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Dalton State College will begin offering bachelor’s degree programs
in chemistry and criminal justice in the fall of 2009, College
administrators announced today, with the chemistry program also
containing an option for teacher certification in secondary
education.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents
approved the establishment of these two new degree programs at its
February meeting, increasing the number of four-year majors now
offered by the College to fourteen.
“Both chemistry and criminal
justice are critical fields of study, and there is a high demand for
capable graduates of these degree programs in the larger
marketplace,” said Dr. John Schwenn, President of Dalton State. “We
are delighted that we will be able to help meet the need for
graduates in these programs.”
Dr. Randall Griffus, Dean of the
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, says that discussions
with area educators and industry leaders have uncovered not only a
“huge demand for science teachers in the middle schools and high
schools, but also a huge demand for chemists to work for local
manufacturers which supply the carpet, floor-covering, and related
industries.”
“Graduates who earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
degree will be a good fit for the kinds of industries that are
supported in our region,” he says. |
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Students who major in chemistry
and who would like to become certified to teach in middle and high
schools will to need to take 36 hours of education courses, which
includes student teaching and an internship, in addition to the 40
credit hours in chemistry required of chemistry majors.
The
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree will also satisfy the
demand for an increased and well-trained criminal justice workforce
within this rapidly-growing area, say College officials.
“The
program will offer courses relevant for law enforcement, but also
courses dealing with the fields of probation, parole and
corrections, and juvenile justice,” says Dr. Tony Simones, Assistant
Professor of Political Science and Criminal Justice.
“In addition,
the bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will feature a strong
pre-law component,” he adds. “This interdisciplinary major will
involve subjects from the fields of psychology, sociology, social
work, English, Spanish, biology, and chemistry. Our hope is to
create a strong working relationship with area law enforcement,
judicial, criminal justice, and social services communities that
benefits both Northwest Georgia and our students.”
According to
Dr. Patricia White, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at
the College, courses leading to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degrees may be offered
as soon as this fall.
“Depending on demand, we hope to begin
offering courses in both degree programs as early as August of 2009,
with a fuller range of junior level classes being introduced during
subsequent semesters,” she says.
For more information about these
new degree programs, please call the Academic Affairs Office at
Dalton State at 706-272-4421.
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