MSU students will have the opportunity to choose from two new majors starting this fall and might have the chance to add one new specialization in the coming years if the proposed program goes forward as planned.
This coming fall semester, students can enroll in either world politics or advanced mathematics for the first time.
In addition to the new degree programs, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LBGT, studies specialization currently is in the planning process.
The LBGT specialization will draw from current courses across the university that deal with issues of sexuality, said Michael Craw, a professor in James Madison College who also serves as vice president of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Faculty, Staff and Graduate Student Association, or GLFSA.
Craw said it currently is unclear where the specialization would be housed, but said potential possibilities include the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH, the College of Social Science, or the College of Arts and Letters.
In addition to the specialization, students also will be able to participate in a study abroad program related to LBGT studies in Amsterdam, which Craw estimated will be ready in about a year.
He said the initial response to the proposed introduction of the specialization has been positive.
“We’ve also conducted a climate study on LGBT on campus to assess generally how well faculty gave feedback, and secondly to investigate whether students would be interested in this,” he said. “The study indicated there is significant demand for this specialization.”
The curriculum still remains in the planning process, and it’s unlikely the specialization will be ready this school year, Craw said.
Both of the new degree programs most likely will be available this fall, however.
Jeanne Wald, the associate chair and the director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Mathematics, said the advanced mathematics degree program recently received approval in the appropriate areas.
The program is designed to work with students pursuing multiple majors, and of the 12 courses required for graduation, three can be completed by taking high-level elective courses in the student’s other area of study, Wald said.
Pilot courses in the advanced mathematics program were offered beginning in 2009, and Wald said the response from students remains enthusiastic.
“We’ve already had quite a few people contact us about taking the new courses,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of people who are interested in it.”
She estimates about 60 people will enroll in courses related to the advanced mathematics degree, but of those people, she thinks only half will continue on to the second semester. On average, the program most likely will graduate 10 to 12 students per year.
The world politics degree program most likely will be ready for this coming fall semester, said Richard Hula, a professor and the chair of the Department of Political Science.
Hospitality business junior Spring Eisenzimmer said she would consider taking courses in the world politics program when given the choice between the two new programs.
“I think (the world politics courses) would be more fun for me,” she said.
Eisenzimmer added that the new programs help the university “stay on top of their game” in terms of competition with other schools across the country.
Hula said the department’s other international courses consistently draw high enrollment, which leads him to believe this program also will be successful.
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“We have about 800 (students) now total across the department — I suppose we might start (this new program) with 50 or 100 (students),” he said. “My guess is that this is something that will grow over time.”
