Master of Social Work

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

At SIUE, we take our students out into the world and bring the world to our students. Our program curriculum includes subject areas focusing on the languages, literatures, cultures and histories of diverse regions and countries. Our K-12 teacher certification program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CAEP/ACTFL).

Language learners are brought together in a variety of settings including classroom, language lab, study abroad destinations, language conversation hours and student organizations. While offering opportunities to study many different languages from around the world, we provide a balance between delivering courses to students majoring in foreign languages and literature, and contributing to general education course requirements. Study abroad opportunities are offered in countries all around the world.

In addition to our concentration areas in French, German and Spanish, language courses are offered in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Latin and Yoruba. Interdisciplinary minors are available in African studies, Asian studies, classical studies, European studies and Latin American studies.

What can I do with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature?
Increasing diversity in the United States requires more professionals have diverse language skills and cultural awareness. Students graduating with knowledge of one or more foreign languages will have a competitive edge in today’s high level of globalization in the world economy. Some recent graduates from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature hold positions with companies such as Alloy Holdings, Boeing, Express Scripts, Deloitte Tohmatsu, Anheuser-Busch, the AIDS Foundation and Wells Fargo.

At SIUE, we take our students out into the world and bring the world to our students. Our program curriculum includes subject areas focusing on the languages, literatures, cultures and histories of diverse regions and countries. Our K-12 teacher certification program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CAEP/ACTFL).

Language learners are brought together in a variety of settings including classroom, language lab, study abroad destinations, language conversation hours and student organizations. While offering opportunities to study many different languages from around the world, we provide a balance between delivering courses to students majoring in foreign languages and literature, and contributing to general education course requirements. Study abroad opportunities are offered in countries all around the world.

In addition to our concentration areas in French, German and Spanish, language courses are offered in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Latin and Yoruba. Interdisciplinary minors are available in African studies, Asian studies, classical studies, European studies and Latin American studies.

What can I do with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature?
Increasing diversity in the United States requires more professionals have diverse language skills and cultural awareness. Students graduating with knowledge of one or more foreign languages will have a competitive edge in today’s high level of globalization in the world economy. Some recent graduates from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature hold positions with companies such as Alloy Holdings, Boeing, Express Scripts, Deloitte Tohmatsu, Anheuser-Busch, the AIDS Foundation and Wells Fargo.

Immediate application of new physics knowledge is not what drives physicists, but rather, an inherent curiosity about everything around them. Physics explores the big questions about the universe, and students who are motivated, curious, mathematical, inventive, and wish to explore these big questions will find their place at SIUE. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are taught by world-class scholars in state-of-the-art laboratories, with small class sizes to help ensure that students are not just faces in a crowded lecture hall. In the Department of Physics, students are welcomed into a community of faculty committed to providing the best education possible.

What can I do with a degree in Physics?
Earning a bachelor’s degree in physics can open many doors. Throughout the United States, approximately one-third of students graduating with degrees in physics go on to graduate school to continue their education in physics or other science disciplines. Our graduates have recently gone on to pursue their education at the University of Arizona, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of New Mexico, as well as other quality programs. Some students, finding the rigor of physics excellent preparation for professional schools, pursue advanced education opportunities in medicine or law.

At SIUE, we have a graduate student-to-faculty ratio of two-to-one, so our students receive personalized attention from faculty recognized for outstanding teaching and excellent research. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at SIUE provides learning and research opportunities in many areas and students are exposed to various cultures from diverse faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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

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.

Medical Science
The medical sciences specialization, a pre-health professions curriculum, will prepare students for entry into medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatry schools, as well as into many other allied health programs.

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.

Integrative Biology
The curriculum in this program is designed to provide a firm basis in biological sciences for students with a variety of goals. It is an attractive major for students planning to enter graduate school or for students pursuing careers in biological research or in applied work in areas such as agriculture, conservation, and wildlife management. Students in this program may elect to concentrate in such specific disciplines as botany, microbiology, physiology, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and zoology by completing their electives through courses in these areas. Some disciplines require chemistry courses beyond the minimum requirements.

The Bachelor of Science in nutrition from the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior focuses on the study of foods and nutrients and their effect on the health of individuals. Housed in the Department of Applied Health, the program combines coursework in both the basic sciences and nutritional sciences to provide students with the preparation needed to excel in a variety of professional nutrition and health settings. An intensive study in biological and physical sciences is emphasized as a basis for understanding the science of nutrition and the relationships between nutrients and human health. Core course requirements focus on human nutrition with areas of study in energy metabolism, proteins, vitamins, minerals, community nutrition, and diet in the prevention and treatment of diseases. At SIUE, the major in nutrition is designed to meet the admission requirements for post-graduate programs in dietetics, as well as admission requirements of most colleges of medicine, nursing, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy and other healthcare professions.

What can I do with a degree in Nutrition?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, national job growth for dietitians and nutritionists is expected to be 15% through 2026. At SIUE, we provide the curriculum and pre-professional training for students wishing to enter graduate school to pursue programs in nutrition/dietetics on their way to careers as registered dietitians. Students must complete graduate training and 1,200 hours of internship to begin a career as a registered dietitian (RD). The role of nutritionists and dietitians will continue to be important as the understanding of food and nutrition in preventing and treating illnesses becomes more prevalent.

The undergraduate social work program in the College of Arts and Sciences focuses on the knowledge, values and skills needed for social work practice. Its primary purpose is to prepare graduates for entry-level direct practice in social work. The Department of Social Work prepares BSW students for advanced standing in MSW programs. The undergraduate program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The social work program prepares generalist social workers for many types of practice, and offers opportunities to explore specific interests through the selection of electives and the field placement setting. The primary professional purpose of social work is to promote social functioning and enhance social development at all system levels. The social worker acts as a facilitator of change with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; promotes improvement in social conditions; serves as an advocate for people who are subject to discrimination or social or economic injustice; and provides individuals access to needed resources and services. In addition to completing on-campus course work, social work students engage in field work in local social service agencies in several courses.

What can I do with a degree in Social Work?
The bachelor’s degree in social work qualifies graduates for practice in entry-level positions in a wide range of social service settings. Most graduates work in child welfare, family service, mental health or health agencies. The bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program qualifies graduates to take the licensed social worker (LSW) examination, as stipulated by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. In addition, many graduate social work programs offer advanced standing to qualified students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.

The environmental sciences undergraduate program, in the College of Arts and Sciences at SIUE, is interdisciplinary, and is designed to cultivate students' perspectives of environmental issues, and to provide them with refined knowledge of environmental issues on a local, regional and global scale. The curriculum within the Department of Environmental Sciences will increase students’ technical competence in addressing these environmental issues, their origins, ramifications and resolutions. The program will promote experiential learning and professional education to prepare students for career opportunities in a wide variety of workplaces.

What can I do with a degree in Environmental Sciences?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 8% through 2028, which is faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with specializations in environmental health, environmental toxicology and environmental management will have career opportunities in their areas of interest. For example, a licensed environmental health practitioner can be employed for inspection, sampling and reporting for sanitary, food safety, sewage and waste disposal, drinking water, pest control, or industrial hygiene.

Environmental Management
The environmental management specialization prepares students for careers in management and protection of natural resources, and for providing services related to environmental quality and sustainability. The curriculum offers an interdisciplinary approach to deal with various environmental management issues, including:

• Pollution control
• Regulations
• Remediation
• Hazardous waste disposal
• Sustainability

The program also includes hands-on technical training, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and environmental risk assessment. Examples of careers for graduates include environmental consultants; environmental educators; social and environmental impact analysts; resource policy analysts; natural resource planners; managers of wildlife, parks, forests and rangelands; conservation officers; watershed managers; soil conservationists; and sustainability officers.

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.

Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineering includes the design of  shallow and deep foundations, slopes, retaining walls, levees, subsurface exploration programs, underground openings such as tunnels and mines, base/subbase/subgrade of roadways, and soil improvements under static, hydrostatic, and earthquake loadings.