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Majors

• Faculty
• Successful Careers
• Internships
• Courses
• Facilities
• Study Abroad

General studies

Does being pigeonholed bother you? Are you interested in learning about a variety of different study areas? You might be a great candidate for Central’s general studies major, a program that allows students to tailor-make a degree that suits all their diverse interests. Graduates have gone on to immediate employment and graduate school and to become optometrists, sports editors and public administrators.

Faculty

Michael Schrier, Ph.D., associate professor of history, director of general studies major, schrierm@central.edu

Successful Careers

General studies is a very versatile major providing students with unlimited career and graduate study opportunities after graduation from Central. Graduates include:

• Youth development, Bloomington Public Schools, Bloomington, Minn.
• Registered nurse, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa
• Assistant branch manager, US Bank, Omaha, Neb.
• Corps member volunteer, AmeriCorps NCCC, Denver, Colo.
• Assistant professor, St. Ambrose University, health PE and sport science department, Davenport
• Graduate student, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kan.
• Bilingual environmental specialist, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa
• Physical therapist, Sterling Physical Therapy, PC, Pella

Internships

Looking for experience? An internship might be the answer. When it comes to future employment or entrance into graduate school, students with internship experience have a proven track record in a professional environment. In today’s competitive job market, proven experience is a priceless commodity. Past internships include:

• Pella Art & Graphics, Pella
• Heartland Reformed Church, Pella
• Best Buy, Des Moines, Iowa
• Mahaska County Human Services, Oskaloosa, Iowa
• Finer Things, Urbandale, Iowa

Learn more about internships at Central.

Courses

26 semester hours of credit in each of three academic divisions

or

20 semester hours of credit in each of four academic divisions

Facilities

Central College is one of the most beautiful college campuses you'll find. A perfect mix of old and new, our buildings reflect our history and our future. Our state-of-the-art facilities include:

• Vermeer Science Center — $20-million renovation and addition completed fall 2003 earned Iowa’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating, a silver medal, from the U.S. Green Building Council.
• New apartment-style residence hall opened fall 2003, with new wing completed in 2005, earned Central’s second LEED rating, a gold medal.
• New education and psychology building to open fall 2009.
• Weller Center for Business and International Studies.
• Central Market, Iowa’s most original dining hall with
  unique European market place design.
• Geisler Library with 230,000 volumes and worldwide
  electronic access.
• Café@Geisler offers espresso, coffee, snacks and
  wireless Internet.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s eight international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with Central’s Chicago program and the Washington, D.C., program. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.