New Programs Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers D&E, PennWest Partner for Criminology Master’s Degree Program

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS New Programs Prepare Students for In-demand Careers

To meet the requests of prospective students and the ever-changing professional career landscape, Davis & Elkins College will offer new academic programs beginning in fall 2022. The fields of study encompass natural resources, technology and communication skills. “We’re very happy to be able to introduce these new majors and programs and think they will meet the educational and professional needs of our students as well as the economic development needs of the region and state,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Rob Phillips. “Each program blends the faculty’s established strengths and interests with a willingness to explore new partnerships both internally and externally. Finally, they demonstrate the College’s ability to provide educational programming and career opportunities in academic areas which include the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.”

Sustainable Natural Resources and Forest Technology

Two related programs embrace the area’s history in natural resources and forestry. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in sustainable natural resources or an Associate of Science degree in forest technology will complete much of their field study on a 300-acre tract of land gifted to the College by Trustee Chair Emerita June Myles. Located just a short drive from campus, the experimental forest will feature an outdoor pavilion, the George A. Myles Field Station. Myles’ father, the late George A. Myles, founded Myles Lumber Company in Randolph County and was a longtime proponent of the state’s forest industry. The sustainable natural resources program will appeal to students seeking a career as a conservationist, fish and wildlife biologist, forester or park ranger, among other fields. It will offer three areas of concentration: natural resources management, forest resources management and parks and recreation management. All three will focus on the sustainable use of natural resources such as watershed management, forestry and recreation. The forest technology major prepares students for a career as a forestry technician, procurement forester or utility forester.

Cyber Security

A new Bachelor of Arts in criminology with a concentration in cybersecurity prepares students for high-paying, high-demand careers in some of the best industries across the country and the globe, such as federal, state and local governments, financial services, health care, manufacturing, retail companies, security and technology. This will be D&E’s first offering in partnership with a consortium of independent colleges through Rize Education Inc. The partnership utilizes state-of-the-art technologies and highly skilled professionals to ensure the highest level of education. Through the consortium, students will take online courses that complement the courses taken in-person at D&E. Coursework focuses on cybercrime and governance, network and system security, and cyber forensics.

Communication

Students pursing a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication will gain skills to help them make an impact in their professional lives and their communities. Interpersonal communication proficiency has been identified as one of the most important factors employers consider in making a hiring decision. The program blends theories of human communication with concrete applications across a variety of spheres of human interaction, ranging from the personal, to the business, public and technical arenas. Students also will build a solid foundation to equip them for career changes throughout their lives. Students will focus studies on argumentation, media, interpersonal and intercultural communication, filmmaking, public relations, digital media and interactive media design.

D&E, PennWest Partner for Criminology Master’s Degree Program

Davis & Elkins College and Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) have partnered to offer undergraduate criminology students a clearer path to obtaining a master’s degree. According to the agreement, D&E students can transfer six credits from their criminology bachelor’s degree program to PennWest’s master’s degree programs in criminal justice studies: applied criminology or forensic linguistics. To be eligible, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Faculty and administration from both institutions will work together to provide guidelines for students interested in participating in the program. Justin Wisniewski ’22 was the first student to participate in a pilot program and will begin the PennWest program this fall. The Buffalo, New York, resident and member of the Senator baseball team was selected for the pilot project by his academic advisor Assistant Professor of Criminology Dr. Ronda Engstrom, who cited his exemplary research paper and strong work ethic. “I’m grateful to Dr. Engstrom for taking the initiative to develop this agreement,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Rob Phillips. “We’re very happy to be collaborating with PennWest, as the quality and focus of their criminology programs is a good match for our students’ strengths and interests. It also provides a ‘head start’ on graduate school for students like Justin, which has both academic and financial benefits.” Throughout the academic year, Wisniewski completed a threecredit hour internship with the West Virginia Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and earned another three credits for his senior thesis after collecting data related to his internship. Full credits from both projects will transfer to PennWest and count toward Wisniewski’s graduate degree. “Since he’s already ahead, this alleviates the amount of tuition costs and the time it will take to complete his master’s degree,” Engstrom said.

Davis & Elkins College senior Justin Wisniewski, right, meets with Dr. John Cencich, professor and director of the Pennsylvania Center for Investigative and Forensic Sciences at PennWest University of Pennsylvania. Wisniewski participated in a pilot program for a partnership between the two schools that gives D&E students an opportunity to apply six undergraduate credits toward their master’s degree at PennWest .