Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant announced it will create a new school in the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, focused on global citizenship and ethical public service.
The School of Public Service and Global Citizenship will promote innovative learning, research and active civic engagement, and will combine existing programs including women's and gender studies, and museum studies, with new programs like Middle East and Islamic studies, East Asian studies and European studies.
Upon graduation, students will be certified in their area of emphasis, on top of the undergraduate degree they earn.
Director of the school, David Jesuir, says Middle East and Islamic studies is a perfect example of why the interdisciplinary program is needed.
"The complex challenges of that region can't be understood simply through political science," he says. "In order to have the most in-depth understanding of that region, you need an interdisciplinary setting."
Students in the school may be pursuing careers in business, public service, foreign service or the nonprofit sector.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Central Michigan University
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