|
Morrisville introduces latest |
|
|
The bachelor’s in Nursing will be a “two-plus-two” program; only students who have their associate’s degrees and are registered nurses will be able to pursue it, says Christine Cring, dean of the School of Science and Technology. In preparation for the degree, there will be a new assessment lab in Bailey Hall for a health assessment course, Cring says.
For Human Performance and Health Promotion, a program that was spearheaded by Assistant Professor Lisa Rusch, Morrisville’s faculty is designing a unique program to prepare students for employment, says VanRiper. “[After graduation,] these are students who could be starting their own health and fitness business.”
|
Two new bachelor of science degrees have been approved for Morrisville State College. Planned for a Fall 2007 release, the new four-year programs will be Human Performance and Health Promotion, and Nursing. The decision to add these new programs to Morrisville’s catalog stemmed from popularity of the two-year programs in Nursing and Sports and Nutrition, says Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim VanRiper. “It made sense to add on top of a strong associate degree,” he adds. The bachelor’s in Nursing will be a “two-plus-two” program; only students who have their associate’s degrees and are registered nurses will be able to pursue it, says Christine Cring, dean of the School of Science and Technology. In preparation for the degree, there will be a new assessment lab in Bailey Hall for a health assessment course, Cring says. Some non-clinical parts of the program will be completed online. VanRiper says that this is for nurses who are already employed in the field and want to work on their bachelor’s degrees from home. For Human Performance and Health Promotion, a program that was spearheaded by Assistant Professor Lisa Rusch, Morrisville’s faculty is designing a unique program to prepare students for employment, says VanRiper. “[After graduation,] these are students who could be starting their own health and fitness business.” The new Wellness Center on campus, which will be ready by Spring 2008, will be a hands-on lab for Human Performance students to work with real clients and assess their fitness. Students will have the opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team promoting wellness, says Cring. The team includes a doctor, a physical therapist and an exercise physiologist. “There will be a lot of choices in the health areas for students, and it hasn’t been that way in the past,” Cring says. The biggest challenge in bringing these programs to students by Fall 2007 will be finding and hiring the Ph.D.-certified professors necessary for teaching classes, says VanRiper. “Most nurses have either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, not a Ph.D.,” he says. There is no guarantee that Morrisville will get the needed employees in time for the fall, “but we’re confident we can find the faculty,” he adds. Many more new programs are being developed for the college catalog, says VanRiper. These new degrees include Entrepeneurship and Small Business; Horticulture Business Management; Cybersecurity; E-Commerce; Technology Management; Science, Technology, and Society; two new journalism degrees (Journalism and Communication for Online Media, and Videojournalism); Criminal Justice; Applied Psychology; Nutrition and Architecture and Equine Physiology. In addition, there are plans to remodel one of the campus’ old dairy facilities into studio space for several design programs, such as Graphic Design, Interior Design, Product Design and Automotive Design, Van Riper says. VanRiper says he appreciates the tremendous effort the school’s faculty is putting in, coming up with ideas and developing new programs. He says he believes these degree offerings will shape the future of Morrisville State College. |