On Feb. 9, the Presidential Advisory Committee approved a total of six new degree programs, including four bachelor's degree programs in fine arts and two in chemistry.
The programs are pending approval from the Board of Control and the State Board
of Academic Officers, made up of officers from around the state. However, if
approved, the programs are expected to be available for the 2005-2006 school
year, according to Terry Monson, chair of the PAC.
The Department of Chemistry hopes to add Bachelor of Science degrees in cheminformatics
and pharmaceutical chemistry, while the Department of Fine Arts plans to offer
its first degree programs, Bachelor of Science degrees in theater and entertainment
technology and audio technology and audio production
and technology, and Bachelor of the Arts degrees in theater and
entertainment technology and in sound design.
Also added were an interdisciplinary minor in nanoscale science and a certificate
in actuarial science, to be based in the Department of Mathematics. An interdisciplinary
minor allows a student more flexibility, according to Monson.
"An interdisciplinary minor is a minor that includes courses in more than
one department," Monson explained.
The programs got to the PAC early this winter and were approved relatively
quickly Monson said, also adding that the board is looking at several newer
proposals.
"We expect to have a proposal for a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering coming
soon." he said.
Within the Department of Fine Arts, which previously only offered minors in
theater, visual arts and music, Milton Olsson, the department chair, believes
that the new programs will add to not only the department, but to the University
as a whole.
"We think the programs are going to help the University grow. It's going
to attract students who might not otherwise come here," Olsson explained.
Olsson also feels that the new degree programs will help to add a new dimension
to the University.
"The new programs will help to bring together technology and the arts,"
Olsson said. "Few universities offer a type of program that balances technology
and the arts."
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