Monthly Archives: March 2012

Announcements, Majors

Take a First Look at Secondary Majors

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Perhaps you have heard the buzz about secondary majors, or maybe this terminology is new for you.  We will take a few moments to give you the key points to know about this new opportunity for Baylor undergrads.

If you have ever inquired about a double major, your academic advisor or career counselor was probably quick to tell you that both majors must fall under the same degree plan.  For example, you could complete two Bachelor of Science majors or two Bachelor of Arts majors.  If you had an interest in two subjects that did not offer majors on the same degree plan, your options were limited to minoring or taking elective courses.  The reason is that two complete a major on another degree plan, you would have to complete not just the major requirements, but all core classes to complete a second Bachelor’s degree.  As you might imagine, most students do not have the time or financial resources to invest in earning a second Bachelor’s degree from Baylor.

Now, students can complete a second major outside of their primary degree program.  Enter the secondary major.  The secondary major allows students to complete the major requirements outlined for the secondary major (approximately 30 to 36 credit hours), without the requirement of fulfilling the core classes outside of the major.  An example would be a Bachelor of Business Administration-Marketing student who completed a secondary major in Biology.

Currently, there are eleven secondary majors available:

  • Mathematics
  • Classics
  • Biology
  • Greek
  • Latin
  • Spanish
  • Journalism
  • French
  • German
  • Russian
  • Philosophy

Are you interested in a secondary major that is not listed?  You can talk with faculty in the program area that interests you to inquire about the possibility.  For more information on secondary majors, visit this website.

Graduate School, Healthcare, Occupations

Career Spotlight: Physical Therapist

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According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook,

Physical Therapists, sometimes referred to as simply PTs, are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives. Physical therapists examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapists practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. These jobs can be physically demanding, because therapists may have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.

Entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. The American Physical Therapy Association’s accrediting body, called the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), accredits entry-level academic programs in physical therapy. In 2009, there were 212 physical therapist education programs. Of these accredited programs, 12 awarded master’s degrees; and 200 awarded doctoral degrees.

Among the undergraduate courses that are useful when one applies to a physical therapist education program are anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, social science, mathematics, and statistics. Before granting admission, many programs require volunteer experience in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic.

Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, so they can educate patients about their condition and physical therapy treatments and communicate with patients’ families. Physical therapists also should be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients.

Job opportunities are projected to be good.

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)     http://www.apta.org/

Announcements

Time to Get Advised!

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Believe it or not, advising season is upon us.  If you want to get your preferred classes and professors for the summer and fall semesters, you must take care of your advising assignments.  To view your required and recommended advising assignments, log into BearWeb – Student Services & Financial Aid – Advisement – Advisement Contact Information.  Make sure your major, minor, and educational goal (i.e., pre-medicine, pre-law) are accurate.  If not, you can follow these instructions to update this information.  Allow yourself plenty of time to update your information and meet with your assigned advisors before your early registration date.  No one likes to discover at 6:00 a.m. on Registration Day that they overlooked an important requirement, preventing registration via BearWeb.  Do yourself a favor, and check into your advising requirements prior to Spring Break.  For additional questions regarding academic advising, contact your assigned advisors.  Again, BearWeb will provide you with the information to contact them.

One last thing, if you are unsure of your major, it will be difficult to determine the appropriate classes for the upcoming semesters.  Take advantage of Career Counseling  as soon as possible.