University of Nebraska Kearney

State of Nebraska
Review of Existing Programs, 2007 for the Coordinating Commission for Post Secondary Education

Biology

Evidence of Need

B.S. and M.S.:

Academic courses and experiences provided for: majors, support of pre-professional (e.g., large numbers of students advised by Health Programs), preparation for admission to graduate school, provision of graduate education, professional consultation and service as resource for other departments, state and federal agencies, local service, etc.

Computer Science and Information Systems

Evidence of Need

For our state and nation to be competitive we need a highly trained workforce with expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) department at UNK provides major and minor programs that graduate highly trained technology professionals. The CSIS department also provides a general studies course and prepares students for graduate school.

History

Evidence of Need

The History program provides essential service to UNK's educational mission, playing a vital party in the General Studies program, helping to certify hundreds of teachers especially those with History subject and Social Science field endorsements, and contributing elective courses to a number of major and minor programs.

Justification if the program is below CCPE thresholds

The History MA program remains vibrant, receiving applications from students across the state and nation. The department also provides service to a new online Social Science emphasis in the Curriculum and Instruction degree program. The History graduate program now has 15 students actively involved in the MA program (including 5 graduate assistants), and another 30-50 students enrolled every summer in web-based classes. As a result, the MA program continues to grow and we expect 5-6 graduates in each of the next two years.

International Studies

Evidence of Need

This is an interdisciplinary program that offers a major and minor. Recent increases in the number of graduates are expected to continue. At the present time there are 44 students who have identified International Studies as their major. Twenty-five of the IS majors are international students and 19 are domestic students.

Justification if the program is below CCPE thresholds

International Studies is an interdisciplinary program utilizing coursework in Modern Languages, Business, English, Geography, History, Political Science and Sociology. No courses or faculty are specifically assigned to this academic program. The program is administered by the Director of International Education.

Political Science

Evidence of Need

Understanding politics and government is essential to democratic citizenship and effective public service. The political science degree helps students think critically and be inquisitive in light of the abundance of ideas, philosophies, and cultures of the world. Studying Political Science aids in the development of competence in the subject matter, but also contributes to the development of critical reasoning and analytical skills and effective oral and written communication.

Social Work

Evidence of Need

There is a shortage of human service professionals in the area thus the major and minor in social work are providing needed applicants for jobs in human services. With the limited number of accredited social work programs in the state, it is imperative that the social work program at UNK continue to expand.

Sociology

Evidence of Need

As indicated by the high SCH production, Sociology remains a strong service discipline. Three courses contribute to the General Studies program, and the department continues to attract non-majors to upper level courses. The program has intrinsic value in understanding the workplace, religion, the family, and social problems.