The Winthrop University College of Arts and Sciences offers outstanding opportunities for graduate study in both academic and professional fields. Our nationally recognized programs provide close faculty support for advanced, intensive training to society's present and future leaders. Please see below for general information about and links to these excellent programs.
The Master of Science in Biology at Winthrop University offers students broad training in Biology. Students may concentrate in areas ranging from conservation biology and behavioral ecology to biomedical research in cancer, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Students work closely with graduate faculty advisors who hold Ph.D.s in their areas of specialization and are active researchers. Graduate courses are small (12 students or fewer) allowing for maximum interactions between students and their professors. Our graduate faculty members enjoy teaching and mentoring graduate students and many have won awards for their teaching and scholarship. Whether you are a new graduate continuing your education in a specialized field of study or seasoned professional wishing to capitalize on your years of service in the field, Winthrop University provides an outstanding opportunity for graduate studies with both thesis and non-thesis options. Coursework for either option can be completed within two years.
The Master of Arts in English offers students the opportunity to pursue the study of literature, either without a thesis or with a thesis in literature, rhetoric and composition, or creative composition. Students may choose courses in literature, theory, creative writing, composition and rhetoric, and linguistics; collateral courses are also available in supporting areas. Graduate study in the Department of English presents an opportunity for you to work with a dedicated and gifted faculty in small classes and to receive a noteworthy level of personal attention to help meet your goals, whether they are for further study, teaching in post-secondary or secondary institutions, or non-academic endeavors. It's not unusual for our graduate students to present papers at regional and national scholarly meetings, even international ones, or to submit manuscripts and creative work for publication. Close faculty-student mentoring relationships and small class sizes allow our graduate students to develop their critical, creative, and professional skills to an extent many larger programs cannot match. Admissions are on a rolling basis, and both full- and part-time students are welcome.
The Master of Arts in History degree is frequently chosen by students who wish to pursue careers in such fields as teaching, law, library and archival work, and journalism, as well as in areas less directly related to the study of history, including fields in business and industry. The Master of Arts degree in History with thesis requires the completion of at least 30 hours of approved graduate-level courses including a thesis. The Master of Arts degree in History without thesis requires the completion of at least 36 hours of approved graduate-level courses. The history faculty at Winthrop University comprises scholarly, talented, energetic, and friendly individuals who are devoted to promoting the study of history and student learning.
The Master of Science in Human Nutrition focuses on advanced study of the interrelationships among nutrients, the food environment, and human health. Students earning the MSHN develop depth and breadth of knowledge about human nutrition research and gain experience evaluating and applying the scientific literature of human nutrition. The Department of Human Nutrition is dedicated to providing quality educational experiences for students and preparing them to think critically; the programs prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders in the field of nutrition. The Master of Science in Human Nutrition degree program can be completed with or without a thesis, and with or without a dietetic internship.
The Graduate Certificate in Dietetics offers a competitive dietetic internship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) for men and women desiring a professional career in the rapidly growing field of nutrition and dietetics. The Winthrop University dietetic internship provides a 1200-hour supervised program with an emphasis in nutrition therapy, for both inpatient and outpatient care. Interns in the Winthrop dietetic internship complete rotations during the fall and spring semesters in the Carolinas over a 36 week timeframe. Interns work with outstanding practitioners with diverse academic and professional backgrounds, many of whom have active leadership role in the region. This internship is ideal for individuals who can work independently and are self-directed learners.
The Master of Liberal Arts degree is based on the philosophy that fundamental human questions cannot be addressed adequately from any one disciplinary vantage point, and that interdisciplinary study can yield discoveries, insights, and personal growth in greater measure than can be obtained otherwise. The program provides the student with a unique opportunity to pursue a customized interdisciplinary graduate degree program, one that reaches across the boundaries of academic disciplines, while building broad analytical and problem solving skills. This program is designed for early- and mid-career students who seek to build both their knowledge base and communication skills as well as mature learners who seek intellectual stimulation beyond traditional graduate programs. Three core courses, focusing on empirical, rational, and intuitive ways of knowing, combine to create a methodological framework. A distinctive option within this program is its concentration in Political and Civic Engagement.
The combined Master of Science in School Psychology and Specialist in School Psychology program is designed to prepare practitioners to provide a full range of school psychological services including consultation, behavioral intervention, psychoeducational assessment, research, program planning/evaluation and counseling. Students are prepared to work with diverse clients from infancy to young adulthood, including those with low-incidence disabilities, and with families, teachers and others in the schools and community. Opportunities for working under close supervision in rural, suburban and urban settings are afforded students in the program. Although some graduates subsequently pursue doctoral studies, the primary purpose of the program is the preparation of well-rounded professionals for work in public schools and related settings. Upon successful completion of the Master's program, students are admitted to the Specialist program. The combined program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists.
The Master of Social Work program offers a concentration in empowerment practice across systems (individuals and families, small groups, and communities and organizations). Empowerment practice utilizes advanced critical thinking skills to assess the influence of multiple and interlocking personal, structural, and societal systems of power on vulnerable and oppressed populations. Graduates are prepared to use empowerment-based theories and methods for assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Empowerment practice affirms the strengths and capabilities of people, values human diversity, and promotes social justice. The Department of Social Work offers six options for pursuing a Master of Social Work Degree: Full Time, Weekend (Part-Time), Online, Full-Time Advanced Standing, Weekend Advanced Standing (Part-Time), and Online Advanced Standing.
For more information about graduate programs at Winthrop University, please also view the Winthrop University Graduate Studies.
