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Dateline: 5/14/2009

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY NEWS FEATURE
By Peter Tormey

Board of Trustees OK's Two New Majors

Gonzaga’s Board of Trustees has approved an upgrade of the environmental studies concentration to a full-fledged major and minor, OK’d a new biochemistry major, and approved changing the name of the chemistry department to the biochemistry and chemistry department.

The changes take effect in fall 2009, said Marc Manganaro, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who called the actions “very welcome developments” to the College’s existing curricula.

Jonathan Isacoff, associate professor of political science, will direct the new major and minor in environmental studies. Photo by Jennifer Raudebaugh
Jon Isacoff will lead the new environmental studies major and minor. Photo by Jennifer Raudebaugh.
Jonathan Isacoff, associate professor of political science, directs the environmental studies concentration and will lead the new environmental studies major and minor. Gonzaga is poised to provide one of the finest undergraduate environmental studies programs among Catholic colleges and universities in the West, Isacoff said.

The change puts Gonzaga in a more favorable competitive position and fits with the mission, Manganaro said. “The emphasis in environmental studies on the care and nurturing of the environment is fully consonant with the mission of the University,” he said. Since its curriculum is inherently interdisciplinary, the new major won’t require the hiring of many new faculty, Manganaro said.

Chemistry Professor David Cleary, who will chair the biochemistry and chemistry department, said creation of the new 71-credit biochemistry major will meet students’ demand. Biochemistry is considered a pillar of modern chemistry and should be included with analytical, physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, Cleary said.

“Students preparing to make a technical contribution to society in medicine, science, law, education, government or education must have some understanding of modern biochemistry principles,” Cleary said. “Beyond that, those students planning for graduate work in biochemistry need a solid undergraduate foundation in the discipline. Like the environmental studies major, biochemistry requires extensive training across traditional academic boundaries.”



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