Master of Arts in Communication Studies

at San Jose State University USA

The MS Materials Engineering program provides advanced study of materials engineering topics with emphasis on both the fundamental and applied aspects. A multi-disciplinary approach to education is evident in the materials engineering program’s specialization areas of semiconductor processing, structural materials, and biomaterials. Elective courses are also available in science, business, and other engineering fields. This broad-based, multi-disciplinary education has proven to be an important factor for a student’s future success, either at leading Silicon Valley companies or in Ph.D. programs. Class schedules are designed for the convenience of employed engineers who wish to pursue graduate work on a part-time basis.

The faculty are actively involved in research in a number of areas including electronic and magnetic materials, semiconductor processing, MEMS, microelectronic packaging, polymers, composites, nanotechnology, and biomaterials. Research activity is sponsored by local industries as well as by government funding agencies.

The Materials Engineering program welcomes students with undergraduate degrees in a variety of other engineering and science disciplines.

The Journalism and Mass Communications Department's Public Relations program is nationally recognized and the only degree program of its kind in Northern California. One of the largest PR programs in the United States, this dynamic program has been a consistent leader in preparing students for success in a wide variety of strategic communications careers.

Program Highlights

• The most comprehensive PR curriculum in Northern California.
• Rated one of the 'premier' programs in the U.S. in a national survey conducted by Marquette University.
• All majors are required to complete an internship providing an excellent foray into the field of Public Relations.
• The School of Journalism and Mass Communications is 100 percent wired for the Internet with student-friendly Mac and PC labs.
• Students in campaigns class plan public relations programs for actual clients, including Cisco Systems, Intel, American Cancer Society.
• One of the few programs in the nation to have course electives in Special Events Management and the Principles of Fund-Raising.

The goal of ISE is to ensure that a manufacturing or service organization's systems are efficient, productive, safe, and well designed against cumulative injury, and that the systems incorporate the right tools and equipment. Types of activity involved in ISE include:

• Developing quality metrics for the organization's products or services and performance measures for its internal operations.
• Collecting data to measure and monitor the quality and performance.
• Improving the performance and hence the quality.
• Utilizing the latest computer-based analytical, modeling, and design technologies.

The MS Industrial and Systems Engineering curriculum prepares engineers for these activities and helps achieve the goal of ISE in a manufacturing or service organization. The curriculum prepares students to bridge the gap between operations and management with courses ranging from operations planning and control, quality assurance and reliability, human factors and ergonomics, human-machine interaction, information engineering, and cost-effectiveness analysis, to organizational development and total quality management.

Student Outcomes

• Student will be able to apply discipline knowledge and provide effective leadership to derive solutions to problems/challenges within an organization.
• Student will be able to effectively and productively participate in teams.
• Student will be able to recognize organizational processes and behaviors.
• Student will have an advanced level ability in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data
• Student will have an advanced level ability in synthesizing and designing solutions for unstructured problems
• Student will have an advanced level ability in evaluating the impact of these solutions in the broader context of the organization and society.
• Student will have an advanced level ability in effectively communicating solutions in the form of written, oral and electronic media.
• Students will have an advanced level Knowledge of methodological and computational skills with which able to operate (apply) effectively.
• Student will be able to develop skills to support life-long learning within the field of profession of ISE

The Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Manufacturing Systems is designed to prepare students for technical and management careers in business and industry. Manufacturing Systems prepares you for a career in manufacturing design and management. You will gain knowledge, skills, and practical experiences in innovative manufacturing processes and management, computer integrated manufacturing, robotics and control systems, and computer aided manufacturing.

This dynamic and expanding field applied computer and advanced technologies to solving problems in manufacturing systems, computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) to basic and advanced industrial manufacturing design. Graduates of the BSIT in Manufacturing Systems will be able to:

• Demonstrate skills in the planning and design of manufacturing processes.
• Describe the product life cycle and how products are manufactured.
• Design and plan industrial facilities.
• Select and operate computer numerical controlled and other machines.
• Describe the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of current and evolving manufacturing techniques including laser machining, electrical discharge machining, water jet and abrasive water jet machining, and rapid prototyping.
• Select, analysis and use polymers, composite materials, and materials in the design of manufactured products.
• Apply the theory of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), including the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) interface to industrial problems and settings.
• Use the principles of production scheduling and planning in an industrial environment.
• Apply knowledge of material properties and structural analysis to manufacturing product design.
• Use robots and mechatronics in a CIM environment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of materials management including Just-in-Time (JIT) and Materials Resource Planning (MRP).
• Integrate design, manufacturing, and materials into the design and development of new products.
• Apply the principles of Lean Manufacturing to manufacturing and soft systems. Analyze the appropriate use of marketing to both internal and external customers. Apply OSHA and NIOSH principles to facilities design and management.

Geography majors complete a program of study that leads to a general geography degree and includes major electives that allow them to focus more specifically on a particular area of Geography. The program prepares students to understand the environment around us and interpret human and non-human patterns across the Earth's surface. The major allows flexibility in course selection while providing a strong foundation in human, physical, and regional aspects of our discipline. Geography at SJSU also features a strong technology component based on applications of GIS, digital cartography, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and data visualization. Geography is essential to the growing need for global literacy and our faculty is committed to working with students to develop the skills that will serve them well whether in a career or moving on to graduate studies. Career opportunities for graduates with these skills are wide open.

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.

The Master of Arts degree in Spanish offers students the opportunity to pursue studies in Hispanic literature, linguistics, and culture. The program prepares students for doctoral studies and for careers in the teaching of Spanish, bilingual education, international business, social and governmental services, and other related areas.

The BS Industrial and Systems Engineering program prepares engineers for a broad scope of systems analysis and design challenges that deal with improving the overall performance of an organization or system.

ISE's focus is on productivity improvement, with concern for the human aspects of work as well as with finding the right combination of resources to ensure that the organization performs at its best. Using the latest computer-based analytical and modeling technologies, ISE bridges the gap between management and operations, applying organizational development, continuous improvement, Total Quality Management, ergonomics and production systems expertise.

The goal of ISE is to assure that the organization's systems are efficient, productive, safe and will not lead to cumulative injury, and that they incorporate the right tools and equipment. An industrial and systems engineer may be employed in almost any type of industry, business or institution, from retail establishments to manufacturing plants to government agencies to hospitals. The program prepares students to enter the profession immediately or to go on to graduate school.

The M.A. program in Communication Studies at San José State University is grounded in the theoretical and ethical foundations of communication studies; the modes of inquiry employed by communication scholars; and the practical application of these concepts and methods in professional and scholarly contexts.

We approach graduate study as an interdisciplinary exploration of multiple paradigms. Students are introduced to rhetorical, interpretive, quantitative, critical, and pedagogical frameworks.

Our curriculum is designed for new graduates, mid-career professionals, and those returning to school after a hiatus.

After completing the two-year program, alumni pursue careers in a range of fields: aspiring academics continue to doctoral programs, those with a passion for teaching pursue appointments at local community colleges, and many go on to careers in Silicon Valley or in the nonprofit sector

The BA Mathematics is recommended for students who enjoy problem solving and would like to apply problem solving skills along with communication and analyzing skills in a future career. This degree also provides an excellent background for graduate work in mathematics and other disciplines including law and medicine as well as engineering and science.