Coming in Fall 2015: business analytics, quantitative psychology, criminology [online], criminal justice [online]
Coming later: astronomy, Chinese, Chinese teaching, postsecondary foundational mathematics teaching
This fall, four new majors will be added to Ball State’s course catalog after getting approval from the state.
An undergraduate major in business analytics and a graduate study in quantitative psychology are the two on-campus additions, and criminology and criminal justice will be added to Online and Distance Education Programs.
Only those four of the eight majors approved by the Ball State Board of Trustees in May were approved to launch this fall.
The other approved majors, which will be added to the university’s curriculum later, include astronomy, chinese, chinese teaching and a graduate program in postsecondary foundational mathematics teaching, said Marilyn Buck, Associate Provost and Dean of University College.
The university reviewed possible new majors by looking to balance student interest with the chance for the degree to actually pay off, Buck said.
“Ball State looks at what has happened in society, what the world needs, so that comes into effect,” she said.
The business analytics program requires 21 credit hours, and is in the department of Information Systems and Operations Management. Business analytics is also called “Big Data,” and is the science of interpreting numbers and information into usable knowledge, according to the program description.
“This program is STEM based and there is a big market demand for this major,” said Jensen Zhao, department chair of ISOM. “It will add more value to Ball State.”
An alternate approach to the major will be offered by partnering it with three concentrations: business, communications and telecommunications. This allows students to have some background in data analysis when they enter their field, Buck said.
Zhao said he hopes the major will draw new students to ISOM.
“We’re trying to get students into our majors if they’re freshmen and sophomores,” Zhao said. “Juniors could take it as an elective, and if they love it, they could double major, [but] we don’t want to take from other majors.”
Quantitative psychology also focuses on data, but with the purpose of preparing professionals for statistic-based degrees.
“[Quantitative Psychology] is preparing people for jobs that are, not specifically, but commonly university jobs, and also PhD programs that are also statistic focused,” Buck said. “It’s a very niche type of skill which will move students forward.”
Criminology and criminal justice are now being offered fully online. These, along with business and general studies, are the only four completely online degree programs that Ball State offers.
“The criminal justice and criminology programs in itself are in high demand,” Buck said. “People in law enforcement that haven’t got a bachelor’s degree seek [these online programs], people in the military who work a full time job seek this. Those are the people with full time jobs and families. Making the drive to campus everyday just wouldn’t make sense.”
A master program for arts and emerging media design and development was also added this year in the Department of Journalism.
Read More
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Rokita warns Indiana college officials to guard against campus antisemitism
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 18 hours agoAttorney General Todd Rokita on Wednesday issued a warning to postsecondary officials: “Hateful antisemitic acts against Jewish students will not be tolerated.”
Authors of book “Cold Case Muncie" host event at Muncie Public Library
By Ellie Marker / YesterdayTrue crime journalists and authors Douglas Walker and Keith Roysdon co-wrote a book titled, “Cold Case Muncie.” At the Carnegie Library May 14, the authors shared comments about their findings as well as a Q&A session with the audience.
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Indiana hospital prices 8th-highest in nation, study finds, but hospitals dismiss analysis
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 2 days agoU.S. Sen. Mike Braun honored at health care transparency conference
