Bachelor of Science in Applied Communication Studies

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

How does a statistician design an experiment to test a new drug? What is an efficient algorithm to solve a differential equation, and when does it work? How do you determine a fair price for an annuity? Given a complex network of nodes and edges, what is the shortest path from one vertex to another? How can you teach problem solving in a diverse high school classroom?

These are only some of the questions to be explored in our five undergraduate study options in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE, we have a faculty-to-undergraduate major student ratio of five to one, so our students receive personalized attention from faculty recognized for outstanding teaching and excellent research.

What can I do with a degree in Math?
Professionals holding positions in the mathematics field as mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries consistently rank their careers at the top of surveys on job satisfaction and security. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook in these fields remains strong, and growth is projected at 25% over the next 10 years.

Geography brings together the natural and social sciences and utilizes geospatial technologies to understand Earth's processes and examine relationships between people and the environment. The breadth of geographic inquiry in the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Sciences accommodates students who have broad interests and goals. The master’s program in geography within the College of Arts and Sciences is designed to provide students with a foundation in geography as well as specialization within one or more of geography’s sub-disciplines.

What can I do with a degree in Geography?
A variety of career opportunities await graduates with a degree in geography from SIUE. We offer the only geography program in the St. Louis metropolitan area and as such, our graduates are in demand for positions in the region’s growing geo-spatial workforce. Employers include federal and state government agencies; national security contractors; tech companies; engineering firms; utility companies; local and regional governments; agricultural companies; and environmental non-profit organizations. Our geography graduates work as geospatial analysts, cartographers, imagery analysts, urban planners, retail location analysts, climate scientists, resource managers, sustainability consultants and park rangers.

The master’s in art therapy counseling program, combines classroom instruction, practicum experience and research. Our mission is to provide experiential learning to foster socio-culturally attuned, creative practices in the theory, reflection and application of art therapy counseling. Our vision is that art therapy counselors cultivate creative, just and healthy communities. The SIUE art therapy counseling program goal is to prepare competent, entry-level art therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains as per ACATE Educational Standards.

What can I do with a degree in art Therapy Counseling?
Art therapy counseling combines the therapeutic uses of art-making with the skills of a professional counselor. Art therapy counselors are able to help people work through trauma, mental health issues, illness and challenges in living, as well as help those who seek personal insight and change.

Students who like solving problems creatively and expressing their point of view should think about pursuing a degree in theater and dance at SIUE. Theater is the study of literature, history and production of live theatrical performances. Students pursuing a degree in theater and dance from SIUE will complete an intense curriculum that will prepare them to take the next step in their professional careers or go on to graduate school. Students explore and build on their artistic talents - not only as actors and dancers, but as casting agents, box office managers, choreographers, set and lighting designers, and theater managers.

The theater and dance program in the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE is known for its small class sizes and the artistic freedom afforded to its students. Faculty members encourage students to take risks to discover their creativity, and performance opportunities are ample. Each year, the department offers four theater productions, a dance concert, two student productions, a one-act festival, summer stock theater productions, an annual dance festival and a four-day experimental theater festival in the spring. The Department of Theater and Dance encourages a diverse mix of students and a well-rounded education with a solid liberal arts foundation.

What can I do with a degree in Theater and Dance?
Students with a degree in theater and dance find careers as actors, playwrights, screenwriters, directors, production designers, dancers, choreographers and critics. Theater and dance students obtain the skills to pursue a wide range of career paths within and outside the arts.

Performance
Through the performance specialization, a diverse ensemble of faculty and students are dedicated to building a dynamic learning environment and creating exciting and evocative works of theater. Our program includes foundation classes in basic acting, character building and voice/movement techniques, as well as upper-level courses in multicultural and experimental performance, Suzuki and Viewpoints Technique, period styles and careers in acting. Core classes are supplemented by electives in dialects, comedy, combat and the Meisner technique.

The biological sciences encompass the study of all life on Earth. Biological sciences programs are offered through the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. At SIUE, our diverse programs of study include specializations that allow students the opportunity to pursue any areas that are of interest to them. Students can customize their academic program in order to better prepare them for their chosen career.

What can I do with a degree in Biological Sciences?
Many careers are available for people with basic or advanced training in biology. There are opportunities in botany, ecology, education, fisheries, forensics, forestry, genetic engineering, horticulture, medical technology, microbiology, molecular biology, parasitology, physiology, wildlife management and zoology. Technical and supervisory positions are available in federal, state, industrial and university laboratories. Environment and health-related occupations almost always require sound, basic training in biology. Most students entering schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, veterinary science, chiropractic and podiatry are biology majors. Basic training in biology is essential for careers in allied health sciences, including nutrition, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Genetics and Cellular Biology
Genetic engineering and cellular biology are rapidly expanding fields in biology. Genetic engineering is a defined method for producing genetic changes in a variety or organisms in the laboratory. Cellular biology is a field that studies all aspects of gene regulation, protein trafficking, cell physiology, and apoptosis. A large number of industrial companies and many research laboratories use genetic engineering and cell biology techniques in their work. Job opportunities are numerous and growing in number. Students with training in genetic engineering and cellular biology may be employed in diverse laboratory settings including plant breeding, insecticide development, and the production of pharmaceuticals.

The Department of Applied Communication Studies, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, offers a program leading to the master of arts in applied communication studies, with specializations available in corporate and organizational communication, health communication, interpersonal communication, or public relations.

The graduate program in applied communication studies provides students with a broad curriculum, designed to deepen their understanding of communication theory and their ability to analyze, generate and apply communication research, as well as to enhance their knowledge and skills necessary for their development as leaders across an array of communication professions.

What can I do with a degree in Applied Communication Studies?
Graduates with a master's degree in applied communication studies are qualified for careers in business, industry, nonprofit and governmental settings, as well as in higher education (at the community college level). Mastery of communication theory, research methods and application strategies is particularly relevant for students seeking careers in fields such as management, training and development, sales, advertising, public relations, community relations, intra- and inter-organizational communication, consulting, fundraising, event organizing, community health relations, communication training in health organizations, and human resources.

Sociologists are interested in changing the world. But, we do so by systematically studying society rather than using our biases or assumptions. Once we understand the larger social forces that influence our own behavior and that of others, we can create policies, organizations, and even families that benefit the majority of people rather than the powerful few.

At SIUE, we focus on application. Students in the Department of Sociology participate in hands-on experiences so they can apply what they learn in their classes. Students pursuing general sociology work in communities helping gather data and provide suggestions on how to make those communities stronger. Diversity and social justice students complete internships in nonprofit organizations learning to write grants and help groups find resources. Students specializing in employment relations complete internships in organizations where they help uncover how to make workers more committed and productive. Through systematically gathering information from different groups, sociology can be a powerful tool for the betterment of communities and organizations.

Diversity and Social Justice
The specialization option in diversity and social justice prepares students for work in social movement/nonprofit organizations that focus in the area of gender/sex, sexuality, race, environment, class, disability, and other areas where injustices occur. The goal is to apply sociological knowledge to understanding theories for why social inequalities occur and for constructing logical and practical solutions for such inequalities.

Our comprehensive program, offered through the School of Engineering, allows students to pursue a graduate degree in civil engineering while gaining expertise in the field. Students may choose a concentration in environmental/water resources, geotechnical, structural or transportation engineering. Whether students are working professionals or full-time students, the graduate program introduces them to the skills and knowledge they need for professional advancement. Students will have opportunities to conduct field and lab-based research, and learn from highly qualified faculty who are experts in their respective fields.

Why earn a master's in Civil Engineering?
Future professional engineering (PE) licenses might require a Master of Science. Our program prepares students to meet engineering education requirements established by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Improve your ability to take and pass the Practices and Principles of Engineering exam.

• Our graduate program allows you to complete one year of experience toward your PE license, a benefit that does not apply to an MBA. (Learn more.)
• Learn materials relevant to the PE exam.
• Take advantage of courses to refine your study skills for preparing to take the PE exam.
• Textbooks from your master’s courses are useful references for the PE exam and to build your personal library.

What can I do with a degree in Civil Engineering?
A graduate degree in civil engineering from SIUE opens doors for students in a variety of areas. Potential employers consist of consulting engineering companies, government agencies, industries, or academia. With the right experience and advanced education, students can become self-employed consultants. An education from SIUE prepares students for advancement opportunities and places them in a better position to get the job they want in a competitive employment market.

Structural Engineering
Structural engineering includes the design of buildings and bridges, considering loads such as wind, earthquakes and people. Designs could include materials such as concrete, steel, timber, masonry and fiber-reinforced polymers.

The Master of Science in computer science program in the School of Engineering includes applied and theoretical aspects of advanced computing topics. Courses within the Department of Computer Science include advanced operating systems, computer architecture, computer networks, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, database systems and information assurance. Students who choose to complete a thesis directly engage with faculty to develop a deep understanding of the research topic.

What can I do with a degree in Computer Science?
Graduates with a degree in computer science are prepared for positions such as software developer, consultant, systems programmer, project leader, and application software specialist. Graduates also pursue careers as research scientists, technology infrastructure specialists or technology consultants. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts continued high demand and high salaries well into the next decade for computer scientists and software engineers. Students who choose to complete the thesis program during their course of study will be well-prepared to enter a PhD program.

The Department of Applied Communication Studies, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, offers a program leading to the master of arts in applied communication studies, with specializations available in corporate and organizational communication, health communication, interpersonal communication, or public relations.

The graduate program in applied communication studies provides students with a broad curriculum, designed to deepen their understanding of communication theory and their ability to analyze, generate and apply communication research, as well as to enhance their knowledge and skills necessary for their development as leaders across an array of communication professions.

What can I do with a degree in Applied Communication Studies?
Graduates with a master's degree in applied communication studies are qualified for careers in business, industry, nonprofit and governmental settings, as well as in higher education (at the community college level). Mastery of communication theory, research methods and application strategies is particularly relevant for students seeking careers in fields such as management, training and development, sales, advertising, public relations, community relations, intra- and inter-organizational communication, consulting, fundraising, event organizing, community health relations, communication training in health organizations, and human resources.