Assumption Launches New Majors in Criminology, Education
Assumption is pleased to announce three additions to its classic liberal arts curriculum through the introduction of B.A. degrees in criminology and education and an expanded health professions advisory program for the 2014-2015 academic year. The new, four-year undergraduate programs in criminology and education are part of a slate of now 42 majors (and 47 minors).
“Through the new criminology and education majors, Assumption students will receive a firm grounding in the fundamentals of these fields and graduate with marketable skills they can apply to their future careers or in their advanced educational pursuits,” said Assumption Provost and Academic Affairs Vice President Francis Lazarus, Ph.D. “These programs allow new paths of academic exploration for Assumption students seeking to declare a major or diversify their academic portfolio.”
The new offerings, integrated with the rest of Assumption’s vibrant and engaging liberal arts curriculum, prepare students for today’s competitive job market. Surveys of employers, including a recent study done by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, demonstrate that businesses seek college graduates with strong analytic and communication skills, the capacity to work in teams, and the ability to write and think clearly. All of those skills are quintessential hallmarks of a liberal arts education – an Assumption education.
CRIMINOLOGY
Assumption’s criminology major provides students with an understanding of crime as a social phenomenon, both regarding its causes and its consequences for society. Rooted in the liberal arts tradition, coursework in the major takes a broad, comprehensive approach, encompassing the study of how laws are made (the sociology of law), why some people break those laws (theories of crime), and the societal reaction to law-breaking behavior by the criminal justice system (the field of penology). Students in the major learn about more than how to stop crime – they learn about the complex world around them and how it works.
The major also provides students with the strong background in social science research methods and sociological theories required for/by an array of professions. The criminology curriculum emphasizes personal, hands-on experience and independent research, including a required Internship Seminar that provides opportunities for experiential learning in agencies and organizations within the criminal justice system or closely allied professions like victim services agencies. In addition, students must design, execute, and present a senior research project relevant to the field.
EDUCATION
Assumption offers state-approved teacher preparation programs for obtaining teaching licenses in elementary, middle and secondary school settings in Massachusetts. In conjunction with majoring in education, students also major in a specific academic discipline. This double major prepares students to be outstanding teachers and stand-out applicants in today’s competitive job market and provides them with the depth and breadth of knowledge that characterizes the liberal arts philosophy. A personalized focus and small class sizes help ensure that education majors receive ample guidance and support and hands-on classroom experience in a real-world environment early in their academic careers, which ensures they are prepared for the practical aspects of their profession. Their experiences and coursework culminate in a full semester of student teaching during their senior year. Qualified Assumption undergraduates may also enroll in a fifth year of study leading to a master’s degree in special education.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
The Health Professions advising program is designed to help students start a career or enter graduate school in one of the health professions by preparing them to earn good grades and strong scores on graduate school admissions tests and interviews. Career advising, combined with test preparation and targeted coursework, assists students in finding the right path at the start of their journey. A special course, “Social, Economic and Ethical Issues in the Health Professions” (required for completion of the program) allows students to consider the broader questions and philosophies surrounding their chosen field, preparing them to not only succeed, but to also live and work as conscientious, ethical and thoughtful professionals – the goal of the liberal arts and humanities.
Applications for early action admission must be received by Nov. 1. There is a second early action admission deadline of Dec. 15. The deadline for regular admission is Feb. 15.