Ferrum College

The mission of the Ferrum College business programs is to offer educational programs and activities that prepare business students both personally and professionally, for the managerial challenges of the global competitive environment, through individual and group work and through the blending of instruction and experiential learning.

The business program is now incorporating an international focus in many of its courses, as a recognition that we live in a globally connected world. Students may also study for a summer or semester abroad, taking courses or participating in internships that provide them with real-life experience.

Accounting majors have the opportunity to prepare tax returns for members of the local community, giving them an opportunity to have real, hands-on experience and to live our Ferrum College mission of service. We also compete in Enactus, or "ENtrepreneurial ACTion for others creates a better world for US all." This initiative allows our students to create outreach programs to benefit the local community, and to present these at regional and national conferences, in which Ferrum College has won many awards. Enactus reflects our vision and conviction that a Ferrum College education balances both classroom learning and experiential components to provide students with opportunities to learn and achieve.... [-]

Ferrum College is the only private college in Virginia that offers a four-year degree in Agricultural Science and teacher licensure in vocational agriculture. A diversified four-year curriculum stresses the theory, art, and practice of agriculture while also emphasizing the intimate intersections with sustainability. Within this framework, students consider the environmental, economic, and social ramifications of agricultural practices in an increasingly resource-strained world.

The five program emphasis areas of Animal Science, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Equine Studies allow students to focus their study. Agricultural teaching is, by nature, a hands-on endeavor. This philosophy is embodied in labs, class exercises, practica, internships, and independent research. These diverse delivery methods allow students to apply theory in a practical, real-world setting. This broad preparatory approach is underscored by a comprehensive liberal arts base to prepare graduates for a wide range of career opportunities. Students interested in a career in primary or secondary school teaching may study Animal Science or Horticulture and minor in Teacher Education.... [-]

The goal of the art program is to provide an excellent educational experience that develops technical skills, critical and aesthetic judgment, and a sound knowledge of the visual arts appropriate to students seeking a general appreciation of the arts as well as to aspiring fine arts professionals. The faculty engages students in the discipline of visual art as a major component in the liberal arts tradition including studio practice and art history.

Students complete a common group of foundation and art history courses and then choose an emphasis area to develop a solid yet individualized program.

We offer a B.A. degree in Art with a choice of four concentrations which are listed below.... [-]

The mission of the Ferrum College business programs is to offer an educational experience and activities that prepare business students both personally and professionally, for the managerial challenges of the global competitive environment, through individual and group work and through the blending of instruction and experiential learning.

The Business program is now incorporating an international focus in many courses, as a recognition that we live in a globally connected world. Students may also study for a summer semester abroad, taking courses or participating in internships that provide them with real-life experience.

Accounting majors have opportunity to prepare tax returns for members of the local community, giving them an opportunity to have real, hands-one experience and to live our Ferrum College mission of service. We also compete in Enactus, or "ENtreprenurial ACTion for others creates a better world for US all." This initiative allows our students to create outreach programs to benefit the local community, and to present these at regional and national conferences, in which Ferrum has won many awards. Enactus reflects our vision and conviction that a Ferrum College education balances both classroom learning and experiential components to provide students with opportunities to learn and achieve.... [-]

The Criminal Justice major is designed to prepare students for careers in law, law enforcement, administration of justice, and social science research. Conceived with the idea that criminal justice professionals will benefit from a strong liberal arts education, the program stresses theory and policy analysis combined with professional experience.

This emphasis is interdisciplinary with a unique combination of courses in social work, sociology, psychology, and criminal justice

Courses in Criminology may include:

The forensic investigation emphasis helps prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical principles necessary to process and report on physical evidence at a crime scene or in connection with a civil investigation.... [-]

The Environmental Studies program at Ferrum College is more than just science! This interdisciplinary program challenges students to think critically to explore solutions to current environmental issues by including not only the Environment but also Economic and Social aspects.

This degree allows the student to pick a focus area. This gives the student a wider range of knowledge, which allows a greater range of job opportunities. There are 5 areas of focus to pick from:

The curriculum incorporates a variety of topics to prepare students for opportunities in the field of Environmental Studies and includes courses such as:... [-]

As one of the oldest in the nation, the undergraduate Environmental Science program offers a modern introduction to the environmental sciences. The challenging background enables students to deal with important environmental issues of the 21st century. Rather than a traditional biological approach to the environment, the program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the field by drawing from biology, chemistry, statistics, earth sciences, economics, law, and the humanities. Environmental problems are approached from a holistic perspective. Ferrum’s Environmental Science program offers students great flexibility in developing their own interests.

The curriculum incorporates a variety of topics to prepare students for opportunities in the field of Environmental Science and includes courses such as:... [-]

The Recreation Leadership program is founded on the principle that healthy recreation and leisure pursuits are critical to the development of the complete individual with a holistic approach to living. The recreation professional, regardless of the specific sector, is crucial in delivering high-quality recreation and leisure experiences that impact individuals in meaningful ways. Through experiential and traditional learning environments coupled with the direct application of theory and best practices, the Recreation Leadership student will develop core competencies and build on the leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for success in a broad range of career settings. The Recreation Leadership major prepares the student for a variety of recreation settings including local, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, recreation services, natural and historic interpretation agencies, as well as commercial enterprises... [-]

Ferrum College Theatre Arts has a strong reputation for excellence in the Performing Arts! We offer the pre-professional Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Acting and Directing, Musical Theatre, and Technical Theatre. The program, emphasizing process drama, gives students opportunities to develop competency as actors, directors, musical theatre performers, technicians, and teachers. Students are led by faculty members that combine years of teaching and professional experience. Majors can expect to receive personal, one-on-one attention necessary for you to develop into well-rounded practitioners of theatre.

We also offer B.A. degrees in Theatre Education and Theatre Arts. The B.A. degree is usually the choice for students that wish to double-major.... [-]

The Psychology major is designed to give students a broad background in the study of behavior and mental processes. The program prepares students for graduate school for careers in which knowledge of human behavior and mental processes is essential. All students gain a basic understanding of behavior and mental processes through required courses in general psychology, learning, and research courses. Their academic experience includes four Professional Seminars that tie academic courses together and instills in them the importance of ethics, service, research, and practice in psychology as a profession.

The Biology curriculum is designed to introduce students to the major areas of the biological sciences and to enable them to gain competence in using the concepts and investigate methods appropriate to each. Students may select a course of study suited to their particular interests with an emphasis in botany, zoology, cellular biology, molecular biology, microbiology, and physiology.

The curriculum incorporates a variety of topics to prepare students for opportunities in the field of Biology and includes courses such as:

The mission of the chemistry program is to guide students in the development of their chemical knowledge and skills through a quality course of study emphasizing experiential learning with a professionally engaged faculty current in their field who help students successfully integrate into chemically related professions.

Our strong traditional chemistry curriculum is ideal for developing a student’s knowledge base as well as their critical thinking and communication skills. Students gain additional practical experience through research and assisting professors with laboratories. This major also expands the student’s horizons and further initiates them into chemically-related professions by involving them in off-campus field trips, short courses, professional meetings, and summer research and internship opportunities.... [-]

Computer Information Systems is an interdisciplinary major intended to prepare students in the specialized areas of Web Design, Networking, Technical support, and Programming. Starting from a solid foundation in business and computer concepts, students learn to appreciate and understand the relationships between these two disciplines. The major prepares students to design and implement information decisions support systems: hence, they can fill management, planning, and decision-making roles within any organization. In addition, the emphasis areas will further enable students to fill positions that require specialized skills in computer technology areas. This major also prepares students for graduate studies in business, information systems, or related fields. Graduates from this major may expect to secure jobs as Web Designers, Graphic Art Specialists, Network Specialist/Administrators, Computer Help desk Specialists and Programmers.... [-]

The English major at Ferrum College provides excellent preparation for careers or graduate school in a number of fields such as law, religion, education, public relations, management, and journalism. Students majoring in English select one of three concentration areas: (1) Literature Emphasis, (2) Creative and Professional Writing Emphasis, or (3) Teacher Certification.

Through the study of literature and writing, the English program allows students flexibility in selecting courses to meet their own interests and needs. Coursework promotes understanding of the expressive capacities of language and appreciation for the psychological, cultural, and historical insights of literature. Students learn how to think critically and to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts.... [-]

The Health and Human Performance Program contributes to the quality of life of Ferrum College students and the surrounding community through creation and dissemination of knowledge, training of educators and other professionals, and service to the community. The Health and Human Performance Program provides opportunities for students to pursue learning in diverse educational settings as well as challenges students to be caring and concerned citizens. The goals of the Health and Human Performance Program are to encourage scholarly activity appropriate to each discipline, promote collaboration with others, and to encourage service and outreach. The program is responsible for preparing students by developing and applying knowledge specific to each area of specialization, resulting in empowered students that personally value and invest in lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a healthy, productive and fulfilling life. This program’s intention is to educate students and the public in the science and benefits of health, physical activity, sports, lifetime activities, and healthy lifestyles.... [-]

Because of the complementary academic backgrounds of our faculty, we are able to offer a diverse selection of history courses drawn from major regions of the world over varying time periods. We use our expertise in those areas to foster critical thinking and an understanding of the historical development of different cultures, which are essential skills for both work in history and informed citizenship.

At Ferrum, our students begin with coursework focused on the histories of western civilizations and the United States, honing fundamental skills such as source analysis and the creation of evidence-based analytical arguments. They build on that foundation by taking a variety of courses in the US, European, and world history to demonstrate a breadth of understanding about how historical processes can be evaluated in varying geographic and chronological contexts. Majors and minors participate in a seminar-style historiography course as upperclassmen, learning how the processes of historical inquiry have been shaped by context and how they have evolved over time. As a cumulative project, majors complete their undergraduate history training by developing and presenting their own research projects under the guidance of mentors in a capstone course and senior research presentations.... [-]

International Studies is a multidisciplinary major which offers students the opportunity to become global citizens by learning the complexity of international affairs through a variety of academic perspectives, including economics, foreign language, history, and political science. The study of history provides students with rigorous preparation and broad knowledge of world cultures, and political science provides them with the ability to analyze the consequences of international events. The study of economics and foreign language (French, Russian, and Spanish are offered) gives them valuable quantitative and communication skills that strengthen their career choices.

Liberal Studies provides the possibility for a program of study to meet educational goals not exactly satisfied by other academic programs. There are possibilities of three or more minors which may be developed into a coherent program of study. Students prepare a statement in which they list their educational objectives and explain how a particular combination of minors will help them to achieve them. A degree plan is developed and the complete proposal is signed by the faculty advisor who will oversee the program. The form needed to begin this process may be obtained from the Provost Office. It is returned, by the student, to the Provost for final approval before being delivered to the Office of the Registrar. A 2.0 GPA is required in each minor for graduation.... [-]

The Mathematical Science major is excellent preparation for a wide range of careers. Since the major provides the students with a broad quantitative background, they are highly qualified to teach the diverse curriculum of secondary school mathematics departments as well as meet the varied quantitative needs of business and industry.

Students majoring in mathematical science who minor in education are endorsed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to teach mathematics at the secondary level. The faculty of this department is actively developing and implementing innovative teaching methods that incorporate appropriate technology. This curriculum, together with the exposure to varied teaching strategies provides students with strong preparation for their future teaching careers.... [-]

The Media and Communication program is for students who are interested in pursuing careers and further education in such areas as radio and television broadcasting, multimedia journalism, public relations, corporate communications, audio reproduction, film-making, and online media creation. The program has been designed to help students assimilate the knowledge, skills, and production ethics that will enable them to create high-quality media-borne messages, and thereby advance their chosen career. The strengths of Ferrum’s Media and Communication program is the number of one-on-one instruction students receive from their professors, and our focus on strong writing and message design skills.... [-]

The philosophy program at Ferrum College offers a course of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Philosophy is a discipline that explores the fundamental concerns of human life, such as the structure of human existence, the existence of God, the ultimate nature of reality, the possibility of human knowledge, the role of reason, the essence of truth, the foundations of moral and aesthetic judgments, the meaning of life, and the challenge of death.

A large number of careers can be shaped or enhanced by the study of philosophy due to the analytical abilities, interpretive skills, and probing attitude which it helps to develop. While many graduates choose to attend graduate school in philosophy, as well as other disciplines, the philosophy program also offers a solid foundation for those with an interest in writing, editing, and publishing, and excellent pre-professional preparation for those interested in seminary, law school, or medical school. Philosophy graduates have also chosen to enter the workplace as counselors, ethical consultants, and knowledge managers in both government and private industry, while many entertainers have found degrees in philosophy to be helpful in the development of their careers.... [-]

Political Science involves the study of politics and international relations. The program is committed to developing the complete student who can easily function in a local or global community. The program expects students to reflect on their role in any community as participants and human beings. The emphasis placed on skills development, self-awareness, ethical responsibility, and cultural understanding is an acknowledgment of the program’s devotion to the substantive reasons and benefits of the Ferrum College experience. The political science program also understands the logic of students engaged in experiential and community-based learning. By emphasizing service learning, the program encourages its students to combine critical citizenship, reasoning and effective social transformation. It recognizes that it must expose its students to a liberal learning environment that promotes specific foundational civic skills and community building.... [-]

A student majoring or minoring in religion learns to read ancient and modern texts carefully, studies the oral tradition, stories, rituals, and structures of religious communities, explores the beliefs and values of different religious traditions and develops a critical sensitivity to the diverse cultural expressions of both non-Christian and Christian religious traditions.

Some religion graduates work in churches or continue their education in seminary. But a religion major or minor also serves as excellent preparation for other graduate programs or careers because of the emphasis in reading, writing, analyzing, and speaking.

Courses in Christian Ministries may include Foundations of Christian Education, Ministry Practicum, and Art for Educators... [-]

The Social Studies major is designed for students who seek a broad, but structured and well-integrated, education in the social sciences. Students can achieve a breadth of learning and versatility in its applications through this multidisciplinary program of study. Combined with a minor in Education, the Social Studies major is excellent preparation for those planning to teach history, government, or economics at the secondary school level.

The curriculum incorporates a variety of topics to prepare students for opportunities in the field of Social Studies and includes courses such as:

The Social Work program at Ferrum College is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates of the program receive the B.S.W. degree which prepares them for the beginning professional practice of social work or possibly advanced standing graduate work leading toward the M.S.W. Instruction in the program emphasizes the theoretical foundations of beginning generalist social work practice in both rural and urban communities. The importance of cultural diversity is blended throughout an academic presentation of values, ethics, and knowledge for the practice of the social work profession. Within the curriculum are incorporated both classroom learning and supervised direct practice in the field.... [-]

Sociology is the study of basic traits, values, and beliefs and how the intersection of these concepts influence the behavior of individuals, groups, and society. The bachelor’s degree is designed to prepare students to confront the basic challenge of understanding ourselves and others more fully. Sociology students will develop a sociological perspective by actively questioning the way our society operates and why the social structure provides privilege for some while disadvantaging others. Through completion of a well-rounded liberal arts core, courses in comparative theory, historic and present-day policy, and applied research dealing with human subjects, sociology majors will be prepared to succeed in career paths or graduate schools which demand a flexible, resourceful, critically thinking individual.... [-]

Whether you are considering a career in law, international business, government, film, public relations, advertising, health care, journalism, teaching, etc., a major or minor in Spanish will positively enhance your career options when you graduate. Across the nation, thousands of graduates compete for jobs in the above-mentioned fields and admission to these graduate programs, and there is no better way of catching the eye of an employer or admissions counselor than by having a degree or advanced coursework in another language!

The Spanish Program offers a major and minor in Spanish. A major in Spanish not only prepares you for linguistic fluency in the world’s second-most spoken native language (first is Mandarin), but also cultural fluency that will allow you to navigate the Hispanic world, whether it be through travel, business, law, health care, or any number of possible interactions in our increasingly globalized world.... [-]

Computer Information Systems is an interdisciplinary major intended to prepare students in the specialized areas of Web Design, Networking, Technical support, and Programming. Starting from a solid foundation in business and computer concepts, students learn to appreciate and understand the relationships between these two disciplines. The major prepares students to design and implement information decisions support systems: hence, they can fill management, planning, and decision-making roles within any organization. In addition, the emphasis areas will further enable students to fill positions that require specialized skills in computer technology areas. This major also prepares students for graduate studies in business, information systems, or related fields. Graduates from this major may expect to secure jobs as Web Designers, Graphic Art Specialists, Network Specialist/Administrators, Computer Help desk Specialists and Programmers.... [-]

The Ferrum College Teacher Education Program prepares caring and competent pre­ professionals as decision-makers for the diverse contexts of 21st-century classrooms, schools, and communities. Building upon a solid liberal arts foundation, the program assists candidates to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to become effective and caring teachers in an ever-changing society.

The mission of the Ferrum College Teacher Education Program is to develop caring, life­ long reflective learners who are committed to teaching using current research about: (1) critical thinking; (2) differentiation; (3) diversity; (4) pedagogy and best practices; (5) standards-based curriculum and (6) varied assessments.... [-]