Already looking ahead to next school year, Central Michigan University has announced it will open a new school of public service and global citizenship, and will offer a new recreation and event management major.
The school of public service and global citizenship will offer multiple certificate programs that give students an additional competency in the dynamic global economy, director David Jesuit said.
"(Employers) are demanding that our students become more prepared to work in the more diverse environment, or the international environment," he said.
While many programs with low enrollment, such as European Studies, were removed during the university's prioritization process, Jesuit said many of the programs will be brought back through the interdisciplinary school.
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The 18-credit-hour certificate programs will include Middle East and Islamic Studies, East Asian Studies, and European Studies with existing programs including Women and Gender Studies and Museum Studies.
More competencies will be added as the program progresses, Jesuit said.
The certificate will go along with any major and minor a student chooses.
Though Anspach Hall is undergoing renovations, Jesuit said once the construction is complete, the school will be housed on the first floor.
Jesuit said programs like these are becoming more and more useful in society.
"Programs like cultural competency certification ... help students prepare for careers as the United States becomes much more diverse," he said. "It's not just about understanding cultures outside the United States, it's about understanding cultures inside the United States."
CMU also announced it will offer a new recreation and event management major this fall semester.
"It basically is a combination of some existing programs that have historically been part of our department," Otteman said. "It's a combination of commercial recreation and facilities management ... and community leisure services administration."
Otteman said the two majors have been combined with some services of the existing event management major in order to respond to the needs of the industry.
The recreation and event management major will be a 35 to 36 credit hour major along with a 30 credit hour internship, Otteman said.
"We're the first major in the state of Michigan that is recreation and event management," Otteman said. "Being able to provide that credential is a feather in CMU's cap."
While the new major technically begins during the fall 2013 semester, Otteman said the department is beginning to transition interested students into the new major, and will start signing those students next week.