Governors State University Courses & FeesChicago, USA

Today’s complex fast paced business environment required professionals with a wide scope of knowledge and skills beneficial to the workplace. The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program, offered through the College of Business, provides a solid foundation in administrative skills and knowledge leading to a successful entry or mid-level business career. The real-world curriculum offers a set of core courses with a choice of concentrations: entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, management information systems, management, marketing, or operations and supply chain management.

The College of Business Bachelor of Arts in Manufacturing Management is the perfect next step for students who graduate from a manufacturing program at community colleges. The Bachelor of Arts in Manufacturing Management is a career-oriented program that prepares students to become industry professionals capable of successfully managing human, mechanical, technological and financial resources in a manufacturing environment. This program is offered in two formats, on campus and online. Check with program advisor for details.

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (ITECH) degree from the College of Arts and Sciences takes students into the worlds of information security, digital forensics, virtualization, and cloud computing. This program provides students with cutting edge coursework and advanced, real-world projects. The program collaborates closely with related programs in Computer Science, Criminal Justice, and Management Information Systems so students can tailor their degree to their career goals. Information Technology undergraduates receive a balance of theory and application as they learn to use a broad range of software and hardware to design and deploy various computer and network systems; and to work independently and collaboratively to solve problems.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers an undergraduate major in Biology with a curriculum that provides a strong background in the basic concepts of molecular, organismic, and population biology. In addition, laboratory courses provide the training needed for highly developed laboratory skills. Graduates are qualified for a wide range of entry-level positions as biologists in areas such as pharmaceutics, biotechnology, education, microbiology, and the environment. Students also are prepared for advancement to medical, dental, and veterinary studies, or for graduate level work in biology, including the master’s program in Environmental Biology at GSU.

The curriculum for the undergraduate major in Biology with a teacher education concentration, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences,  provides a strong background in the basic concepts of molecular, organismic, and population biology for the student who is interested in a career in science teaching at the secondary level.

Teacher Licensure

This program approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, leads to the Initial Secondary License qualifying students to teach Secondary Science. Students who major in biology with a concentration in secondary education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students wishing to pursue this endorsement must take three hours of methods related to the middle school. Students should contact their advisor for specific course requirements.

Recommendation for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license requires passage of the Subject-Matter Knowledge examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, and the national education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).

Students must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section in the catalog.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers an undergraduate major in Chemistry with a curriculum that provides a strong background in the basic concepts of analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Laboratory courses provide hands-on experience in the operation of a number of modern scientific instruments. Upon graduation, the student is prepared for employment in government and industrial laboratories in a variety of entry-level positions. The program provides the necessary preparation for graduate work at the M.S. or Ph.D. level in chemistry and meets all requirements for admission to the M.S. in Analytical Chemistry at Governors State University.

The curriculum for the undergraduate major in Chemistry with a teacher education concentration offered through the College of Arts and Sciences provides a strong background in the basic concepts of analytical, organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry for the student who is interested in a career in science teaching at the secondary level.

The undergraduate major in Computer Science, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, provides a balance between theoretical and applied study and is intended for students who are primarily interested in the application of computers and information technology to problem-solving. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for positions in business and industry, in local, state, and federal government agencies, and in research and technical organizations as programmers, network professionals, database professionals, systems analysts, systems designers, information security professionals, and software engineers. The curriculum also prepares students for graduate work in computer science and other relevant fields.

The College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Sexuality Studies offers a broad interdisciplinary investigation of gender and sexuality as keys to understanding human experience, fully integrating the study of gender and sexuality in its core curriculum. Genders and sexualities are powerful organizing forces: they shape identities and institutions, nations and economies, cultures and political systems. Careful study of gender and sexuality thus explains crucial aspects of our everyday lives on both personal and global scales. The scholarship in Gender and Sexuality Studies is interdisciplinary and wide-ranging, drawing on communication, history, literature, cultural studies, and social and behavioral sciences, to study genders and sexualities as they intersect with race, ethnicity, class, nationality, disability, and religion.

At its core, the undergraduate program encourages students to question the meanings of “male” and “female,” as well as of sexual norms, in both Western and non-Western societies. Courses seek to unravel the ways in which ideas about gender and sexuality shape social roles and identities, in addition to the ways in which race, class, and ethnicity function in the experience of gender and sexuality within a culture. Gender and Sexuality Studies challenges the privileging of some categories (i.e., male or heterosexual) over others, along with the social and political implications of such hierarchies. Out curriculum makes gender and sexuality central rather than peripheral terms of analysis and seeks to complicate what is often presented as “natural” or “normal” in traditional academic curricula.

Students come to Gender and Sexuality Studies with an intellectual curiosity about the ordering of society and questions about their relationship to it. By its very nature, Gender and Sexuality Studies enables students to combine intellectual inquiry with lived experience. To this end, students are encouraged to participate in internship opportunities and independent studies. Through these initiatives, students gain professional experience as well as an opportunity to test lessons learned in the classroom. Those who major in Gender and Sexuality Studies frequently pursue dual majors in other departments; they go on to careers in law, media, social work and research, government, development, and activist work, among others.

The College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate major in Mathematics has two paths - one which provides a substantial and broad background in mathematics and the other with a focus in actuarial science. The first path provides a balance between theoretical and applied study, with the general objective of providing students with a substantial and broad background in mathematics that affords opportunities to develop skills in logical thinking, problem analysis, problem solving, and computer usage that will enable students to be admitted to graduate school and to work successfully in business, industry, and government where mathematical skills are needed. The second path is an Actuarial Science concentration. It prepares students for actuarial positions in business, government and industry. Coursework in the sequence provides a foundation for the preparation needed to sit for a series of examinations developed by the professional actuarial societies. In addition to a strong knowledge base in mathematics that includes calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, coursework includes risk management, finance, economics, and investment

The undergraduate major in Business and Applied Science, offered through the College of Business, is a capstone program to the many varied applied programs offered at community colleges. It is intended to prepare students for careers that require both technical skills and business knowledge. It is ideal for applied science program graduates (A.A.S.) interested in continuing their education in careers involving business and management.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a B.A. in Criminal Justice that is developed from the social and behavioral sciences. The study of criminal justice combines the traditional aspects of the criminal justice system, such as law enforcement, courts and the judiciary, corrections, and juvenile justice with an understanding of social deviance as a whole. It also recognizes the interdependence of historical social traditions, values, politics, economic, and legal structures that impact policy questions in a democratic society.

The Bachelor in Arts of Criminal Justice at Governors State University will prepare students with the professional education, analytical background, and communication skills currently demanded in law and justice-related positions in policing, community and institutional corrections, juvenile facilities, social service and community outreach, conflict mediation, and non-profit enterprises among others.  This is accomplished through a curriculum specifically developed for students wishing to cultivate a broad perspective which includes the examination of the intersection of the traditional criminal justice model with social, restorative, and community-based models of justice.

The requirements of this degree include completing courses covering 1) Traditional criminological and restorative theoretical perspectives important to understanding crime, deviance, and the shaping of public policy; 2) Social justice approaches to crime prevention and community-based problems; 3) Ethics, diversity, professionalism; and 4) Research design and inquiry to strengthen analytical skills. 

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program from the College of Business is designed to provide students with the basic body of knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to enter the accounting profession (public, government, or business and industry).

Pursue your passions and prepare for a thriving career with an accounting degree from Governors State University. This degree program prepares you for a range of financial and business roles. Whether continuing your education to become a certified public accountant or immediately starting as an accountant or auditor, find out how GSU prepares you for a career in this dynamic and growing field.

Compare classes, review electives, and chart your course to a successful career with our accounting program. Discuss your career goals with an advisor to see how you can ignite your passion and access the resources you need for a career in accounting.

The College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Sociology (ANSO) curriculum is designed to engage students with the study of cultures and societies, race and ethnicity, social class, gender and sexuality, and other social inequalities that students examine through a lens of social justice. The ANSO Bachelor of Arts provide students with theoretical, research, critical thinking, and writing skills to examine the interplay between the environment, social institutions, culture, and individual identity. ANSO students take courses in both disciplines and graduate with a degree in both anthropology and sociology. 

The College of Arts and Sciences offers an undergraduate major in Fine Arts that offers an inter-disciplinary global approach that reflects contemporary art practices.

Courses in ceramics, drawing, digital imaging, graphic design, film, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture enable students to become mature artists in command of diverse materials and capable of expressing an individual view. Capacity for heightened perception and imagination is combined with an awareness of visual elements, principles of design, artistic statement, and criticism.

Classes in art history not only examine works of art through form, style and content but also through the cultural, social and political context that informed their making. Topics include those from Western and Non-Western societies ranging from antiquity through contemporary.

Individualized instruction and advisement are offered by dedicated faculty who view themselves not only as teachers, but as practicing artists and publishing scholars. The major prepares students to pursue careers as professional artists, provides transferable skills valued by employers and furthers an engaged citizenry.

Before graduating, each student will produce and document a final B.F.A. thesis exhibition or presentation.

The College of Health and Human Services offers an undergraduate major in Communication Disorders. The mission of this undergraduate program is to prepare students for successful entry into professional preparation programs in communication sciences and disorders and related fields, and to provide a high-quality foundation for careers in health sciences and education.  The program provides undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students with an exceptional education in an environment of civic engagement, community service, and diversity.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the undergraduate program in communication disorders, students will be able to:

1. Describe and explain the anatomy, physiology, and neurology of the normal processes of speech, language, hearing and swallowing.
2. Describe and explain the acoustic and psychoacoustic bases and characteristics of normal speech production and perception.
3. Phonetically transcribe American English, including its regional and cultural variations.
4. Explain the roles of linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic (including dialectal, cultural, and economic) factors that influence stages and characteristics of normal communication development and behavior.
5. Explain the effects of dialectal, social, economic, ethnic, and cultural influences on communication behavior.
6. Describe the major communicative characteristics of individuals with disorders of articulation, language, voice, fluency, and hearing.
7. Assess, at a fundamental level, communication behaviors of individuals with disorders of speech, language, and hearing.
8. Design elementary intervention strategies, using a variety of input modalities, for individuals with communication disorders.

Students in the undergraduate major in Communication, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, develop a practical and theoretical understanding of the processes and impact of human and strategic communication. In addition to a core of communication courses, including Strategic Writing, Advanced Public Speaking, and Communication Ethics, students majoring in Communication choose a sequence of courses in a human communication or strategic communication concentration.

Forbes consistently highlights communication and collaboration among the most valued skills by employers (Beaton, 2017).  Communication students join a long line of famous communication majors working in a variety of professional fields, including Oprah Winfrey, Peyton Manning, Spike Lee, Stephen Colbert, and Carrie Underwood. Students are prepared to exemplify professional communication practices that promote human relations as informed and engaged global citizens.

Each sequence includes practical skills as well as the applied understanding necessary for career development. A concentration in strategic communication offers students a broad foundation in the theory and skills necessary for a career in advertising, public relations, journalism, non-profit communication, or corporate communication. The human communication concentration explores multiple aspects of human interaction providing a foundation for students to communicate effectively and with integrity as informed and engaged global citizens. Students in any concentration are also encouraged to choose a minor, such as Media Studies, Theatre and Performance Studies, Global Studies, or Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Graduates of the program have careers in professions such as advertising, public relations, consulting, mentoring, customer service, sales, human resources and training, media management, media writing, public affairs, and digital marketing, starting on career paths toward Project Management and Director of Communication. The curriculum is designed to assist students in developing their abilities to communicate effectively and ethically in written, verbal, and visual forms within shifting technological, socio-cultural, political, leadership, and economic environments.

The undergraduate program in Community Health, offered through the College of Health and Human Services, provides students a broad-based community health education that will prepare them for a variety of career opportunities in health and human services fields. The Bachelor of Health Science degree in Community Health is designed to provide students with the broad-based educational background needed to design, implement, and evaluate programs and services that increase the quality, availability and effectiveness of health and wellness programs. The program has a strong underpinning in cultural understanding and sensitivity, giving you the ability to appreciate and respond to cultural and community influences on health and wellness promotion. The mission of the Community Health program is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and wellness of diverse populations with a particular focus of eliminating health disparities.

After completing a twenty eight-credit program core curriculum, students will select from three concentrations for the customization of the program. The three concentrations are: Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, Pre-Health Professions, and Foundations of Substance Abuse.

The College of Education offers an undergraduate major in Early Childhood Education that prepares future teachers for teaching children birth through age eight and offers two study track options. Students successfully completing the degree program in either Option 1 (licensure) or 2 (non-licensure) obtain a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Students in Option 1 earn a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a teaching license. Students in Option 2 earn a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education but are not able to apply for a teaching license. All students in this program (Option 1 and Option 2) must complete 49-52 hours in General Education coursework, 60 hours in Professional Education coursework, and 18 hours in Teacher Specialization coursework (ESL) to meet the 120 minimum credit hours for graduation. Both options require over 200 hours of clinical experience in the field.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics offered through the College of Business prepares students for careers that require an in-depth understanding of the forces of the economy. Economists study changes occurring in various countries, as well as individual sectors of an economy. You will learn how to research and analyze economic issues, conduct surveys and collect data, and analyze data using mathematical models and statistical techniques, and more.