SDSU Offers New Majors, Minors and Courses
SDSU welcomes students back to class with a variety of new courses, majors and minors.
San Diego State University welcomes students back this fall with a wide variety of new courses and programs.
"Many new exciting courses and programs are being offered to students this academic year,” said Stephanie Samuels, director of curriculum services. "We have a new Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Writing Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a new emphasis in bioengineering.”
By the numbers: New degree, majors and minors
- 1 new degree
- 11 new majors (emphases/ specializations)
- 2 new minors
SDSU students now have a new degree, 11 new majors and two new minors to choose from. Options range from an M.S. in homeland security to a minor in teaching English as a second or foreign language. The new selections provide more opportunities for Aztecs to impact the world around them.
Here are just a few of the new majors available this fall:
Homeland Security, M.S. degree
Director: Eric Frost
This degree has been offered as a pilot program and is now becoming permanent. The goal for this program is to create leaders who will go on to make a positive difference in the world. Students work closely with professionals from federal, national, state and local programs. Careers that students with this major pursue include law enforcement as well as work for the FBI and CIA.
Rhetoric and Writing Studies, B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department Chair: Glen McClish
The Rhetoric and Writing Studies major is the first of its kind in the California State University system. Students who chose this major will become articulate writers and analytical thinkers. The major is a good fit for students who want to go into fields including law, business, politics, science, education, and writing.
- 49 undergraduate courses
- 38 graduate courses
- 4 general education courses
This fall, students can pick from 49 new undergraduate courses, 38 new graduate courses and four new general education courses.
“Students will have the opportunity this fall to satisfy general education by completing new courses such as Introduction to Health Communication, Introduction to Civic Engagement, Engaged Citizenship and Social Responsibility, and Calculus for the Life Sciences,” Samuels said.
Here are some of the new undegraduate courses available this fall:
World on Fire
If the name of this course alone doesn’t spark student’s interest, the hot topics that GEOG 512 covers will.
With a focus on the science of wildland fires in California, this class is conducted in two parts. The first provides the fundamentals of fire processes, vegetation and fires as well as an introduction to remote sensing for fire science; phase two explores research studies that deal with a range of issues in fire science.
“Most people are aware of the way fires impact us in terms of a safety hazard and threat to structures, but the significance of fires to ecosystems and natural resources receives a lot less attention,” said Allen Hope, a professor of geography and instructor of world on fire.
“The course also treats fires as a global issue affecting many critical ecosystems and deals with human influences ranging from anthropogenic ignition sources to climate change.”
Engaged Citizenship and Social Responsibility
Going off of the name, students may not expect GENS 480 to conduct hands-on research to learn about civic citizenship and social responsibility. The class requires nine hours of supervised fieldwork per week.
“This is a must-take course for any student that is interested in any aspect of real estate,” said Seth Kaplowitz, professor of finance. “In a nutshell, taking this course will prepare a student with a desire to enter the real estate field for day one on the job."
“The topics covered will be everything required to develop a piece of property. More specifically, students will be required to analyze the zoning ordinances, determine market rate rents for leases in buildings that either exist or will be newly constructed and work with land use professionals,” Kaplowitz said.
Interpreting Jerusalem
Students who take REL S 581 will learn about Jerusalem, dating back to ancient times and fast forwarding to present.
Areas that will be taught include: three major monotheistic religions, the modern Middle East and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Students will learn of times of coexistence and dialogue in an urban community, as well as political, cultural and military struggle and control in a sacred city, discovering the rich history of Jerusalem from ancient times to modern day.
Learn more
For a full list of new majors, minors and courses view the online course catalog. For specific course options available each semester, refer to the on-line class schedule.
