, journalism and media.

Clinical laboratory science is the study of medical samples during the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Northwest’s unique 3+1 program provides students with pre-requisite courses in general education, math, chemistry and biology for three years; during the program’s fourth year, students attend one of three affiliated hospitals: St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, North Kansas City Hospital or Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, for a year of hands-on clinical training.

While at Northwest, students learn human biology, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and biochemistry. Human biology courses teach students the methods in which a normal, healthy body functions; organic chemistry and analytical chemistry teaches students how to identify and quantify the substances found in a sample; biochemistry teaches students the fundamental molecules and pathways of the body.

The Business Technology major is a unique combination of business and cutting-edge technology courses. Professors provide a strong foundation in business and technical skills that teach the most up-to-date techniques. Students complete the common professional component and high-demand courses that ultimately prepare them to be marketable and competitive for employment in a technology-driven environment.

The Human Services major at Northwest is designed to meet human needs through interdisciplinary knowledge, focus on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintain a commitment to improving the overall quality of life. Faculty focus on preparing students to effectively serve individuals, families, groups and communities in the human services field; communicate efficiently with clients and professionals; and develop culturally competent skills.

A career in the human service profession promotes improved service by refining accessibility, accountability and coordination among professionals and agencies in service delivery.

Art majors with an emphasis in painting learn techniques in acrylic and oil paint, mixed media and develop skills in color manipulation and harmonization. Classes are divided between painting in the studio, formal analysis of art work and discussion of painting concepts. Faculty guide students to develop as visual artists and prepare them for a successful.

A major in Agricultural Media with an emphasis in production and broadcasting is designed for students with a strong interest in agriculture and radio or television. The major is designed to give students a foundation in communication practices which can be applied in the agriculture community. Students will gain hands-on learning experiences including techniques for pre- and post-production, recording methods, microphone and camera operation and script and story writing. Coursework includes classes in agricultural science, advertising, marketing, journalism and media.

Marine biology majors at Northwest study marine organisms and their ecology, habitat and interaction. Faculty focus on ecology, or the study of organisms and their habitats; diversity, in organisms; and adaptations of organisms and diatoms, or the unicellular life of oceans. Students also learn best practices for surveying marine organisms.

As a cybersecurity major, students learn skills and techniques that will prepare them for success in their careers or graduate studies. Cybersecurity is the protection of infrastructure, systems, devices, networks, information, and applications from attacks, damage, loss, or unauthorized access through appropriate technologies, practices, and techniques. The program will focus on general computer science skills, and the necessary skills to create, develop, and deploy secure computer-based systems.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology is an interdisciplinary study of crime and the criminal justice system. It is the broad investigation of the roles that sociological and psychological factors play in determining how a society defines crime, contributes to or deters criminal behavior, and responds to victims and offenders. Criminologists have a wide variety of career paths from which to choose. Those interested in working within the criminal justice system may pursue a number of government jobs including, careers within law enforcement, courts, or corrections.

Finance majors at Northwest focus on three areas: financial services, corporate finance and finance management.

• Financial Services prepares students for the financial services industry. This comprises the professions of brokerage, insurance, real estate, and banking. In this business sector the students will need to understand the products customers purchase and how to relate this information to the customer.
• Corporate Finance provides students with the tools to work within the corporate structure under the chief financial officer, where accounting and financial information is used to make corporate decisions. Students will communicate with both the financial and accounting personnel and identify accounting information and financial models for decision making.
• Financial Management permits students to prepare for a position in management rather than a staff position in finance under the corporate treasurer. This option blends the knowledge of finance and management so the student is prepared to make management decisions that require an understanding of finance. Almost all decisions in business require a balance of interests from all functional business areas, using the decision-making process and the tools of finance to guide the corporation to the achievement of its goal.