By Peggy Diaco
Staff Writer
On an unusually warm and sunny afternoon last Thursday, over 600 students showed up to the Keystone Room to attend the Majors and Minors Fair.
The Majors and Minors Fair is held twice a year during the fall and spring semesters by the Department of Academic Enrichment and Learning to assist students in researching in-depth information about the many different majors and minors available at ESU.
“The Keystone Room was the perfect place to hold this event,” said Dr. Kelly McKenzie who coordinates the fair. “It was wonderful to see so many students and faculty talking about majors and minors as well as postgraduate opportunities.”
Professor Baden Lawson represented the athletic training major and explained how a graduate with this major can work in a variety of settings like schools, professional sports, as well as clinical settings like a physician’s office.
“A graduate with an athletic training degree can evaluate, treat and rehabilitate sports injuries,” said Lawson. “They can also train athletes on preventive measures to help avoid sports injuries.”
Some majors have prerequisites and are more difficult to get in to than others. Nursing is one of them.
“In nursing, human life depends on students having a high GPA and good critical thinking skills,” said Dr. Laura Waters.
“History is an important major for a wide variety of reasons,” said Dr. Shannon Frystak.
“History teaches students to think critically and forces them to become better informed citizens. It is also a good minor.”
Senior student Catherine Reis, a representative at the biology table explained that biology is life.
“Everything we are and everything in our environment is biology,” said Reis who is interested in helping people, the environment and biotechnology.
“A major in interdisciplinary studies is a good major for those students who have two to three areas of interest and cannot decide on one specific major,” said Jan Hoffman, Academic Coach for the Department of Academic Enrichment and Learning.
“For instance, if you’re interested in occupational therapy, you can take classes in psychology, and biology under the interdisciplinary studies degree and cover requirements to get into occupational therapy school,” said Hoffman. “People who study theater are people who have a passion for it,” said Dr. Margaret Ball, chair of the theater department. “Theater teaches you analytical skills, communication, leadership, memorization and artistic and creative skills that are missing in so many areas.”
Dr. Kelly McKenzie is happy for the great weather, good turnout and enthusiastic interest.
“This event offers students an opportunity to think critically and expansively about their academic interests,” said McKenzie.
The next majors and minors fair will be held during the fall semester.
Dr. McKenzie welcomes any advice on improving this experience for everyone.
Email Peggy at:
mdiaco@esu.edu