Science Comes To The Forefront At Beacon With Three New Science-based Majors

In response to student interests and global employer preferences, Beacon College this fall unveils three new Bachelor of Science degrees.

The three B.S. degrees — approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges — are in anthrozoology, business management and computer information systems.

Discussion of new degrees emerged from Beacon College Planning & Evaluation Process. Investigation revealed the need and demand for the new offerings to support the college’s enrollment growth.

Anthrozoology is both a new offering at Beacon College — the first higher-education institution accredited to award bachelor’s degrees primarily to students with learning disabilities, ADHD and other learning differences — and a rare one in American academe. Only one other U.S. institution features the field that examines the science of human-animal relationship as a major. Beacon’s planning and evaluation process found that students with learning disabilities gravitate to classes involving animal study. In the past, Beacon students previously packed classes in Biology & Behavior of Companion Animals, Comparative Psychology, and Animal-Assisted Therapy, while prospective students often express interest in animal-related majors.

The two other degrees are converted Bachelor of Art degrees. Both employers and students prefer Bachelor of Science programs for business management and computer-information system majors, according to the college’s research.

Seventy-five percent of Beacon students in a 2015 survey endorsed the change.

To that end, Beacon beefed up its two computer-based tracks (Information Systems and Web & Digital Media) with two courses for each.

Information Systems track students now study computer hardware and software and management science. Web & Digital Media track students will add courses in publication design and project development to their plates.

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