Departments, Schools & Programs

• Anthropology
  

  

  Anthropology takes culture as its central object of study, giving students a framework for viewing culture in the context of the natural world and evolutionary processes. Anthropologists also study the organization of social life, as well as symbolic and ideological systems. Anthropology views the world of human culture as a natural laboratory in which diverse historical experiments have occurred and are occurring.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Anthropology (Minor|BA|BS|MA|PhD)
  • Race and Ethnicity in the United States (Minor)

  ANTHROPOLOGY WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

• Asian Pacific American Studies
  

  The minor focuses on social and cultural history and contemporary issues relating to Asian Pacific Americans, a diverse group who come from varying class, ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds. The minor incorporates an interdisciplinary approach to issues and populations in the United States and includes exposure to current research, case studies, and contact with local communities.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Asian Pacific American Studies ( Minor)

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

• Chicano/Latino Studies
  

  

  Chicano/Latino Studies is designed to help students to understand the multicultural dimensions of society; to gain knowledge of Chicana/o and US Latina/o scholarship and scholars; and to apply that knowledge to the study of Chicana/o and US Latina/o communities and life.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Chicano/Latino Studies (Minor|Grad Certificate|PhD)

  CHICANO/LATINO STUDIES WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Center for Integrative Studies
  

  

  Global and International Studies

  The Global and International Studies in Social Science (GLIS) major provides students with breadth in social science foundational courses combined with in-depth knowledge in a world region or global topic.

   

  Interdisciplinary Studies

  Interdisciplinary Studies integrates courses from departments and professional schools across campus to build in-depth, cohesive, thematic programs of study (concentrations), which are grounded in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. 

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Global and International Studies ( BA)
  • Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science ( BA| BS)
  • Contemporary Global Studies ( Minor)

  IS WEBSITE

• Criminal Justice
  

  

  Criminal justice is designed to prepare students for entry level positions in public and private agencies identified with criminal justice administration. Such agencies apprehend offenders, adjudicate alleged offenses, redirect emergent criminal careers, and promote industrial and commercial security. Such agencies also encourage and emphasize community responsibility for the success of their programs.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Criminal Justice ( BA| MA| MS| PhD)
  • Online MS in Criminal Justice ( MS Online)
  • Online MS in Cybercrime and Digital Investigation ( MS Online)
  • Online MS in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis ( MS Online)
  • Forensic Science ( MS)
  • Law, Justice and Public Policy ( Minor)
  • Security Management ( Minor)

  CRIMINAL JUSTICE WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  100% Online Criminal Programs Website

  ONLINE PROGRAMS

  
  
• Economics
  

  

  Economics is the study of how various entities make choices with scarce resources.  Microeconomics focuses on the choices made by individuals and firms, and macroeconomics looks at the behavior of the economy as a whole.  The study of economics is one of the most practical and adaptable disciplines. Those who focus on it gain a broad skill-set that can be utilized in complex and changing environments, and that can contribute to the understanding and improvement of lives at the individual, group, organizational, and societal level.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Economics (Minor|BA|BS|PhD|Teacher Cert)

  ECONOMICS WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences
  

  

  The discipline of geography, as the study of place and space, concerns itself with the analysis and explanation of the occurrence, distribution, and interrelationships of physical and cultural patterns on the earth’s surface. The discipline is also interested in how the earth’s physical and human landscapes change over time. Geography can be classified both as a social science and a natural science as it examines human beings and their environment and serves as a bridge between the physical and cultural worlds. 

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Geography ( BA| BS| MS| PhD)
  • Geographic Information Science ( Cert)
  • Geospatial Analytics & Visualization ( Cert)
  • Earth Observation & Geospatial Analytics ( Minor)
  • Environment and Health ( Minor)
  • Human-Environment & Economic Geography ( Minor)
  • Physical Environment & Climate ( Minor)

  GEOGRAPHY WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• History
  

  

  All courses in history have the goal of helping students learn how to think and write historically in a critical manner. History courses emphasize learning how to identify viewpoints, gather and organize information, present conclusions in essays and on the internet, distinguish facts from interpretations, recognize historical relationships and patterns, and appreciate the relevance of historical insight to the understanding of current events and problems.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • American Studies (Grad Cert)
  • Defense Studies and Leadership (Minor)
  • Global History (BA)
  • History (Minor|BA|PhD|Teacher Cert)
  • History Education (BA)
  • Cities: Environment, Design, and Society (Minor)

  HISTORY WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Human Development and Family Studies
  

  

  Areas of study include child development, youth development, lifespan human development and family diversity, family community services, and couple and family therapy.  Knowledge of basic research and the application of research to improving the lives of individuals in the context of the family, the community, and policy are emphasized. Practical experiences in real-world settings are incorporated into all areas of study. The Child Development Laboratory and the Couple and Family Therapy Clinic are part of the department.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Child Development ( BA| MS)
  • Early Care and Education ( BA)
  • Early Childhood-General and Special Education ( Teacher Cert)
  • Family Community Services ( MA)
  • Human Development and Family Studies ( BA| BS| MS| PhD)
  • Resource Management from the Individual, Family, and Societal Perspective ( Minor)
  • Youth and Society ( Minor)
  • Youth Development ( MA| Grad Cert)
  • Youth Program Management and Evaluation ( Grad Cert)

  HDFS WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Human Resources and Labor Relations
  

  

  Through its research and educational programs, the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations advances knowledge and understanding of human resources and labor-relations within a global context. Offering a comprehensive understanding of the employment relationship, the program helps students develop critical thinking skills and learn essential problem-solving, social, emotional, and entrepreneurial skills for advancing the well-being and success of working people, organizations and communities worldwide.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Human Resources and Labor Relations ( BA| MHRLR| PhD)
  • Leadership of Organizations ( Minor)

  HRLR WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Peace and Justice Studies
  

  The minor explores issues of human rights, social justice, environmental justice, economic justice, activism, peace, violence, and conflict, examining their connections and distinctions through an interdisciplinary curriculum that stimulates students to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to face global challenges.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Peace and Justice Studies ( Minor)

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

• Political Science
  

  

  As a science, political science is concerned with theories, research methods, and facts as they relate to understanding political processes and phenomena. In particular, political science studies the distribution of power in groups, parties, institutions, governments, and international organizations. As a field of study, political science asks who has power, how did they get it, and why the exercise of power benefits some more than others. On both the American and international stages, political science prepares students to confront vital issues, raise critical perspectives, and explore new methodologies in the study of the fundamental concepts of power and change.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Political Science - General (BA|PhD|Teacher Cert)
  • Political Science - Prelaw (BA)
  • Public Policy (BA|MPP)
  • World Politics (BA)

  POLITICAL SCIENCE WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Psychology
  

  

  Psychology is a science concerned with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Psychologists study many topics including: how people perceive the world with their five senses; how people learn (and forget); how people relate to each other; how people develop their personalities; how people interpret and respond to social conditions; how organizations function; how to classify and understand the origins of psychopathology; how to intervene and treat psychological problems; how communities support health and well-being; and how non-human animal models can be used to understand human behavior.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Program Evaluation ( MA| Grad Cert)
  • Psychology ( BA| BS| PhD| Teacher Cert)

  PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE

  PROGRAM EVALUATION WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Social Work
  

  

  Social work is a profession that focuses on helping vulnerable and oppressed people improve their lives. Social work uses a wide range of approaches toward this end, with the intent of improving both personal life circumstances as well as the broader institutions and social forces that affect these populations. Our field stresses the interaction between the person and the person’s environment as we develop solutions. Social work is guided by a code of ethics that encompasses values fundamental to our practice, such as respect for diversity, self-determination, empowerment, and focus on the most vulnerable members of society.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Human Behavior and Social Services (Minor)
  • Social Work (BA|PhD)
    • Clinical Social Work Concentration (MSW)
    • Organization and Community Leadership Concentration (MSW)

  SOCIAL WORK WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Sociology
  

  

  MSU sociologists develop and apply leading theoretical frameworks, rigorously employ a diversity of methodological approaches, and use foundational and cutting-edge analytical techniques. In the process, MSU sociologists not only contribute significantly to the disciplinary core, but they also extend disciplinary influence by advancing its frontiers.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • Environmental Social Science(Minor)
  • Migration Studies(Minor)
  • Sociology (Minor|BA|BS|PhD)

  SOCIOLOGY WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  
• Urban and Regional Planning
  

  

  The School of Planning, Design and Construction uniquely unites four built environment disciplines to foster synergistic learning and collaboration: construction management, interior design, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning. The academic programs are accredited and produce career-ready graduates. Students work on real-world, cross-discipline projects and activities. The faculty cross-collaborate on pressing built environment issues, delivering timely and crucial sustainable research and outreach. The School of Planning, Design and Construction is administered jointly by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Social Science.

  PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

  • International Planning Studies (MIPS)
  • Urban and Regional Planning (BS|MURP)

  URBAN REGIONAL PLANNING WEBSITE

  ACADEMIC ADVISING

  
  

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Professional Licensure and Certification

Federal regulations require MSU to publicly disclose, for each educational program designed to meet the educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (or advertised as meeting those requirements), information about whether program completion would meet those requirements in a state.

VIEW DISCLOSURE

 

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