Sport Management (major and minor)
A partnership between the business administration and athletics departments is providing a new opportunity for sport, fitness, and recreation-minded students. Sport management is a specialized major in business administration that focuses on the management of sports and other athletic activities. Students will learn how to apply principles of accounting, business, finance, management, and marketing to the sports industry. With a foundation in the liberal arts, graduates will be prepared to pursue an advanced degree in sport management or obtain an entry-level position in a variety of sports-related careers, such as sports event planning, sports marketing, facilities manager, or director of athletic programs. “Students will be able to design their unique career path with elective classes. Paired with advertising and marketing communications, accounting, economics, biology, and other disciplines, we will produce candidates seeking to enter physical therapy, sport law, recreation, collegiate and professional athletics, owning and operating fitness facilities, and many other options. It truly is a ‘choose-yourown-career’ style degree that will cater to many interests,” said Nicky DiMarzio, head women’s basketball coach and associate director of athletics.
Equine-assisted Therapy (minor)
Equine-assisted therapy is a growing field that differs from therapeutic riding in that the setting is conducted on the ground rather than in the saddle. The horse, paired with a mental health specialist and an equine specialist, completes a three-pronged therapy team. Equine-assisted therapy has been effective in family therapy, for clients who have experienced domestic violence or need some type of rehabilitation, and for clients with behavioral issues, eating disorders, and addiction. It is also an effective technique for team-building activities for groups such as businesses, management teams, and youth groups. According to Jessica Denniston, program coordinator, coach, and barn manager, “This new program will work in conjunction with the psychology department to provide students a wellrounded view of the uses of equineassisted psychotherapy and learning. During my time at Virginia Intermont College I minored in equine-assisted growth and learning, and witnessed firsthand the benefits of this type of therapy. I am excited to bring this inspiring program to Wesleyan and believe it will greatly benefit students interested in combining their love for horses with a passion for helping others.”
Organizational Behavior (minor)
One of the fastest growing professional areas for the next decade involves the interface between business and psychology. Wesleyan is moving to prepare our students for jobs in this area with our new minor in organizational behavior, and our new psychology course, industrial/ organizational (I/O) psychology. The minor explores how human behavior impacts organizational practices and will pair well with majors in business or psychology. Successful businesses, agencies, and organizations will leverage the growing body of research evidence from psychology on individual and group behavior to create efficient, effective systems that maximize their greatest resource, their employees. Considering how to best develop their employees, how to match employees to jobs, and how to manage conflicts will help organizations function well. Shelly Martin, the professor of psychology developing the I/O course, noted that I/O psychologists are in demand worldwide. “Two of our psychology majors have gone on to complete Ph.D.s in I/O psychology, an occupation in which women have been underrepresented. This course will open up for more students the field of I/O, a lucrative area with many opportunities.”
Forensic Science (minor)
The forensic science minor at Wesleyan brings together courses across a variety of scientific fields, including biology, chemistry, and psychology. Students studying forensic issues are trained to objectively apply scientific procedures in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Steps might include DNA analysis and interpretation, the identification of trace elements from a crime scene, or an understanding of the proper composition required for an unbiased lineup. “The forensic science minor is highly interdisciplinary, with forensic biology, forensic psychology, and forensic chemistry providing diverse perspectives. With these and other strategic courses, a student will have a multi-disciplinary perspective in forensic science, which will complement a deeper understanding in their majors,” said Holly Boettger-Tong, professor of biology.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
After an approximate twenty-year hiatus, Wesleyan College is pleased to once again offer the bachelor of fine arts degree. The new BFA offers students a deeper concentration in the studio arts while maintaining Wesleyan’s strong liberal arts general education. “We are excited about the expansion of our programming, bringing in more artist lectures and exhibitions, and starting a professional artist residency this fall,” said Alexis Gregg, assistant professor of art. “The program officially begins this fall, but we already have six current students and two new students on the BFA track.” The BFA requires highly intensive and focused coursework in the arts to prepare students for professional careers in visual arts fields or entrance into master of fine arts programs. Students will cultivate a disciplined methodology for studio art production and develop the skill and confidence to speak, write, and professionally present her work in a gallery or public setting. In the junior and senior semesters, students may choose to concentrate their upper-level art studies from the following: painting, drawing, ceramics, graphic design, photography, sculpture, or printmaking.