Paul Smith's College offers new majors

PAUL SMITHS, NY (11/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Paul Smith's College will launch two new bachelor-degree programs next fall in ecological restoration and communication.

Students who enter the ecological restoration program will learn how ecosystems function, how humans alter ecosystems and how to restore function to those ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed. They'll study different types of ecosystems, including wetlands, streams and forests and how they interact with one another. Students will also learn to work with people and communities to develop ecological restoration projects.

"If there were an emerging discipline made for Paul Smith's College, this would be it," says Craig Milewski, a professor of natural resource management and ecology who is currently working on a shoreline restoration project with Paul Smith's students. "This program speaks directly to our special and unique brand of experiential education. It's a perfect fit."

Paul Smith's communication program is designed to produce leaders who promote social change, negotiate problems with diverse audiences and create more effective organizations.

Students who major in the new program will learn to convey organized and informed ideas and work collaboratively to negotiate, build consensus and develop solutions to complex problems. The program, which has a public relations focus, will teach students to apply strategic communication techniques to a chosen field of interest.

"Communication degrees are recommended as one of the top ten best choices for students who are indecisive about their major choice," says Gail Gibson Sheffield, dean of curriculum and student learning. "But unlike most communication degrees, this curriculum lets students develop subject area knowledge in an area of emphasis."

Students can focus on the environment, rural sustainability, wellness, social justice, community development, tourism and much more.

For more information about these and other programs at Paul Smith's College, call 518-327-6227, email admissions@paulsmiths.edu or visit paulsmiths.edu.

ABOUT PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE

At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. Paul Smith's, which was founded in 1946, is the only bachelor's degree-granting institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs – in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources and the sciences – draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information: www.paulsmiths.edu.