College Welcomes Students for Skill-Centric Fall 2011 Semester

by Rashad Mulla

College Welcomes Students for Skill-Centric Fall 2011 Semester

College is a pathway that guides students from school to their ultimate academic or career goals. This semester, George Mason University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences is determined to live up to that standard. 

According to unofficial data, 1250 new freshman and transfer students will major in one of the college’s programs, benefiting from the dynamic and wide-ranging education the college provides. They will take courses in economics, foreign languages, psychology, history and a slew of other subjects. According to Jamie Cooper, associate dean of undergraduate academic affairs in the college, these courses are in all-time high demand.

This semester, the college added practical, salable skills to the curriculum.

"We are focusing a lot more on skills that are going to help students, regardless of the careers they go into," Cooper said. "This semester, we’re offering classes that teach entrepreneurship skills, research and critical thinking, and more foreign languages than ever before."

Here are a few examples of Cooper’s words in action:

  • Paul Rogers is teaching CHSS 310: Introduction to Entrepreneurship this semester, after a successful run last semester. The one-credit course takes place on Tuesdays from 3-4:15 p.m.
  • The interdisciplinary, 16-credit minor in entrepreneurship studies is also available for innovative, created, driven individuals with an eye for business.
  • The college is offering three new language courses for the first-time this semester: Portuguese, Turkish and Persian. Instructors for these courses use the languages regularly in their work and research.
  • For the first time, students can concentrate in Chinese while earning a BA in foreign languages at Mason. This concentration features 30 credits of Chinese coursework.
  • The minor in Arabic is also available for the first time this fall. This program pairs well with majors in many disciplines, such as journalism, global affairs, international relations, religion and philosophy.

This focus in coursework prepares students for a variety of careers and graduate programs.

"Our students are more prepared than ever to be global citizens," Cooper said.

Remember to look at the academic calendar, which details course registration, tuition payment and other important semester deadlines.