Bachelor of Science, Major in Medical Laboratory Science

at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth USA

UMass Dartmouth's Chemistry department offers a bachelor's degree in chemistry with an option in biochemistry.

Transform the ordinary into the amazing. When you study biochemistry, you study matter and its transformation.

Biochemists conduct research and experiments to discover new concepts about the universe. They try to solve society's problems, whether by developing a cure for cancer, monitoring the earth's ozone layer, creating new materials to heat our homes, or pursuing countless other challenges.

The knowledge you'll gain through the study of chemistry at UMass Dartmouth will open the door to many different career opportunities within the five divisions of chemistry: analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, or physical. You'll be prepared for biochemistry careers in education, forensics, government, law, industry, medicine, or research.

Physicists and astronomers conduct theoretical, experimental, and computational studies to explore the fundamental properties and laws that govern space, time, energy, and matter on scales ranging from atoms to the universe.

As a physicist, you can investigate the structure of the atom, design and program computers, solve environmental problems, and develop new manufacturing materials. Physicists lead some of the world's major technology companies and research institutes, paving the way for technological innovations such as lasers, solar cells, electric cars, medical diagnostics, and computers.

The powerful array of technical skills you'll acquire as a physics major will prepare you for a career in many areas of theoretical and applied science. You'll be ready to assume leadership roles in industry, business, and government or explore the fields of materials science, biophysics, geophysics, oceanography, and medical physics. Within a year of graduation, 95% of physics majors are either in graduate school or employed.

Ranked by the American Physical Society as one of the top physics master's programs in the U.S., the MS in Physics is designed to:

• Advance your understanding of the concepts of modern and classical physics
• Develop your ability to apply these concepts to solve practical problems

We are interested in working with inquisitive and enthusiastic students who plan to pursue:

• Professional careers in research and teaching
• Applied areas of industrial research and development

The Physics Department offers a range of graduate courses in:

• Astrophysics
• Computational physics
• Electrodynamics
• Fluid physics
• Mathematical physics
• Nuclear physics
• Quantum mechanics
• Relativity

The department also offers courses emphasizing research—including thesis research and independent study in special topics.

You'll be encouraged to participate in faculty research in areas such as theoretical and computational physics—including atomic physics, relativity, high-energy and gravitational physics, and traffic modeling. Most students are supported by teaching or research assistantships.

Under the guidance of a graduate advisor, you will follow a course of study and research that is in harmony with your own background and goals. The size of our program fosters close personal contacts among students and faculty.

The Music Education program develops skillful teachers who are in demand throughout New England and across the country.

We take a global approach to music education, encouraging you to explore the world's musical heritage and bring diverse experiences to the classroom. You'll receive thorough training as both an instrumentalist/vocalist and as a teacher of music at the elementary and/or secondary levels.

The program emphasizes how to develop and conduct vocal and instrumental ensembles, methods for teaching music, music education's historical foundations, and up-to-date electronic teaching tools. Your supervised field experiences will culminate in a semester of student teaching.

The Music Education program leads to the Massachusetts Initial License to teach in schools and is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Department of Civil Engineering offers a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in environmental resources engineering. Engineers in this field apply civil engineering principles and processes to solve problems relating to air pollution, water pollution, solid waste and hazardous waste management, renewable energy, and water resources engineering.

The environmental resources engineering concentration emphasizes:

• Assessment of the environmental impact of new or existing products or processes
• Methods for solving problems resulting from pollution
• Management of energy and resources in order to minimize pollution

Your program of study will provide in-depth knowledge of environmental engineering and an awareness of potential social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of environmental engineering practices.

You will be prepared to:

• Analyze and design environmental resources engineering systems
• Apply multidisciplinary approaches to manage the competing social, political, economic, and technical goals of environmental problems and solutions
• Work in multidisciplinary teams to solve environmental resources engineering problems

Psychology is the scientific exploration of human behavior. Our curriculum offers a broad introduction to this dynamic and diverse field, with an emphasis on the understanding and design of research. The study of human behavior can prepare you for many different careers, from business to education and the social sciences.

You'll also investigate psychology's subfields through courses that consider:

• Our biological heritage: physiological psychology, perception
• Basic human functioning: cognition, learning, personality, social
• Applied fields: counseling, behavior modification, organizational psychology, community psychology

You'll work with faculty who:

• Study the theoretical, such as hemispheric specialization within the brain, and semantic processing of memory
• Conduct applied research, such as the control of obesity, chronic pain, and stress
• Are leaders in the mental health community and bring their expertise to the classroom

Psychology graduates work in fields such as human resources, software and product development, and communications. Further education will open paths toward research and clinical practice.

The study of fashion design and production balances your creative vision with technical skills and an in-depth understanding of the fashion industry. You can prepare for a professional career in apparel design, marketing, manufacturing, and product development.

When you pursue your BFA in Art + Design: Fashion Design, you'll develop a wide range of skills and knowledge: advanced fashion design concepts such as computer-aided design (CAD), technical design and production, business in the fashion industry, public speaking and presentation, and contemporary fashion trends.

You’ll utilize up-to-date software and fashion-forward techniques to develop a strong and comprehensive portfolio of work. Juniors and seniors in the program develop full lines of clothing with opportunities to exhibit their collections at the annual CVPA Fashion Show, industry shows, and retail galleries.

Internships and networking opportunities help you make industry connections in Boston and New York, and graduates will be ready to compete successfully for jobs throughout the fashion industry.

The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art courses than you would in a BA program. At UMass Dartmouth, you also have the advantages of a university education where you can diversify your studies and expand your career opportunities. Your BFA degree also provides excellent preparation for MFA programs and other graduate study.

Explore the lives, voices, histories, roles, and ideas of women. Learn how the social construction of gender affects women’s and men’s lives. When you major in Women's and Gender Studies, you'll place women's and men's experiences at the center of inquiry—as subjects rather than objects.

Your studies will be interdisciplinary, with classes in crime and justice studies, history, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology/anthropology. These classes are taught by WGS faculty or faculty affiliated with WGS. You'll consider the influences of gender in contemporary society, discover the historical factors that have shaped the current status of women, and explore paths to achieve equality for all people.

With a degree in Women's and Gender Studies, you can pursue careers in advocacy, business, communications, education, family services, human resources, journalism, law, marketing and sales, nonprofit organizations, politics, and publishing. You'll also be well prepared for graduate study in a variety of disciplines.

English is an exciting discipline that challenges you to explore both literature and writing. We offer two options for English majors—creative and professional writing or literature and criticism.

With either option, you'll learn how to:

• Read and think critically
• Write to move audiences
• Engage with literature—and the world—thoughtfully and analytically

The skills you'll develop are essential in today's competitive job market and can lead to rewarding careers in communications, editing, grants writing, journalism, public relations, social media, technical writing, web publishing, teaching middle or high school English, writing for general and specialized audiences, and many other fields. You'll also be prepared for graduate study across many disciplines, such as creative and professional writing, education, law, and library/information science.

UMass Dartmouth's liberal arts major offers an intellectual challenge, encouraging you to pursue your interests across a variety of academic fields.

You'll develop your creativity, critical thinking skills, and sense of independence while you explore concentrations across the humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs:

• The humanities: art history, English, foreign languages, history, philosophy
• The social sciences: anthropology, economics, political science, policy studies, sociology, women's and gender studies
• Interdisciplinary programs: sustainability, urban studies, women's and gender studies

Recent studies have shown that a degree in liberal arts provides a strong foundation for professional careers and scholarly work. You'll develop the qualities that future employers prize most: strong communication skills, the ability to assess a situation and develop a course of action, and the confidence to work independently.

As a liberal arts major, you will design your own interdisciplinary path as you choose two concentrations and bring them together to create new ways of seeing, knowing, and expressing your academic and research interests.

Liberal arts majors find careers in business, communications, education, government, human resources, museums, non-profit organizations, public policy, and social work. You'll be prepared for graduate study in the fields you'll explore as you select your liberal arts concentrations.