Bachelor of Integrative Studies: Concentrations
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About BIS Concentrations
Concentration I:
Applied Sociology
American Contemporary Experience
Environmental Studies
Family, Gender, and Society
Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Information Technology Strategy for Organizations
Organizational Leadership
Understanding Media and Visual Culture
Concentration II
Suggested Pairings of Concentrations I & II
Geographic Information Science (GIS).
GIS teaches techniques for collecting and analyzing geographic information in our environment. The courses complement each other with some that provide a technical foundation and understanding and others introducing GIS concepts and providing a chance to apply them to various types of situations. Students learn how use technologies including satellite and aerial imaging, global positioning systems, and remote sensing.
The concentration provides the training and hands-on experience to solve problems in fields such as natural resources, urban planning, military and business decision-making, architecture, archaeology, law enforcement, education, health and many others. By taking one additional course, students may also earn a GIS certificate in addition to their degree.
Information Technology Strategy for Organizations. This concentration is designed to address fundamental IT knowledge areas that will complement a technical education foundation obtained in an associate degree program, by expanding students' knowledge of complex and connected issues in information technology in today's workplace.
The courses in the IT Concentration were developed by consulting two "bodies" that are essential to shaping technology curriculum: the department's external Business and Industry Advisory Council and current national standards for IT education outlined by ACM-SIGITE. The concentration also addresses local workforce needs by producing professionals in "Mathematical and Computer Occupations", the occupational group with the highest demand (20.4 percent for the present until 2014) in the Cincinnati/Middletown metropolitan area, as reported by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Labor Market Information website.
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Organizational Leadership. This concentration is designed for individuals working in both the profit and nonprofit sectors who want a four-year degree indicative of their ability to advance within the organization and lead/supervise others. Organizations employing such individuals include business, government, health care, and not-for profit in areas such as client/customer service, fund raising, human resources, human services, manufacturing, office administration or management, public affairs, retailing, sales and training.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Labor Market Information web site, the Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) growth projection for Management occupations is 8.2 percent and for Sales and Related Occupations is 9.4 percent by 2014.
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This concentration offers students opportunities to enhance their critical grasp of how the media influence our contemporary culture in multiple arenas, including politics and the economy. The array of courses focuses students' critical thinking on the power and influence of imagery in various media and across varied contexts.
A deeper understanding of the interplay between media and culture will enhance the students' ability to function effectively or advance in any number of professional fields, ranging from sales, fund-raising, politics, and advertising to entertainment-related occupations. According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Labor Market Information web site, the Cincinnati-Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) growth projections for management occupations is 8.2 percent: for Community and Social Services Occupations is 13.7 percent; for Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations is 11.9 percent; and for Sales and Related Occupations is 9.4 percent by 2014.
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