MULTIDISCIPLINRY NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.pptx
UNL A&S NSE Presentation 2011
1. Welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences Parent Session Bill Watts – Assistant Dean for Advising Services Sunil Narumalani – Associate Dean for Academic Programs "I have really developed my own voice and style of leading - both in and out of the classroom - because of all the opportunities available to me at UNL. That has by far been the most rewarding for me." - Justin Shilhanek current Psychology & Spanish Major
Introduce each bullet point – mention that slides have supporting information to what I’ll be discussing and that they can watch for information on the bottom of some slides that provide examples of A&S majors earned by various corporate executives, and quotes from current and past students.
Over 50 major and minor programs 16 pre-professional programs (pre-medicine, pre-law, pre-dentistry) 4500 students, 350 faculty Over half of UNL’s teaching Overview of the A&S 1. All students at UNL will take a large number of A&S courses. 2. The goal is to create broadly educated citizens. Educate for the ability to adapt to a changing world rather than to teach only applied knowledge of one specific field. Help students learn to reason, to think critically, and analyze and evaluate complex information. Also to develop skills in writing and speaking effectively. A liberal education also means that a student has been exposed to a broad spectrum of human knowledge and can place new information into a broader context. The goal is to create someone who is prepared for a broad spectrum of careers. This is important in an era where most people change jobs and even professions several time during their career. People need the skills that will help them retool or upgrade their expertise. We aim to prepare students for their last job, not just their first. Consider reading quote from an alum: “ I didn't know how communication studies would benefit me when I was an undergraduate, but knowing now what I did not know then, I realize it may have been the only area of study that could have benefited me. I've used what I learned from communication studies to lead 40 Americans in combat as well as to mentor, guide, and negotiate with police, military leaders, civic leaders, religious leaders, and tribal leaders, all Iraqi, some I'd been at battle with one day and ate at their table the next. Communication Studies prepared me to appreciate and understand the entire spectrum of communication and cultures.” - Lonnie Wilson BA 2005 Communication Studies
A&S offers over 50 majors, so students can find what interests them and study it in depth. Some students double major—if have two areas of interest. Or can do a major and a minor in another area. Each major involves at least 30 course hours; minors usually 18 credit hours. Many students change their majors during their college career. This is normal—it’s part of the process of exploring different areas and seeing what really interests them and what they are good at.
Interdisciplinary majors—some of more interesting work these days is at the intersection of traditional fields or disciplines. A&S offers several interdisciplinary programs where students can major and even more interdisciplinary minors. Some information regarding majors changing and careers: 70% of those who enter college, change their major at least once (data from IR conference 1999 – study of 250,000 First time freshmen) Key as parents – encourage your students to see advisers if they are thinking about changing majors Ask for participation – how many parents in same career field now as when they completed their schooling? Note – expectations that most people will change careers multiple times and that 50% of grads nationally don’t do something directly in their major field – the value of transferrable skills – analytical reasoning, written and oral communication, the ability to be a life-long learner, are and will be integral to success in the working world Close with Story about P&G VP – we hire the best people we can find
Successful students at UNL will be involved and engaged beyond the classroom. A&S has multiple opportunities: The RUTE Scholars program is a structured research program for teams of undergraduate students and faculty mentors. Each team has two biology or natural resources students and two mathematics students along with at least one biology or natural resource mentor and at least one mathematics mentor. One project will aim to develop models that describe components of a hyper-diverse tropical rain forest in Borneo. The field work will be based at a field station in Borneo at Lambir Hills National Park, Malaysia. UCARE, Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences, pairs undergraduate students with faculty mentors, enriching the educational experiences of the student and at the same time providing a tangible benefit to the research program of UNL faculty. 2 year program – During Year 1, the student works as a research assistant for the faculty mentor, learning by doing. During Year 2, the student advances to a more independent project still under the guidance of the original faculty mentor, building upon skills learned in the first year. Students represent most A&S majors, from all areas Math/Natural Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, some A&S Examples include: Classics and Religious Studies: Ruhollah Khomeini and Mawlana Mawdudi and the Origins of Islamic Fundamentalism Chemistry: New Agents for Brain Imaging - Visualizing nGluR5 Receptors with F-MTEB Psychology: Childhood Trauma, Alcohol Use Onset and College Functioning There exists a huge variety of student organizations related to A&S – see examples listed, plus clubs/organizations associated with many majors and many pre-professional areas. Study abroad scholarships exist for students majoring in the Modern Languages and students in Spanish and French have opportunities to study with UNL faculty at institutions abroad. Students generally are encouraged to study abroad in UNL partner programs, but also have availability and can bring in credit from experiences coordinated through other institutions. Students can use their financial aid packages and can ask for reviews of their financial aid packages if they choose to study abroad. The only thing I’ve consistently heard people regret about their College Experience is if they DIDN’T study abroad.
Introduce overall concept of the degree including multiple parts – general education, major, ancillary/prerequisistes, possibly pre-professional courses, and ELECTIVES Brief explanation of ACE – 10 outcomes, courses can count in major or minor, includes outcomes like writing texts, communication skills, math reasoning, science, the humanities, social sciences, diversity, ethics and a senior capstone experience. College Distribution Requirements – further the purposes of liberal education by encouraging study in several different areas – including additional writing communication courses, 7 hours in math/science – including a laboratory science course, 2 additional Humanities, one additional Social Science, and a Foreign Language. Note Foreign Language is based upon achieving a fluency level, not specifically a number of hours. Students w/ 4 yrs of same lang in h.s. will be exempt. Others will test today to determine an appropriate placement, and many students may have a language course on their schedule if they placed into an advanced level and want to advance toward completion of this requirement. Majors – vary – this refers to the actual number of hours in the major itself – not hours outside the major department, but required as a prerequisite or ancillary req’t. Depending upon major students may choose or be required to choose a minor or they may have ancillary reqt’s – i.e. Bios must take Chem, Psych strongly encourages Stat Most majors in A&S (although, not all – METR) will have some elective hours. Advisers will not hesitate to have students explore electives early in the students’ careers.
Stress students are an active participant in the advising session. Advisers are well trained individuals from many disciplines – all come together in one location for NSE, so even if students don’t meet with their assigned adviser, they will meet with someone who knows and understands degree requirements AND student needs. Students have large control over choosing their classes – they will have the knowledge or materials to understand their degree requirements, to use the registration system and they can make changes to their schedule over the summer. We HIGHLY recommend contacting an adviser before making a change, but it is not required. They will come home with an NSE advising worksheet that lists courses that advisors recommended, including alternatives and the purpose served by the course – ask your students to share this with you if you have questions about their schedule.
Faculty advisers in many departments – they wear many hats, professor, researcher and adviser. Students can’t expect an instantaneous answer or that advisers are in their offices when students want them to be. Students can expect that faculty advisers are available during posted office hours (found on their doors, and sometimes at department offices and/or webpages), can also expect reasonable – with in a few days, return of phone calls and e-mails. Will be able to assist with major requirements, UCARE and major related extra-curricular opportunities, post graduation planning and often all types of general education/administrative advising. Professional Staff Advisers – full or part-time advisers. Will usually have more office hours than faculty advisers, in the case of full-time advisers – tend to have 8-5 M-F schedules and availability. Will be able to assist with major requirements, extra-curricular activities, post graduation planning and usually all types of general education/administrative advising.
Explain briefly these tools and that students will have access to them all through the web and Undergraduate Bulletin in paper as well. Open it up for questions.