Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeA closer look
We put a few of SVSU's lesser-known programs under the microscope
February 25, 2008 —
Although the University is best known for its College of Education and College of Nursing and Health Sciences, SVSU offers over 105 various major and minor programs, not including graduate degree programs.
Among the various education and medical specialties are programs that are not as well-known, but are certainly unique. These programs include such majors as applied studies, agriculture, business chemistry, and optical physics and such minors as Asian, Black, and gender studies, gerontology, religious studies, entrepreneurship, philosophy and law, and youth services.
Following is a more in-depth look at a few of the various programs.
Asian Studies
The Asian studies minor gives students a chance to learn about many aspects of Asia. Required classes include History of South Asia as well as History of East Asia. Instructor of Philosophy David Nichols teaches the East Asian class. According to Nichols, these history classes are always packed and have extra students trying to get in. Nichols's approach to the class gives students a view of Asian history and culture.
"My approach is in the philosophical and religious origins of the area," Nichols said. "I ask my students to answer 'What is history?'"
Students may choose from a variety of other classes to finish the 18 credits required for the minor. Some of these include international management and history classes that explore modern China, India, and Japan.
This minor allows students to understand Asia in a world where there is a high amount of globalization.
"Students need to know about China and India," Nichols said. "They are both dominant and emerging powers."
Law and Philosophy
A philosophy major is not currently offered at SVSU, but students can obtain minors in traditional philosophy as well as law and philosophy. Philosophy classes fall into six broad categories including ethics, topics, philosophy of religion, philosophical methods, history of philosophy and world philosophy.
The law and philosophy minor requires students to take intro to logic as well as symbolic logic. Beyond this students are required to take Professional Ethics: Legal Systems and then may choose the classes to finish out the minor from a list of other philosophy classes. These final courses cover a range of topics and how they relate to philosophy including society, politics, law, liberty, and morality. According to Drew Hinderer, a professor of philosophy at SVSU, a law and philosophy minor is helpful for pre-law students.
"People who have a law and philosophy minor do better on the LSAT," Hinderer said. "We have people willing to help if you are looking into law school."
Gerontology
A minor in gerontology gives students an opportunity to learn about the elderly population. Students must obtain a wide range of knowledge in this area and receive credit from four different departments, including health sciences, psychology, sociology and social work. In addition students must receive three of their credits from field experience in health or human services.
One class that is a possibility for students to take is a seminar in life span human development taught by psychology professor Eric De Vos. It is a seminar class and the curriculum is based mostly on discussion. As part of the class students must interview an elderly person about their life.
"It's surprising how interesting people's lives are," De Vos said.
The gerontology minor and life span class specifically allow students to better appreciate diversity in life.
"Students get a better understanding of the resilience and diversity of human lives," De Vos said. "And the diversity of ways to create lives."
Information on any of the major and minor programs available at SVSU is accessible through the SVSU Web site and the undergraduate and graduate programs pages.