Business

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration will take you through the traditional theories and strategies behind managing an organisation. Some of the skills you will hone include effective communication, problem-solving, thinking precisely and being able to manage a team. Practical and hands-on, the programme gives you a clear idea of the complexities of running a company or small business long before you start work.

Experiential learning is a big part of this programme. As part of the Entrepreneurial Lab, you may manage Cottey’s Spirit Shop, focusing on areas like marketing, finance, and operations. You can intern with a local business, a major corporation or a governmental agency. There is the option to learn through the stock trading lab, join state and international competitions and go on field trips to places such as the City Market in Kansas City and Global Entrepreneurial Week.

Biology

By majoring in biology, you could work in health care, medicine, physical therapy, nursing, veterinarian science, or field ecology. Many Cottey College are thriving in these fields. Just as many have progressed to graduate school with advanced degrees in Biostatistics, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and more.

In laboratories and in the field, you will explore the structure, function, heredity, and evolution of microorganisms, fungi, plants, and animals. As the programme requires three hours of experiential learning, this gives you the chance to benefit from hands-on experience with undergraduate research or the chance to shadow professionals.

Field trips are a big part of the programme, taking you beyond campus to attend regional and national scientific conferences with faculty. These are great ways to learn from peers and experts in your field, find a mentor, and sharpen your scientific communication and leadership, for which specialised courses are offered as well.

Psychology

You may choose between a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science or a minor in Psychology. In this subject, as with many of Cottey College’s programmes, you’ll learn by doing. Some of the activities you can take part in include wearing displacement goggles to learn about vision, raising a virtual child to learn about development, or using EEG to study the brain.

The programme gets you to work regularly with children in an after-school programme. You can travel to places like the brain research lab, Heifer Village, or the Glore Psychiatric Museum. You may even attend or present at research conferences such as the Midwestern Psychological Association annual conference and the Missouri Academy of Science annual conference. In addition to all of this, if you qualify, you may pursue an internship or independent research study as well.

There are two highlight classes to look forward to. The PSY 235 Biopsychology, is an exploration of the brain during stress, learning, and psychological disorders. You will examine the brain and the biological basis of psychology. The other course is the PSY 308 Psychology of Child & Adolescent Development, which focuses on the biological, psychological, and social development from conception through adolescence. This class is where you can raise a virtual child.

Education

What makes Cottey College’s education programme stand out is its focus on the social-emotional side of teaching, as well as the art of teaching. As the school aims to create leaders in the field, the programme will show you how to support the growth of the whole student. You will become a caring, competent teacher, working alongside your students and making a difference in the classroom and school.

Fieldwork allows you to experience different “in-classroom” immersions, such as observing teachers and students in the classroom, teaching lessons they created and working with students in small groups. Such action-based training is available whether you choose a BA in Elementary Education or a BA or BS in Secondary Education. The latter includes courses in biology, business, chemistry, English, mathematics, social science and theatre/speech.

Health and Biomedical Sciences

The BS in Health and Biomedical Sciences lies in the intersection of biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. As a graduate, you’ll be ready to join numerous health-related fields. This includes medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, podiatry, optometry, biomedical research, biochemical research, toxicology and medical sales and marketing.

This programme blends academic coursework in the sciences and mathematics as well as participation in research, internships, and service learning. You will attend conferences and carry out a senior capstone project. The school’s laboratory is well-stocked so you can routinely work with lab samples and research-quality scientific equipment and instrumentation. A few chosen students may also gain more experience by working with the laboratory manager to help prepare the chemicals, biological samples, and equipment needed for each week’s lab sessions.

These “hard skills” classes are paired with a series of seminar courses to help you develop soft skills. Aside from being familiar with the professional literature, you can apply your knowledge and speak, listen, and communicate effectively in professional settings. You will have an appreciation and understanding of the differences in people’s lived experiences and the powerful know-how of bridging divides between individuals.