Graduate Schools in Miami, Florida

Today, ‘The Magic City’ is a hub for multi-nationals and has the largest concentration of international banks in the United States.ⁱ The seat of Miami-Dade-County, Miami City is home to over 450,000 residents who bring diversity and flavor to this dynamic port city.ⁱⁱ

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Miami area is made up of three metropolitan divisions—separately identifiable employment centers within the larger metropolitan area. All three divisions gained jobs over the year. Education and health services had the largest over-the-year increase and added 18,000 jobs in 2017. Trade, transportation, and utilities took second place—It grew by 8,600 or 1.5 percent.ⁱⁱⁱ

Three other super sectors gained at least 7,500 jobs over the year in the local area—professional and business services (+7,700), other services (+7,600), and construction (+7,500)ⁱⁱⁱ.

DID YOU KNOW?
In 1929, Al Capone bought a home on Miami’s Palm Island against the wishes of the isle’s residents.^iv

Where Is Miami?

Miami and its suburbs sprawl on a broad plain between the Florida Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east. Most of the city is on the shores of Biscayne Bay, which is known for its many natural and artificially created barrier islands. The largest of these islands is home to Miami Beach and South Beach.

Explore the Neighborhoods of Miami, FL

Within Miami, there are North, South, West and Downtown sections, of which Downtown Miami is the heart of the city.

Downtown: As the central business district for South Florida, Downtown is where you’ll find Brickell Avenue. This well-known street houses multiple international banks. Also, downtown is home to various cultural and tourist attractions, schools, parks and a large residential population.

Across Biscayne Bay is South Beach (east) and the Civic Center (north). The Civic Center is quite the nucleus for hospitals, research institutes and biotechnology.

South: The South part of Miami has Coral Way, The Roads and Coconut Grove, each of which has a unique personality.

Coral Way has a historic residential vibe. It was built in 1922 and connects Downtown with tree-lined Coral Gables. The Roads, just west of Brickell is known for its old homes, historic public schools, and tree-lined streets. Coconut Grove is where you’ll find parks, gardens, bohemian shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

West: The West includes various ethnic enclaves such as Little Havana. Little Havana is home to many Cuban ex-pats, as well as Central and South American immigrants. It is also known for colorful street life, restaurants, music, Calle Ocho and its Walk of Fame.

North: North Miami includes Midtown, which is ethnically diverse and has its own sections like Edgewater and Wynwood. Wynwood has gone from shabby to gentrified.

Wealthier areas include the Design District, the Upper East Side and Miami Modernist architecture (MiMo) which brings in themes of glamor, fun and an air of extravagance. By contrast, Overtown, Little Haiti and Liberty City are also on the northern sides.

Getting Around Town

To get around Miami, there is public transit. The three main Miami-Dade transit systems are Metrobus, Metromover, and Metrorail though Miamians are still car-dependent. Most people report a 27.7-minute average commute by car. ⁱⁱ

What Food Is Miami Known For?

Explore savory dishes inspired by Latin American influences such as arepas with pulled pork, melted cheese and avocado. Ceviche, which you may have tried in Mexican or Peruvian restaurants is a staple to Floridians too.

Also, authentic to Miami is the ‘Cuban sandwich’ – a variation on a classic ham and cheese sandwich. It is made with fresh Cuban bread, yellow mustard, roasted pork, baked ham, Swiss cheese, and sliced dill pickles. You’ll also find many churrascarias, or Argentinian steak houses.

Other influences include fried snapper, a favorite of the Miami Haitian community. Or, you can try out some Miami classics. Stone crabs are a mainstay in all the seafood restaurants, though there is nothing like a fresh grilled Mahi-Mahi sandwich with a slice of key lime pie on the side.

10 Things to Do in Miami

1. Take in a festival like Calle Ocho or Carnaval Miami
2. Check out any of the hot spots for dance music
3. Head to the Art Deco District
4. Get zen at the Ancient Spanish Monastery
5. Try the spring-fed Venetian pool in the city of Coral Gables
6. Visit the Freedom Tower in Miami, it is considered the ‘Ellis Island of the South’
7. Walk around Wynwood Halls – an open-air museum that melds street and gallery art
8. For some glitz, lounge on Miami Beach and people watch
9. Head southeast of downtown to take in the white sand at Virginia Key Beach
10. Spend some time on the famous sands of South Beach

Sports and Recreation in Miami

For sports fans, Miami is known for pro-football (Miami Dolphins), pro-basketball (Miami Heat), major league baseball (Miami Marlins) and hockey (Florida Panthers). You could also take in soccer, greyhound racing, jai alai, pro golf and tennis tournaments. The Homestead-Miami Speedway also hosts NASCAR races.

Aside from a day at the beach, some Miamians spend time on the water to boat, fish and scuba dive. There are also plenty of tennis courts, golf clubs and places for early morning or sunset jogs. The Miami Riverwalk Trail is favored among runners. Walkers like Surfside Beach too.

Outdoor Conditions

The tropical monsoon climate has distinct wet and dry seasons, persistent humidity, and year-round warmth. For instance, from May to October it may reach into the mid 80s.

Is Miami Bike Friendly?

Cars are generally given the most priority in Miami, however there are people who would like to see Miami be more bike friendly. Plan Z is a proposed highway/linear park system for bicycles and pedestrians along Rickenbacker Causeway. It aims to connect Miami’s mainland to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne.^v

List of Graduate Schools in Miami, Florida

There are a variety of Graduate Schools in Miami, Florida as well as universities in the Miami Area. Check out several partner Miami universities below.

• University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami
• Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Miami
• Union Institute and University, North Miami Beach

DNP Programs in Miami

There are many BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs for nurses interested in advanced practice nurse practitioner skills and knowledge. Per the BLS, Florida is one of the states with the highest employment level of Nurse Practitioners with average annual salaries of $95,650 in May 2016.^vi

One option is to review DNP programs in Miami at University of St. Augustine. Here, students could take their academic courses online and fulfill practicum requirements in their local community. There are also optional residencies as well as an international service opportunity for interested students.

There are two curriculums at St. Augustine University. One is for students who have their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN to DNP). The other is more involved and is geared to RNs who also have their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN to DNP).

Students in both programs could study evidence-based nursing, leadership and population health. To earn a DNP degree, students also complete a scholarly project. DNP areas of emphasis include Nurse Executive and Nursing Informatics.

Compare the DNP with a Doctor of Audiology (AuD). An AuD is usually a four-year clinical professional doctoral program.

Florida is one of the states with the highest employment level of audiologists based on 2016 data.^vii One possible university near Miami for this degree is Nova Southeastern University. In addition to the academic portion, students complete clinical experiences in a variety of settings. The final year of the AuD program is a clinical externship.

Counseling Graduate Programs in Miami

Study to counsel youths and their families through a Masters in School Counseling program. Florida is one of the states with the highest employment levels for educational, guidance and school counselors (2016)^viii.

NSU offers a Master of Science in School Counseling program that is approved by the Florida Department of Education. Applicants need a valid teacher certification, or may have to make up courses.

Curriculums include an academic component. This is where students study principles of counseling and career choice theories along with other topics. These generally include a class in human development and various intervention methods.

School counseling students also take part in an internship at a selected K-12 public school setting where they typically work under the supervision of a professional school counselor.

Compare this program with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. NSU offers a campus-based program in Miami. Graduates may go on to seek licensure in Florida as mental health counseling.

EdD Programs in Miami

Current healthcare practitioners and educators might want to earn a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Miami. Florida is one of the states with the highest level of employment of Health Educators (2016) especially compared to Georgia and Texas.^ix

At St. Augustine University, students take compulsory courses to develop instructional skills. These cover topics such as curriculum design, educational theory and classroom delivery methods. Participants could also choose to pursue a certificate in Nursing Education, Athletic Training, Teaching and Learning or Executive Leadership.

EdD students culminate their program with a dissertation. This generally addresses a real-world issue and allows students to make an original contribution to a body of knowledge in their field.

Compare this with an online Masters in Industrial-Organizational Psychology degree. In I-O psychology, students could learn to apply psychological concepts to the business world.

Topics in I-O psychology often include workplace motivation and attitude and organizational behavior. Working students could conveniently study through a web-based platform and then, complete a practicum locally.

Choose a Graduate School in Miami Florida

Make sure to conduct your own search to see what degree might align with your professional goals. Here’s how.

Set filters for degree level (Masters, Doctorate, Certificate), subject, and program format (online or campus). These preferences yield choices from partner Graduate Schools in Miami, as well as universities in Florida that may be close to Miami. To apply, easily fill out an on-page form right away.

[i] miamigov.com/home/history.html | [ii] census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/miamibeachcityflorida,miamicityflorida,US/POP060210 | [iii] bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/areaemployment_miami.htm [iv] mentalfloss.com/article/68282/25-things-you-should-know-about-miami | [v] therealdeal.com/miami/2017/03/03/can-greater-miami-ever-become-as-bike-friendly-as-copenhagen/ | [vi] bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm | [vii] bls.gov/oes/current/oes291181.htm| | [viii] bls.gov/oes/current/oes211012.htm | [ix] bls.gov/oes/current/oes211091.htm#st |