Ventures Summer 2018 | Page 17

PROFESSIONAL MINORS Stevenson has always looked for ways to provide its students with a competitive edge in their career paths, and now, the university has introduced five professional minors specifically created to do so. These new minors—Applied Management, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Human Resources, Real Estate, and Software Design and Coding—were conceived to expand students’ career options and offer an opportunity to shape their education to meet their specific career goals. PROFESSIONAL VS. TRADITIONAL MINORS courses will be supplemented by programming Both discipline and professional minors give students stand out in a competitive job market,” students the opportunity to learn outside of STEVENSON HELPS ITS STUDENTS STAND OUT IN A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET their field and tailor their education to their own specific interests, but they differ in their primary focus. Where traditional, discipline- specific minors such as English, economics, or music give a student a more in-depth education in an aca demic field relevant to their major or their personal interests, the new professional minors focus on introducing students to in-de- mand professions and industries when coupled with their major, provide them with additional career options after graduation. Each professional minor consists of four courses designed to teach foundational knowledge related to a discipline or industry. The hosted by the Office of Career Services. “This new, career-centered credential is another example of how Stevenson helps its says Bridget Brennan, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Adding a solid knowledge base and workforce experience in one of these industries to the skills and career preparation they gain in their major will give students the versatile skills employers want and open up new career paths for them.” The professional minors will officially launch in fall 2018 but the program is being embraced by faculty in different programs across campus. Students have already begun declaring professional minors, and Student Success Coaches, Academic Advisors, and Career Services staff are positioned to help students decide whether they might benefit from declaring a professional minor. STEVENSON.EDU | 15