University News

WIU Student Trustee Justin Brown, Sr. VP Joe Rives, President Jack Thomas, CAS Dean Susan Martinelli-Fernandez, Psychology Chair Karen Sears & Interim Provost Billy Clow
[Download Print-Quality Image]

Psychology Undergraduate Degree, Math Minor Added to WIU-QC Academic Program Line-up

February 1, 2019

Share |
Printer friendly version

MOLINE, IL -- At a press event Thursday on the Western Illinois University Quad Cities campus, it was announced that students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology or a math minor at WIU are now able to do so at both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses.

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology is the latest degree offering added to the WIU-QC academic offerings. In addition, it was announced that a math minor has also begun at the Quad Cities campus.

"Western Illinois University is one University with two campuses providing academic excellence and educational opportunity across western Illinois, eastern Iowa and beyond," said President Jack Thomas. We look to grow both campuses, knowing that more students want a Western Illinois University education, and today's announcement is one example of how we will continue to grow our campuses, Thomas added.

According to Joe Rives, senior vice president for strategic planning and initiatives, the region has been requesting these newest programs at the Quad Cities campus.

"We stand behind the goals and priorities of Q2030 and the Make It Here campaign. A strong region from Macomb to Moline and beyond benefits all of Western Illinois University and the residents of western Illinois and eastern Iowa," said Rives. "Community and economic development is all about raising opportunities and enrollment at Western Illinois University. Analyses have indicated there is documented demand, and we thank Academic Affairs for responding to these needs."

The new academic program at the Quad Cities campus is taught by four psychology faculty, with courses available both on campus and online, as well as evening courses.

"WIU's psychology department has a nearly 60-year history of providing quality education at the Macomb campus, and offering the psychology major at the Quad Cities campus has been a long-standing goal. A psychology minor has been available at the QC campus for several years, and we now have the opportunity to expand our offerings with the new major due to the high demand expressed by students at this location," said WIU Department of Psychology Chair Karen Sears. "Students choosing to major in psychology on our Quad Cities campus have opportunities to work closely with faculty to plan and conduct psychological research, and be a part of the WIU-QC Psychology Club. We are excited to add our degree program to the offerings available at our QC campus."

A Department of Psychology open house for prospective students will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at the WIU-QC Riverfront campus.
In addition, students interested in pursing a minor in mathematics are now able to select this option. The minor is a 17 credit hour program.
"I am absolutely delighted that we will begin offering the bachelor's in psychology, as well as the minor in mathematics at the WIU-Quad Cities campus. I applaud the leadership of Dr. Karen Sears, chair of psychology, and mathematics faculty Dr. Susie Brooks and chair, Dr. Victoria Baramidze for bringing these programs to the Quad Cities," said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Susan Martinelli-Fernandez. "These programs will enhance the excellent educational opportunities already provided in the Quad Cities."

Along with the announcement of the new major and minor programs, Western's online degree programs were also recognized, including the newest online graduate degree, music education. WIU was recently cited once again by the U.S.News & World Report for offering some of the best online undergraduate programs in the nation.

"The new online Master of Music in Music Education serves working professionals who need the flexibility this format offers to the benefit of Western Illinois University's 16-county service region and beyond," Thomas added.

WIU offers 463 online classes (320 undergraduate; 143 graduate) and several undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the longstanding Bachelor of General Studies (BGS). The newest online undergraduate programs - accounting, economics and management - began in Fall 2018. Supply chain management and communication are scheduled to go online in Fall 2019. The undergraduate anthropology program went online in Fall 2017, and is the first of its kind in the state, and one of only a few in the nation, to offer the major online.

"We are excited to announce the new online master's degree in music education and the additional undergraduate educational opportunities at the WIU-Quad Cities campus. These offer a wide array of opportunities for students, locally and regionally. For example, a student minoring in mathematics might want to major in law enforcement and justice administration or supply chain management, both of which are signature academic programs and are offered in Macomb and the Quad Cities," noted Interim Provost and Academic Vice President Billy Clow. "Likewise, the undergraduate degree in psychology can lead to advanced graduate studies, through the counselor education program here in the Quad Cities or through the master's program in psychology on the Macomb campus.
These psychology undergraduate degree and math minor have a strong demand and interest in Macomb and I know that they will have the same in the Quad Cities."

Additional online bachelor's degree programs at WIU include fire protection services, geography and geographic information science, interdisciplinary studies, law enforcement and justice administration and nursing (RN to BSN completion).

Along with the new online music education master's degree, other online graduate degrees include curriculum and instruction, educational studies, instructional design and technology, law enforcement and justice administration, special education and MBA, which is also included in the 2019 U.S.News and World Report Best Online MBA Programs.

For more information on academic programs, including online programs, available at Western's Macomb and Quad Cities campuses, visit wiu.edu/academics and select "Macomb," "Quad Cities" or "Online."









Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing