Nichols College Adds Degree Programs In Entrepreneurship, Nonprofit Management, And Criminal Psychology
DUDLEY, Mass. – Nichols College is continuing to examine and expand its academic offerings to broaden career opportunities that better align with student passions in business, social change, and criminal justice.
Yesterday, the college announced approval of two new business concentrations for its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree – entrepreneurship and nonprofit management – and a new Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal psychology, each to begin in fall 2021.
“The Nichols mission to provide a dynamic career-focused education dictates that we remain agile and attuned to opportunities for students to advance their skills and training in new areas of specialization,” said Nichols College President Susan West Engelkemeyer, Ph.D. “The world is changing – constantly and quickly – and we are committed to preparing graduates to respond to those changes as they impact business practices, society at large, and their own communities.”
Mauri Pelto, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, says that Nichols is refining its curriculum to ensure relevancy. “We are identifying targeted careers that intersect student interest and channeling that passion into the job market.” In January, the college announced it was adding three new business concentrations in sport sales and strategy, sport marketing and content creation, and real estate management.
“The new programs offer increased avenues for experiential learning opportunities, whether we are helping students launch a business, providing consulting services to a local nonprofit, or promoting research to help solve crimes,” Pelto adds. With the addition of the new programs, the college has also announced it is phasing out two of its existing majors – English and history – and has transitioned mathematics into business analytics.
The new programs are outlined below. For more information, contact the Nichols College Admissions Office at 800-470-3379.
Concentration in Entrepreneurship
According to Inc. Magazine, Generation Z – those born between 1995 and 2012 – are positioned to be the most entrepreneurial generation yet. With more young people yearning to be their own bosses, Nichols will help students cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to launch a new business or develop their existing one. Through the entrepreneurship concentration, students will partner with alumni entrepreneurs and other businesses to offer consulting services or lead case competitions.
“Opportunities for entrepreneurs are exploding,” says Tim Liptrap, chair of the program. “The combination of expanding e-commerce and the gig economy has launched many new small businesses by fostering lower start-up costs and has expanded market access for products and services and providing effective e-commerce platforms.” This includes Etsy Inc., which fosters creative product development and sales by connecting a community of entrepreneurs to millions of buyers.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to develop and prepare an entirely different type of leader,” says Taylor Pelletier, a 2014 graduate of Nichols College and owner of Taylored Digital Solutions. “Today, there is a real emphasis on buying from small, local and family-owned businesses, which is both a feel-good thing and is fantastic for the economy.”
Concentration in Nonprofit Management
In Massachusetts, more than 38,000 nonprofits educate, maintain health, protect the most vulnerable populations, and preserve cultural, historical, and environmental treasures. These services create an economic engine that generates more than 548,000 jobs and employs over 17 percent of the state’s workforce. The nonprofit management concentration will focus on the business of social responsibility, preparing students for rewarding careers in community collaboration and development, corporate social advocacy, and charitable outreach.
“Working at a nonprofit provides so many opportunities for personal and professional growth, all while serving as a catalyst to change the world” says Taylor Pons, a 2015 graduate of Nichols College who is a staff associate for the First Generation Program at MIT. “Nonprofit work inspires leaders to push towards success.”
Len Samborowski, Management Program chair, looks to connect the program with one of Nichols’ key learning outcomes – civic and social engagement. “I’m excited to incorporate business solutions to impact big social problems,” he says. “Our new concentration allows students to engage with the interconnectedness of global society and one’s social and civic responsibility to community, nation and world. It’s a focus on the ‘we’ not the ‘me.’”
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Psychology
Nichols College has seen a significant increase in students pursuing dual degrees and minors combining criminal justice and psychology. The new Bachelor of Arts degree provides a streamlined approach for students to explore the interconnectedness between the two. Drawing on the theories and practical applications of both fields, the program will reveal the psychology that drives criminal behaviors and improve the lives of those affected by crime.
“Students who embark in this degree program will have their knowledge from the reality TV crime shows challenged as they explore the complex field of criminal psychology,” says Allison McDowell-Smith, chair of the Criminal Justice Management Program. Focus will be placed on having students sharpen their critical thinking skills specifically in forensic psychology principles related to personal, social, and organizational issues.
“Having the opportunity to earn a degree in criminal psychology will not only teach students the ins and outs of the court system and law enforcement agencies but the psychology behind the human brain,” says Emily Wood, an investigator with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office who earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in counterterrorism at Nichols College. “As an investigator, I am regularly speaking with victims and families of violent crimes. A background in psychology helps me be able to interact and advocate for these families. It also gives me the understanding of the mindset behind the person committing these violent acts.”
The program will amplify coursework in criminal justice and psychology with experiential learning opportunities, such as interactive research and internships, to prepare students for careers ranging from victim witness advocates to crime analysts as well as graduate-level work.
About Nichols College
Within a supportive community, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education.
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