Bachelor of Science, Major in Physics with Emphasis in Astrophysics

at Pittsburg State University USA

This is an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree with a foundation in social science inquiry. With an emphasis on law and the social sciences, this unique contemporary degree represents the current state-of-the-art setting for studying justice and provides a comprehensive degree. Students develop an understanding of the nature of justice and analyze controversial justice issues through critical inquiry and social science investigation. While primary focus is placed on theories of justice, legal studies, social and economic justice, students may elect a Criminal Justice emphasis that will allow them to pursue their interests in law enforcement, corrections, and other legal careers.

Social studies programs are part of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences department. The programs provide high-quality instruction to students in ways that emphasize active learning, problem solving, and critical thinking through transformative experiences.

Criminal Justice - Emphasis
The Criminal Justice emphasis allows students who are more interested in law enforcement, corrections, and other law related careers to pursue their interests within the Criminal Justice major. Our Criminal Justice emphasis gives students a substantive base of criminal justice experience such as interviewing and interrogation while building on critical thinking skills, the ability to handle statistical data, and student understanding of the broader meanings and practice of justice. This emphasis is not designed to be the equivalent of police academy training, rather it will allow students whose career interests are oriented toward law related careers to pursue their goal within a broad liberal arts approach to justice.

The Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation (HHPR) is located in the new Student Recreation Center. The HHPR faculty possess a wide array of specializations. The department offers undergraduate degree programs in Exercise Science, Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management, and Physical Education, five minors and certificates in Dance, Coaching, and Hospitality Management, as well as a graduate program in HHPR. Within each of the degree programs, there are emphases/concentration areas from which students select the professional paths that best fit their needs.

Community and Worksite Wellness -  Emphasis
An emphasis in Community and Worksite Wellness prepares students to advocate and create a culture of wellness both in a community setting as well as the workplace. Wellness coordinators often focus on healthy eating, physical activity, reduction in tobacco use, stress management, fitness programs, use of preventive screenings, programs and services, and improved physical environments, such as walking paths, healthy food choices, and nutritional information provided on site.

The job outlook for Health Educators and Community Health Workers is expected to grow much faster than average (16% from 2016-2026) as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. Department of Labor).

Located within the Kansas Technology Center, the Department of Automotive Technology is recognized by industry as offering one of the best academic programs in the nation. Our professors are accomplished professionals with industry experience and our laboratories offer students access to the latest technology. Learn more about our department and discover why you belong at Pittsburg State University.

Collision Repair and Insurance Management - Emphasis
This program is the perfect choice for students whose career plans are to work in insurance or collision repair positions. An emphasis area within our 4-year Automotive Technology program, the Collision Repair and Insurance Management program focuses on this 10 billion/year sector of the automotive industry.

The Department of Music offers a Master of Music degree, with a variety of emphasis areas, including performance, conducting, and music education. Within the area of conducting, students may select a choral emphasis. This degree is designed to prepare individuals for professional advancement or for entry into further study at the doctoral level.  

Awards for graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Recipients of these awards will assist with teaching as well as the administration of ensembles or other areas of the program.

The B.S.T. in Graphic Communications is a 120-credit Graphic Communications Degree that can be completed in four years of full-time study. Students are asked to declare one of the following areas of emphasis: Digital Media, Graphic Design, Graphics Management, Print Media, Packaging Graphics, or Web/Interactive Media.

All six areas of emphasis within the Graphic Communications program share a core curriculum, classes necessary for the field of graphic communications. In addition to these classes, each of the six distinct areas have specific emphasis and support courses, to round out the major, as well as elective graphics classes, allowing students to customize their degree.

The curriculum offered by the GIT department is under constant review and is always updated to ensure students get exposure to contemporary changes in this dynamic field.

Print Media - Emphasis
The Print Media emphasis features the latest methods and practices of today’s industry. With this emphasis, students will learn all facets of graphics input, manipulation, and output as applied to modern print products and the larger scope of the graphics industry.

The core curriculum within the Department of Graphics and Imaging Technologies (GIT) includes courses common among all of our six emphasis areas. These courses are primarily introductory classes that provide students with the basic information needed to succeed in the graphics industry. Within the core curriculum, there are also two upper-division classes, an internship and a capstone class.

Print Media Emphasis Courses:

• Introduction to Packaging Technologies
• Print File Preparation and Preflight
• Printing Technologies
• Specialty Graphics
• Publication Graphics
• Digital and Variable Data Technologies
• Graphics Cost Analysis and Estimating
• Color Reproduction

The Department of Psychology and Counseling offers a Master of Science Degree with a Major in Psychology. Within the program, students will select from two different emphasis areas, General or Clinical.

The Clinical emphasis is designed for students who wish to pursue master’s level licensure in psychology or counseling and provide direct clinical service to individuals with psychological disorders. Students who earn the degree, complete post-degree supervision, and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology are eligible for designation as Licensed Clinical Psychotherapists in Kansas. The program includes a 750 clock hour practicum and internship sequence. The program meets educational requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in most states, including Missouri, but requirements vary by state. Additional post-degree supervision and national examination are required for licensure as a professional counselor and also varies by state.

The Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation (HHPR) is located in the new Student Recreation Center. The HHPR faculty possess a wide array of specializations. The department offers undergraduate degree programs in Exercise Science, Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management, and Physical Education, five minors and certificates in Dance, Coaching, and Hospitality Management, as well as a graduate program in HHPR. Within each of the degree programs, there are emphases/concentration areas from which students select the professional paths that best fit their needs.

Hospitality Management - Emphasis
The Hospitality Management emphasis provides students with the skills needed to be professionals in the hospitality field. Students completing this emphasis will be able to plan, execute, and evaluate events and meetings as well as begin the management track in casinos, resorts, spas, and other related travel and tourism enterprises. Upon completion of the program, students will be granted either a Hospitality Management Certificate or a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Services, Sport, and Hospitality Management with an emphasis in Hospitality Management indicating that they have met academic requirements making them eligible to practice as a professional in the hospitality field. Students will also be encouraged to take one or more of the following exams: Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA®), Certified Hotel Concierge (CHC), Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA), Certified Master Hotel Supplier (CMHS®), and/or Certified Spa Supervisor (CSS).

The Department of Art at Pittsburg State University provides students who have an interest in art with a strong foundation in creative critical thinking and design. We offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree with four emphasis areas: 2D Studio Art, 3D Studio Art, Illustration and Visual Storytelling, and Art Education. The BFA degree prepares students for a multitude of professional careers in studio, applied arts, and art education, and is also considered fundamental preparation for graduate degrees in the studio arts and art history.

The Department of Art faculty members are all active exhibiting artists and/or research scholars in their own respective art fields. Faculty provide students with insight and guidance as they prepare for their own careers. The student to faculty ratio in the Department of Art is approximately 15 to 1.

All art majors take a series of introductory art courses in a wide range of media, as well as art history courses, and upper level courses in their emphasis area. Additionally, students pursuing a studio art emphasis take a series of professional practice courses that introduce them to the business aspects of being working artists and developing creative careers. Those pursuing the art education emphasis receive a comprehensive art education curriculum. Students also have opportunities to participate in internships in the areas of museum studies and gallery practice or studio and creative industry.

Art 3D Studio - Emphasis
This professional degree program provides the foundational knowledge and skills required for entry into art-related career fields or graduate programs in the arts. All art majors take a series of introductory art courses in a wide range of media, as well as art history courses, and upper level courses in their emphasis area. Additionally, students pursuing a studio art emphasis take a series of professional practices courses that introduce them to the business aspects of being working artists and developing creative careers.

Pittsburg State University's Department of Chemistry prepares students for careers in science, chemical engineering, pharmacy, chemistry teaching, pre-engineering, and other university programs that require rigorous training in chemistry. It offers eight Bachelor of Science Degrees, two Master of Science Degrees, and one minor.

Polymer Chemistry
Pittsburg State University’s Department of Chemistry, together with the Plastics Engineering Technology Program, and the Kansas Polymer Research Center, provides unprecedented bachelor and master’s degree options for students in the midwest and beyond that enable students to enter the workforce as working polymer chemists in as little as four years.

The key to our program's success lies in its qualified faculty and small class size (average class size of 15), which ensures hands-on support and guidance. Our graduates enjoy a nearly 100% placement rate in groundbreaking careers or advanced degree programs.

Pittsburg State University’s Department of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences consists of those specialties that have emerged as so desirable in the 21st century labor force. Students use the tools from Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology and Social Work programs and coursework to examine issues and to find sustainable solutions to complex problems affecting individuals, families, and society.

The mission of the History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences department’s programs is to provide high quality instruction to students in ways that emphasize active learning, problem solving, and critical thinking through transformative experiences. Through our efforts, we aim to increase everyone’s awareness of how the ethnic, cultural, and other forms of diversity affect society. We invite you to visit the individual program areas to learn more about each field of study.

Diversity and Inclusion: We are committed to collaboration, respect, understanding for all students, staff, and faculty. The programs of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences department at Pittsburg State University embraces a commitment to diversity as a community of individuals and programs which seek to reduce prejudice, disparities, discrimination and build a supportive environment for all.