Bachelor of Arts, Major in Sociology

at San Jose State University USA

Programs leading to the Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Degree have been developed for the following specializations: Biotechnology, Environmental Engineering, and Semiconductors and Polymer Processing. Other specialized programs can be developed through consultation between the graduate advisor and student.

We offer Masters in Chemical Engineering Degree with Thesis in Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering. Please contact Dr. Melanie A. McNeil for more information.

The program of study, which may involve either the thesis or non-thesis option, provides a balanced program of advanced study of chemical engineering principles with emphasis on both fundamental and applied aspects of the areas considered. The core program is complemented by a variety of advanced technical electives, allowing the program to be tailored to the needs and interests of the individual.

The program of study normally involves the thesis option, with opportunities for research under the direction of a faculty advisor. Late afternoon and early evening classes are regularly scheduled for the convenience of employed engineers who wish to pursue graduate work on a part-time basis.

The Department of Chemical Engineering currently has research projects in the areas of biokinetics, vapor-liquid equilibria, suspensions, reaction kinetics, catalysis, bioremediation, and semiconductor processing including dry wafer cleaning. Project activity is sponsored by local industries as well as by government funding agencies.

The BA in Sociology, offered by the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, educates students about social processes that create, maintain, and transform social institutions and social identities. Sociology provides a framework for understanding social behavior in groups, social change and inequality in society, and solutions to social problems. Analytical and research skills speak to the needs of a changing world. The degree offers students the widest flexibility in terms of future career choices.

The MS program is designed to provide students with theoretical and practical training to prepare them to work in a variety of clinical, counseling, and mental health settings. The training in San Jose State University’s MS in Clinical program emphasizes a scientific understanding and case formulation of psychopathology, known as an evidence based practice approach to psychotherapy.

The goal of the MS Clinical Program is to ensure that all graduates have minimal competences to become practicing psychotherapists who are eligible for internships and licensure. The program strongly encourages and attempts to develop the academic, professional, and clinical skills for all students. The MS Clinical Program faculty evaluates student professional and interpersonal maturity throughout the program with both formal and informal reviews. Only students who have demonstrated a high level of professional and personal integrity consistent with the role of a psychotherapist continue in the program and graduate.

San Jose State University has an outstanding curriculum in molecular biology that includes courses providing a strong theoretical background as well as intensive hands-on laboratory experience. Graduates from this program typically pursue PhDs, MDs and other health science-related graduate degrees, or careers in the biotechnology industry. Biotechnology is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the Bay Area and the world with an accelerating need for employees with training in the biological sciences. Career opportunities for students with a concentration in Molecular Biology include teaching, research, drug development, marketing, management, and patent law.

The faculty in the Molecular Concentration were trained at prestigious institutions including UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, the Salk Institute, and Stanford University, and their research is funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.  Students in our program have the opportunity to directly interact with their professors, an important advantage over programs at many other universities.

The graduate concentration in exercise physiology will help prepare students to meet societal challenges for health and wellness. This area of study provides an advanced theoretical and research background in exercise physiology, as well as hands-on experience gained through a required internship. There are 3 areas of focus in the exercise physiology graduate program.

• General Exercise Physiology
• Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Strength & Conditioning

The Theatre Arts Major emphasizes a strong foundation in acting, directing, writing, design and entertainment technologies. Theatre Arts students study the history and practices of theatre with a particular emphasis on the interrelationship between theatre and contemporary performance cultures.

Theatre Arts' production program gives students a wide range of performance opportunities from professionally-oriented mainstage productions, to experimental and new-play production workshops, to feature-length film, broadcasting, web and site-specific performances.

The distinguished faculty and alumni of SJSU Theatre Arts play significant roles in the cultural life of the Bay Area, as well as the broader entertainment industry, as performers, designers, directors, writers, and administrators. In this way SJSU Theatre's network connects our students directly to the professional world and to a wide range of career opportunities.

Biomedical engineering is an inherently interdisciplinary field that lies at the intersection of engineering and the biological and health sciences. Biomedical engineers use the principles of engineering to develop solutions for a wide variety of products and technologies that improve the quality of life. Students majoring in biomedical engineering will have the satisfaction of being actively engaged in a discipline that has human health and welfare as its primary focus.

The BS Biomedical Engineering program has been designed, in consultation with potential employers, to prepare graduates for the wide variety of emerging careers that include biomedical devices, bioelectronics and instrumentation, imaging, bioinformatics, and manufacturing, among others. The coursework has been designed to prepare students to function effectively in a U.S. Food & Drug Administration-regulated environment. This program also incorporates the soft skills,such as communications skills and team work,necessary for professional success in the global marketplace and lifelong learning. Development of the ability to address and deal with ethical issues, which are of paramount importance in biomedical engineering, and communications skills are integrated into the classes throughout the curriculum.

Chemical Engineers combine science with engineering technology to make an essential contribution to many industries, including biotechnology, semiconductor processing, environmental engineering, manufacturing and industrial chemicals. The Chemical Engineering degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate degrees in a range of disciplines. The Department has excellent laboratory facilities for courses and student research.

We offer specialization in biochemical engineering program which blend traditional engineering and subjects in the biological sciences with specially developed biochemical engineering courses and labs. Please contact Dr. Liat Rosenfeld for more information.

Chemical engineers in biotechnology work on projects related to pharmaceuticals and genetically engineered materials for diagnostics and treatment, and food and chemical processing. Chemical Engineers working in the environmental area are responsible for control of air pollution, remediation of contaminated water, hazardous materials management, waste reduction, industrial health and safety, risk analysis, and regulation. Manufacturing opportunities are in semiconductor fabrication, electronics, analytical equipment, and processing equipment for the production of inorganic and specialty chemicals.

The Chemical Engineering Program at SJSU is designed to provide a solid engineering foundation and then allow the student to develop some specialization in an area of interest.

This degree is recommended for students who wish to work in the research and development area of industry. This program also prepares a student for graduate study in applied mathematics, numerical analysis, or operations research. The concentration in applied and computational mathematics provides a solid foundation in classical applied mathematics as well as computational mathematics, which could be informally described as "how to employ mathematics on computers wisely." A graduate could seek direct employment assisting a group of scientists with the formulation and solution of problems. There is a great need in local and national technical industries for people with sufficiently strong mathematical knowledge to participate on such teams. For example, modern techniques for solving partial differential equations are very sophisticated; the best method in a given situation depends on the properties of the model. Once a numerical approximation has been formulated, the techniques to solve that, and the commercial software available to do it, again require informed decisions.

An approved program for each candidate may be designed in consultation with the advisor on the basis of each individual's objectives. The program shall include at least 30 semester units earned beyond the bachelor's degree in 200-level (ie: graduate level) and 100-level (ie: upper division undergraduate level) courses approved for graduate credit. This total includes 4 semester units of thesis research. At least 12 units must consist of 200-level courses. All students are required to take a 2-unit seminar (GEOL 285). All candidates are required to submit a master's thesis.

All candidates must complete the equivalent of the requirements of the San José State University B.S. Geology degree, including a minimum of four weeks of field camp, as well as two semesters each of Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics.

The oral examination for the Master of Science degree is scheduled with the student's thesis advisor. The candidate must demonstrate competency in written English. An oral presentation of thesis research is to be made before an open meeting of the Geology Department. The thesis must be approved by the student's thesis committee and submitted in final form, as outlined in the Thesis Section of the San José State University catalog, to the Graduate Division of the university in accordance with the published deadlines.