Wilkes University Introduces New Major and Minors
New Programs Include Theatre Design and Technology Major, Sport Psychology Minor
Wilkes-Barre, PA (03/08/2018) — Wilkes University is increasing opportunities for its students with new majors and minors that expand career options after graduation. A sport psychology minor that is the first of its kind in northeastern Pennsylvania and a new major in theatre design and technology are among the new programs. Other new offerings include minors in sustainability management and actuarial science and the re-launch of a five-year B.A./M.B.A. program in industrial organizational psychology.
The theatre design and technology major was introduced in the current academic year in the performing arts division of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Through the major, students have the opportunity to explore all facets of design and technology in all areas of theatre design and production. With an emphasis on hands-on learning and weekly production laboratories, Wilkes offers students real experience with state-of-the-art equipment under the mentorship of talented professionals. The program is for students interested in becoming a theatre professional, furthering education with graduate study or using theatre and design skills in a related profession.
Students enrolled in the program will participate in the production of four main stage shows each year. Students will be required to take classes such as stagecraft, design for the theatre, acting, script analysis, directing and theatre history. In addition to completing the required coursework, students will participate in a portfolio review at the end of sophomore year. In senior year, each student produces an independent mentored work as a senior capstone project.
The sport psychology minor provides students with a unique opportunity to learn psychological performance enhancement techniques while also exploring the scientific methodology of neuroscience to determine how individuals can perform at peak skill levels in athletics. Coursework addresses common issues faced by athletes in all sports including anxiety, stress and anger management, as well as drug and alcohol abuse and relationship difficulties. Housed under the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the minor complements many majors including psychology, education, sports management, communications, or physical and occupational therapy.
Other new programs launching in fall 2018 include:
- The five-year B.A./M.B.A. in industrial organizational psychology major will prepare students for careers in a broad spectrum of areas, including human resources, worker productivity and professional development, assessment of policy and practices to maximize efficiency, and more. The program allows students to begin taking courses for the master of business administration degree in their senior year at no additional cost, allowing them to complete the master's degree in one year after graduating with a bachelor's degree. This also allows students to enter the job market a year earlier than they would have if they did not begin the master's degree until after completing their undergraduate degree.
- The sustainability management minor, jointly offered by the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership and the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, prepares students to lead an organization's efforts to maximize resources and minimize costs. Students who graduate with the minor will be able to put their knowledge to work in careers as diverse as communications, engineering, finance, facilities, health care and human resources. It is available to students in a variety of majors, including those studying management, sports management, hospitality leadership, earth and environmental sciences and environmental engineering. Course work will include areas of sustainability, metrics and implementation.
- The minor in actuarial sciences is available to students in the Mathematics and Computer Science department. The minor teaches students how to assess risk in the insurance and finance industries through the use of mathematical and statistical methods. Students in the program take courses in probability and statistics, finance, and economics.
About Wilkes University:
Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional programs. Founded in 1933, the university is on a mission to create one of the great small universities, offering all of the programs, activities, and opportunities of a large, research university in the intimate, caring, and mentoring environment of a small, liberal arts college, at a cost that is increasingly competitive with public universities. In addition to 43 undergraduate majors, Wilkes offers the doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education and doctor of pharmacy degrees and more than a dozen master's degree programs, including the master of business administration and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu
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