Master of Arts in Professional Writing and Communication

at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth USA

The Physics department offers a bachelor's of science degree in physics with a concentration in astronomy and astrophysics.

Explore your interests in the universe, and uncover the mysteries of nature. Probe the far reaches of space and the depths of the ocean, and meet our planet's environmental challenges. You'll learn the observational and analytical methods astronomers use to study the cosmos, as well as the physics behind celestial phenomena.

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.

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.

Centered on studio practice, UMass Dartmouth's BFA in Art Education is a professional degree that will prepare you for elementary or secondary school teaching and for careers in other learning environments.

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.

The BFA is a professional degree that prepares students for licensure in elementary or secondary school teaching or for work in other learning environments and it is founded on studio practice.  Students must complete a concentration in one of the studio areas in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Teaching licensure students become Art Education Teacher Candidates after passing the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure (MTEL). Teaching licensure students become Art Education Pre-Service Candidates only after passing the entire MTEL, which includes the Visual Arts portion, before the first semester of their senior year, a prerequisite for entrance to the student teaching practicum. Depending upon the level of licensure sought, in consultation with the Art Education faculty advisor, and prior to class registration each semester, the appropriate Art Education courses must be selected and passed.  Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.75 and obtain a positive recommendation from the chairperson before permission is granted to the student for entrance in his/her student teaching (Practicum). Student teaching requires a commitment of 400 total hours, earning full-time (12 credits) status. During the pre-practicum field experience, UMD pre-service teachers observe and assist in teaching students at their selected grade level (PreK-8 or 5-12) in public schools. Students must acquire a total of seventy-five hours outside of class during their pre-practicum field work, plus 20 hours observations in Sheltered English Immersion (SEI).

Money, time, and risk: these are the fundamentals of finance. Finance is the study of funds management, and how money is spent and budgeted. Financial decisions determine the economic viability of any enterprise, whether a corporation, multinational company, limited partnership, private company, or nonprofit organization.

Your professors—leading experts in their field—will introduce you to the discipline's analytical tools, which bring together concepts from economics, accounting, and mathematics. Internships in corporations and financial institutions will help you discover the many career opportunities available in finance.

Finance majors prepare for careers in brokerage firms, corporations, financial institutions, investment banks, and government in positions such as:

• Budget analyst
• Financial analyst
• Financial manager
• Financial planner
• Mortgage officer
• Portfolio & mutual fund manager

As global markets expand, international opportunities for finance professionals will also increase.

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.

The Computer & Information Science Department offers a bachelor's degree in computer science with an option in software engineering: the systematic approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software.

Software engineers analyze, design, and program software. They are concerned with issues that play a vital role in software development, such as quality, novelty, creativity, standards, teamwork, and professional practice. If you're interested in large-scale commercial software development or in managing software projects, consider software engineering.

The Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM) provides you with the knowledge and tools to help improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery and become an agent for positive change. Professionals working in healthcare and those interested in influencing the field learn how to save time and money, improve quality of care, redesign organizational processes, and reduce implementation errors.

Throughout the program, you will strengthen your managerial skills, which you’ll be able to immediately apply to the workforce. You’ll also learn how to analyze and measure health systems' performance, improve processes and productivity, and use data to guide improvements and support patient care delivery.

The Bioengineering Department offers a BS degree in bioengineering with a concentration in biomedical engineering: the biological and medical application of engineering principles in healthcare.

Biomedical engineers integrate engineering principles with the medical sciences to design and create medicines, artificial tissues and organs, devices, computer systems, and software to improve human health.

As a concentration within UMassD's bioengineering program, your program of study will bring together the life sciences, medicine, and engineering—providing a solid academic foundation and a broad interdisciplinary approach to the field.

Within the concentration, you'll have the opportunity to explore:

• Cell and tissue engineering: with courses in areas such as nanotechnology, immunology, human organogenesis, and material surfaces
• Medical devices: with courses in areas such as implantable sensors, robotics, medical ultrasonics, and device regulations

Your education will prepare you to contribute to the profession in an ethical and socially responsible manner and to work effectively to further your career and to benefit society.

You’ll join a new generation of innovators and leaders in fields with significant opportunities for growth. Biomedical engineers pursue exciting, rewarding careers in manufacturing, universities, hospitals, research facilities, and other educational and medical institutions.

Prepare for a career in graphic design by learning how to communicate visually.

You’ll develop your talents and skills to achieve a high level of professional ability, while pursuing your own creative goals. The BFA in Art + Design: Graphic Design will prepare you for the many career opportunities available in contemporary design practice.

The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art and design 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 by exploring fields such as business, sustainability, writing/communication, computer science, and many more.

Our faculty—who are also professionals in their fields—will teach you how to:

• Research and analyze content as part of the design process
• Work within the context of the message, audience, environment, and technology
• Develop graphic translations such as symbols, books, posters, and interactive media
• Create art with a purpose

Medical laboratory scientists strive to answer medical questions and solve medical mysteries. When you major in medical laboratory science, you'll learn to analyze blood, body fluids, cells, tissues, and other specimens to determine both the causes of diseases and their appropriate treatments.

Medical laboratory scientists are essential members of the healthcare team who play a central role in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of disease with minimal direct patient interaction. Medical laboratory scientists perform and interpret laboratory testing. More than 70% of all medical decisions are based on data that medical laboratory scientists provide to the healthcare team.

Our comprehensive program, one of the largest in the nation, is a university-based integrated clinical medical laboratory science program. Our program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, which makes our students eligible for national certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

French is a language rich in literary and cultural traditions. An official language in 29 countries, for all United Nations agencies, and for the European Union, French remains one of the top three most useful languages for business.

As a French major at UMass Dartmouth, you'll study the culture, language, and literature of the French-speaking world. You'll develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cross-cultural communication as you explore topics in areas such as linguistics, civilization, film, cultural diversity, equality, political rights, social justice, and the entertainment industry.

A degree in French will prepare you for careers, including digital media, entertainment, business, law, justice, communications, education, hospitality, travel, government service, international development and aid, journalism, publishing, linguistics, social services, translation and interpreting. We also offer teacher preparation for students who are interested in teaching French at the middle or high school level. Learn more about teacher preparation.

Students are strongly encouraged to consider combining the French major with another minor, double majoring, combining a French minor with another major, or choosing the French concentration as part of the Liberal Arts major.