Date:
8/20/2007
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Erin Griffith
PORTALES—To meet the needs of a growing job market in high-demand professions, Eastern New Mexico University in Portales is offering new majors this fall in forensic science, animal and dairy science, environmental science, emergency services management, hospitality management, and aviation science.
Eastern is one of only about 20 colleges or universities that will offer a major in forensic science. Four-year graduates will find more and better opportunities than those from two-year programs, according to The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006–2007 Edition.
“There is a demand for students with this degree. Right now, there is a lack of lab workers in New Mexico and that is holding back court prosecutions. If they have this degree they can work in the lab, analyzing blood samples or DNA for criminal cases,” says Dr. Kathy Durand, chair of anthropology at ENMU.
The dairy industry’s continued growth means that students in eastern New Mexico can see agricultural opportunities all around them. “Our agriculture program is evolving,” says Dr. R. T. Ervin, chair of Family and Consumer Sciences and Agriculture at ENMU. “We’ve gained more faculty with different expertise so that we can expand from a general agriculture composite degree to a more specialized field for students.”
Qualified environmental scientists can choose a career path in government, consulting, management or architectural and engineering services. Eastern’s new major in environmental science will give graduates the credentials they need for the field.
“There is a large demand for environmental scientists right now,” says Dr. Jim Constantopoulos, chair of Physical Sciences at ENMU. “Most of my students who graduate with just a regular geology degree end up going into an environmental science job. This program is unique because it is a composite degree.”
ENMU’s hospitality management emphasis will be offered through the College of Business because of its focus on real-world preparation for careers.
Hospitality management students will take 46 hours of core classes in business and 27 hours of specialized classes in restaurant and hotel management. They will be required to complete an industry internship.
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics can prepare to move into management by earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in emergency medical services management.
The program will be based on the ENMU-Roswell campus and online, creating easier access.
ENMU-Roswell already has one of the largest training programs for paramedics in the nation.
ENMU-Roswell offers an Associate of Applied Science in aviation maintenance technology and is the only one in New Mexico approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The program will expand and link with ENMU–Portales to help students build their management skills and improve their opportunities in the air transportation industry.
For more information on ENMU's new majors, call 1.800.FOR.ENMU.