Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

at Shorelight Group - Cleveland State University USA

This major is designed to give students the opportunity to engage in a multidisciplinary study of the variety of subjects concerned with international affairs. International Relations is the study of interactions among the various actors that participate in international politics, including states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations. Career opportunities include employment in government, think tanks, global businesses, and nongovernmental organizations. An International Relations major also provides excellent preparation for graduate school in the field or in law.

The Environmental Studies program is designed for students who are interested in working in environmental planning and analysis for business, industry or government. The program also provides an educational foundation for students who want to pursue an advanced degree in law or business.

Students examine major issues dealing with sustainable development, air and water pollution and hazardous substances. Groundwater protection, wetlands, solid waste disposal, pollution prevention, toxic land contamination, and the treatment of wastewater are some of the many topics addressed.

Sociologists study human behavior in industrialized societies. Sometimes this behavior involves personal relationships, perhaps among teenagers or the elderly, sometimes the difficulties facing the urban poor or drug addicts, sometimes the development of modern nation-states and political conflict. Sociology open new windows--challenging conventional wisdom, dissolving myths about social reality, illuminating how the world is socially constructed and clarifying our options and choices.

Sociology students at Cleveland State University are taught to analyze modern social problems scientifically. In addition, they are taught how to do research about these issues using statistics, interviews and participant observation. Good research requires a grasp of the "sociological imagination"--the connections between historical, large-scale social forces and biography, the ways in which people live and understand their lives.

Majors in sociology develop the critical thinking and writing skills basic to a sound liberal arts education; they learn research skills and an understanding of the sociological perspective. This prepares them for a wide range of careers: some students use the degree as preparation for graduate work in one of the social sciences or law, others work in human resource management, social service, criminal justice, corporations or schools.

Information Systems (IS) as an academic discipline encompasses two broad areas:

• Acquisition, deployment and management of Information Technology (IT) resources and services
• Development of IS infrastructure to support the organization’s processes

A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Information Systems prepares you for a career in information systems by focusing on the use of current information technology within the context of an organization. Information Systems as an academic discipline encompasses three broad areas:

• Acquisition, deployment, and management of Information Technology (IT) resources and services
• Development of IS infrastructure to support the organization’s processes
• Development of business-oriented application software

Graduates of the Information Systems major have the necessary managerial skills to solve business problems in functional areas, but also the technical knowledge to develop and support information systems of any scope. Information Systems majors have gone on to careers such as: Systems Analyst, Business Analysts, Software Developer, Software Implementation Specialist, Database Administrator, Information Security Analyst, IT Support, IT Project Manager, Systems Administrator and Web Developer.

The Bachelor of Science in Physics degree prepares students for graduate programs in science and engineering or for careers in technical professions. It provides for a structured and very rigorous education in physics. Many alumni of this program have continued at prestigious research institutions across the country.

The study of physics provides a crucial understanding of the world around us though the study of the fundamental laws governing matter and energy. The field of physics has been instrumental in the development of advanced materials, electronic and optical devices, and medical equipment, impacting every aspect of our way of life. Studying physics fosters critical thinking, quantitative proficiency, and the ability to research and organize information, and infer new ideas.

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks, and routers. These engineers discover new directions in computer hardware, which generate rapid advances in computer technology. Computer network architects design and build data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. These networks range from small connections between two offices to next-generation networking capabilities such as a cloud infrastructure that serves multiple customers. Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and design information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both. Computer and information research scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, medicine, science, and other fields.

Cleveland State University's graduate program in biomedical engineering is designed to provide students with the skills to apply engineering analysis and design to the solution of biomedical-related problems. The program provides a foundation built on fundamentals in the life sciences, including those at the cellular, tissue, and human physiology level. Advanced engineering courses are selected from fields including tissue engineering, biomechanics, imaging, bioMEMS, materials and nanotechnology, bioprocessing, and instrumentation/controls.

The program offers three tracks: a thesis track, a design track, and a course-only track. In-depth study of a specific research topic with a faculty mentor is conducted in the thesis track. Students in the design track work in teams on a year-long design project with mentors from either local industry or the Medical Device Solutions Department at the Cleveland Clinic. This biomedical design option is unique in northeast Ohio and among only a handful of similar programs nationwide. The design option is especially appropriate for those who will seek industrial employment directly after completion of the program and/or are interested in starting their own business. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to work in the medical device industry or to continue their education at the doctoral level.

The Urban and Regional Studies major entails the study of America's cities, metropolitan areas, and their people. Students learn about the cultural, political, and historical aspects of urban living and the influence of these factors on the growth and decline of businesses and neighborhoods. Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program that includes a foundation in urban geography, urban economic and political systems, and social issues.

Concentrations are offered in:

Urban and Regional Planning
Urban planners use their skills in research, design, and development to effect social goals in cities. The urban and regional planning track helps students use the heritage of urban planning to influence urban and regional development. Planners analyze a range of data regarding an area—the economic base, the needs of the people, the available resources, and the effects of change—and make recommendations for action.

Public Management
Public managers develop budgets, strategic plans, policies, and programs for a variety of public and private organizations. The public management track gives students basic management techniques and analytic skills necessary to manage effectively in an urban environment.

Environmental Policy and Management
This track is designed to give students an understanding of the economic, political, and social changes necessary for improving the quality of the physical environment in cities. Courses focus on domestic environmental policies and programs, environmental design, and issues related to sustainable development.

Geographic Information System
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computerized database management system used for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data. GIS is useful to every discipline that utilizes geographic data and is one of the most exciting and rapidly growing computer technologies.

GIS has spread widely into fields such as land use, transportation, utility management, emergency services, natural resource management, environment, demographics, public safety and public health, market and business location, housing, and real estate. With digital representation of spatial entities and their spatial relationships in GIS database, GIS are used to improve services, assist in managing resources, and provide support for better decision-making and policy-planning activities.

The Public Safety Management major is designed to equip public safety officials with additional management and communication skills to address the needs of their urban constituents. It provides an in-depth study of community safety needs and problems, as well as analytical tools for addressing injustice for those living and working in urban settings.

The Public Safety Management Major is designed to:

• Prepare both pre-career and active public safety personnel for leadership roles in public safety organizations.
• Allow for in-depth study of community safety needs and introduce analytical tools for developing response strategies for use in emergency situations.
• Promote understanding of policy tools to protect the safety and well-being of our communities.

Biology is a diverse discipline, ranging from the molecular biology and biochemistry of individual cells to the functioning of organisms and entire ecosystems. The Biology major at Cleveland State University provides education in the fundamentals of all the major areas of modern Biology and training in current laboratory skills, while at the same time allowing students some freedom to tailor an individual plan of study.