Trustees approve academic program changesJuly 25, 2010 KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's Board of Trustees approved the creation of two new graduate programs, several program name changes and the elimination of a handful of degrees and correlating departments at its July 23 meeting. New programs include a Master of Arts in Sports Management, creating a distinction from the current sports management emphasis of the master's degree in physical education. Also created was a new graduate certificate in the History of Monastic Movements, enabling graduate students who are working in this field to gain a formal credential. Eliminated were the departments of industrial design and materials sciences and engineering, as were the degrees associated with the departments. Admission to the industrial design program was suspended in 2005, and the last of the students in the program are now finishing their studies. Admission to the undergraduate graduate materials science and engineering program was suspended in 2002 and admission to the graduate program was suspended in 2005. Program changes include the transfer of the Occupational Education Studies program from Extended University Programs to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; as well as the renaming of the bachelor's degree in imaging to graphic and printing science, and the minor in imaging to the minor in graphic and printing science. These changes were made to clarify the focus of the degrees and to make them distinct from similarly named programs. Also modified was the name and scope of the Jean E. Lowrie Lecture Series to be renamed the Jean E. Lowrie Children's Literature Fund. The endowment will continue to provide funds to support an annual lecture series in the field of school and children's library services. But it also will be expanded to purchase books and other resources specifically published for children or relevant study or research. Media contact: Deanne Puca, (269) 387-8400, deanne.puca@wmich.edu WMU News |
