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College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences LORI D. LINDLEY, Ph.D., Dean LEIGHANN S. FORBES, Ed.D., Associate Dean for Faculty and Development JULIA M. MACK, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Curriculum and Student Affairs The College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS) consists of a community of students, faculty and staff dedicated to the academic growth and lifelong learning of its members. We seek to provide the highest quality professional and pre-professional preparation in the context of a broad liberal education in the Judeo-Christian tradition. We continue to be convinced that such an education, rooted in the liberal arts and humanities and undergirded by a foundation of moral and ethical teachings, provides the foundation for a productive, rewarding and ethical life. The richly diverse educational programs within the College include a focus on integrating knowledge and developing student abilities in critical thinking, communication, information literacy and the application of knowledge across a wide range of social, professional and learning contexts. We are also committed to providing students with opportunities to understand cultural, international and global experiences in order to be informed and effective global citizens. Students from the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences are prepared to pursue a wide variety of professions, graduate programs and forthcoming careers of the future. The College is composed of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Education. Majors are offered in 25 baccalaureate degree programs and 4 two-year, associate degree programs. Students are also offered a wide variety of interdisciplinary learning opportunities as well as minor programs to complement their selected programs of study. The College is committed to promoting an engaged learning environment with students participating in a collaborative learning process including student research and practical experiences through service learning, internships and cooperative education.
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Comprehensive Education The professional lives of this year’s freshmen will extend through the mid-21st century. Given the rapidity of change today, it is almost impossible to predict what professions will be in demand that far into the future. Certainly many of the careers that will be in demand do not yet exist. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that this generation of college students will change careers an average of three times. Thus it is important to provide a broad, comprehensive education, fostering skills that will not become obsolete and will be transferable from one profession to another. Skills for a Lifetime Communication skills are vital in almost all careers and professions and are central to the development of the capacity for lifelong learning that the 21st century demands. The refinement of our students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, along with facilitating the use of communication technologies, is among the most important objectives of our programs in the Humanities.
