Master of Arts in Sociology (STEM)

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

The M.S. program provides students with the opportunity to develop a high degree of proficiency in a specialized research area. The program serves as a stepping stone to jobs in industry, graduate school, professional school, teaching careers, or for those who would like to strengthen their Chemistry knowledge. All students take coursework, carry out original research with a faculty mentor, and submit a thesis. The program has a focus on developing strong writing and oral communication skills. Financial support is typically available through a teaching assistantship.

The Therapeutic Recreation Administration option prepares advanced personnel for administrative responsibilities in clinical-based practice & administrative leadership in community-based recreation services that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Graduate education serves Therapeutic Recreation Specialists who wish to move into administrative positions such as supervisor/manager/director, senior therapist, treatment coordinator, assisted-living manager, and senior center supervisor. A specialization in community-based TR is also available through our partnership with Northeast Passage

The Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations (AMC) option balances language study with the opportunity for students to select from a wide range of courses covering many aspects of the Greek and Roman worlds, as well as the neighboring peoples in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The flexibility of this option makes it especially attractive for students who wish to double major in another subject. It is generally not suitable, however, for those who wish to pursue related graduate study or a career in teaching Latin. AMC majors can, however, supplement the requirements with additional coursework to keep these options open.

The Latin and Latin Teaching (LLT) option is designed to provide a good foundational liberal arts education centered on Latin and the Roman world, but it also includes specific elements that make it particularly appropriate for students who are considering careers teaching Latin in secondary schools after graduation. This option does not lead directly to state certification, which can be pursued during a fifth year of study in the Department of Education.

The art history curriculum provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of Western art from the ancient world to the present as well as some exposure to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. All courses in the program teach basic skills of interpretation and critical analysis within the framework of broad cultural perspectives that connect the visual arts to larger historical developments. They also teach good writing and research skills. In addition, art history majors typically branch out into other fields, such as history, literature and foreign languages. By the time they graduate, most majors are well equipped to pursue such traditional careers in the field as museum and gallery work, teaching, publishing or librarianship. But because art historical education is so broad, it also prepares students for a variety of other, more flexible options, such as law, business or architecture.

This option prepares students for managerial positions in commercial, public, and nonprofit organizations that provide recreation and leisure services. Curriculum design emphasizes the effective and efficient planning, delivery, and evaluation of leisure-based programs, services, and enterprises. Applied experience is a component of most courses, in addition to a required practicum and the 10-16 week full-time internship under professional supervision. Depending upon the RMP electives and the career support emphasis or minor chosen, students may expect to find employment in a broad range of settings. Recent graduates have found employment in the areas of conference and event planning, municipal park and recreation services, recreational sports, commercial and entrepreneurial recreation businesses, youth-serving agencies, resorts, camps, and natural resource management positions in state and federal agencies.

The Option in Money and Financial Markets (B.A. degree) explores the complex and interdependent nature of money and financial markets. Students will develop institutional knowledge and analytical skills to understand the role of the financial system in society, fluctuations and risk in asset markets, including those for bonds, stocks, and currency, and how financial derivatives, such as futures, options, and swaps contracts, can be used to hedge risk. Students will also study the conduct and implications of monetary policy, exploring the merits of quantitative easing, macroprudential policy aimed at reducing systemic risk, and other key issues involving the role of the state in the financial system.

The option is designed for students wanting careers in the financial services sector, including commercial and investment banking, financial trading, security analysis, portfolio management, and financial advising, and in the government sector, especially at the Federal Reserve System, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the U.S. departments of Treasury, Commerce, and State.

The computer information systems (CIS) or information technology (IT) field, in its broadest sense, encompasses all aspects of computing technology. During their program of study, students develop a strong skillset to effectively select, develop, apply, integrate, and administer secure computing technologies to accomplish user goals.

The bachelor of science degree in Computer Information Systems prepares graduates with knowledge, skills, and professional practices to work in the highly integrated field of computing and to grow into leadership positions. The program also enables graduates to further their studies at the graduate level and pursue research in a computing-related discipline.

Career opportunities for students with an undergraduate CIS degree are varied, but may include such areas as software applications developer, data security specialist, database developer/administrator, e-commerce analyst/programmer, help desk manager, multimedia developer, network/system administrator, technical writer, technology trainer, user support specialist, testing and quality assurance specialist, or web developer. Career options exist in a wide range of organizations as all businesses, industries, and nonprofits continue to use, develop, and integrate information technology solutions.

The study of government and politics, to which the courses and seminars of the Department of Political Science are devoted, includes the development of knowledge of political behavior by individuals and groups as well as knowledge about governments: their nature and functions, their problems and behavior, and their interactions—at the national and international levels and at the local, state and regional levels.

Much of the learning offered by the Department of Political Science also can be regarded as essential for good citizenship, since political knowledge helps to explain the formal and informal institutions by which we are governed and the forces that lead to policy decisions, and also seeks to clarify the issues and principles that encourage people toward political involvement. It contributes to the store of knowledge necessary for informed citizenship. In addition, such learning is especially valuable to students planning to enter local or national government or other public service, including the Foreign Service, and it will be of great help to those who intend to study law and enter the legal profession. For teaching, particularly at the college level, and for many types of government service, graduate work may be indispensable. An undergraduate major in political science will provide a helpful foundation for any further study of politics and related fields in the social sciences and humanities. Such an emphasis also will be valuable for students seeking careers in journalism, international organizations, and the public affairs and administrative aspects of labor, financial and business organizations.

Students choosing the Communication Arts Human Relations option explore practical, theoretical, and historical perspectives on the study of human relationships in professional and personal contexts. With so many of today’s employers emphasizing the value of human communication skills in potential employees, the Human Relations Option offers students the knowledge and hands-on learning they need to develop their oral and written communication skills, as well as their ability to work in teams. Coursework covers topics such as verbal and nonverbal communication, perception, identity, conflict, human resource management, power, health, social psychology, human development, and counseling.  An internship in the area of human relations is required.