Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology

at Shorelight Group - Towson University USA

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Business Administration (BUAD) requires a minimum of 120 earned units, which must include successful completion of the Core Curriculum requirements, the BUAD requirements and electives. BUAD requirements include 50-51 units of required business courses and 21-24 units in one of the following concentrations or tracks: Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Leadership and Management, Marketing, or Project Management and Business Analysis. The electives may include the units required for a minor or specialization program, or in a foreign language for the B.A.

Foreign Languages majors in the Spanish Education Concentration are eligible to apply for certification to teach Spanish in Maryland upon graduation. In addition to the Core Curriculum requirements and the requirements specified by the Department of Secondary and Middle School Education, students must complete 30 units. Students must contact the Department of Secondary and Middle School Education about admission to the Teacher Education Program. Students are also required to complete the Oral Proficiency Interview and the Writing Proficiency Test. They are required to achieve a level of “Advanced Low" in the Oral Proficiency Interview. 

Students who decide not to complete all education requirements must select and complete a different concentration/track in the major in order to graduate.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, who have no formal teacher training and wish to enter the teaching profession. It is well suited to recent graduates and to those seeking to change careers.

Graduates of the MAT program are eligible for teacher certification in the general education tracks of early childhood, elementary and secondary education.

• Early childhood education prepares students to teach Pre-K through grade three.
• Elementary education prepares students to teach grades one through six.
• Secondary education prepares students to teach grades seven through 12 in biology, chemistry, earth-space science, English, mathematics, physics, or history/social studies. 
• World Languages prepares students to teach Pre-K through grade 12 in French or Spanish.

The Physical Education program (Teacher Education concentration) prepares students to become competent physical educators consistent with developmentally and instructionally appropriate guidelines provided by the Society of Health and Physical Educators-SHAPE America. Graduates of the program are eligible for certification by the Maryland State Department of Education as a PreK-12 Physical Education teacher.

Information technology involves the selection, application, integration and administration of computing and communication technologies to meet the informational needs of individuals, organizations and society at large. The IT program prepares students to enter the workplace as IT professionals and grow into leadership positions or pursue graduate studies in the field.

The Master of Science degree in Music Education provides a flexible curriculum that allows students to earn up to 15 elective units in a field of specialization. In consultation with the graduate adviser, students may select a group of courses in which they are interested, such as music education, applied music, music theory, music history, music composition or other graduate areas. More than 50 percent of the course work is with graduate students only. Graduates of this program are usually employed as music teachers in public or private schools in the areas of vocal-general and/or instrumental music. 

The field of Health Education and Promotion (HEP) explores the complexities of human behavior and identifies ways to promote healthy behaviors. Health Education and Promotion prepares students to educate and empower the public to understand their health, to make healthy choices, to improve their quality of life, and to reduce disease and disability. Health educators design, market, implement and/or evaluate health education and health promotion programs. The settings in which community health educators work include, but are not limited to health departments, voluntary health agencies, hospitals, universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and schools.

The Health Education and Promotion major gives students the foundation needed to be effective health professionals based on principles from the behavioral, biomedical and social sciences. Through coursework and a 12-unit internship, students will graduate with a solid foundation in a variety of health topic areas including public health, health education theory and practice, and program planning and evaluation.

This highly flexible concentration is ideal for the working professional, as each student designs a curriculum that best fits their present career needs and future aspirations. The concentration is particularly well suited for students who wish to integrate specialized study with a broader understanding of related fields. It also permits individuals primarily interested in personal growth to design a program that corresponds with their interests.

Although the plan of study may be built around traditional academic disciplines, many students combine courses from such practical areas of study as:

• Digital media and communications
• Information technology and applied systems theory
• Management and administration
• Public policy and regional planning
• Health care
• Education
• Professional writing in specific areas
• Theater management
• Science journalism
• Global studies

Others might emphasize courses from the humanities, fine arts and social sciences.

An individualized plan of study places special responsibilities on the student. In consultation with the program director, the entering student must design and submit a plan of study. The M.A. in Professional Studies graduate program is committed to offering working professionals flexible and convenient ways to earn an advanced degree through collaborative learning and independent study.

The Master of Science program provides students with a broad knowledge in applied mathematics with an emphasis on areas with the highest demand in business and industry. Among the areas stressed in the program are mathematical modeling, numerical computations, operations research, financial mathematics and statistical analysis. Numerical, computational and algorithmic approaches to problem solving are stressed throughout the program. Graduates of the program will be qualified to work in such fields as operations research, stochastic modeling, financial data analysis and statistics, among many others. Graduates of the program will also be prepared for further work at the doctoral level.

The main objectives of the program are:

1. To prepare individuals to apply advanced mathematical skills to problems in areas of science, business and industry;
2. To develop the students’ abilities to integrate, in a meaningful way, the use of technology in their everyday professional practice;
3. To give educators an opportunity to satisfy their in-service requirements and simultaneously enhance their knowledge of technology and enrich their mathematical backgrounds;
4. To supply students with the mathematical competency necessary for advancement to a more professional role;
5. To educate students to solve problems, to work in teams and to communicate in an interdisciplinary setting;
6. To familiarize students with the recent advances in applied mathematics;
7. To prepare students for further graduate work at the doctoral level in applied mathematics; and
8. To enrich the academic culture by providing opportunities for interaction of mathematical and industrial research.

The program of study in Athletic Training is designed for students who are interested in a career in allied health care specializing in injury and illness of the physically active population. Athletic trainers function as integral members of the health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports organizations, industrial settings, military, occupational health, performing arts, public safety, and other health care settings. The athletic trainer specializes in evidence based practice, prevention and health promotion, clinical examination and diagnosis, acute care of injury and illness, therapeutic interventions, psychosocial strategies and referral, health care administration, and professional development and responsibility. 

The Athletic Training Program (ATP) is designed to provide an effective blend of ­theoretical and practical learning experiences in athletic training by incorporating extensive academic and clinical education experiences. The ATP is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Successful completion of the Athletic Training Program prepares an individual as a candidate for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of ­Certification examination.