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Randolph announces new coaching and sport leadership master’s program, computer science and mathematics major

Randolph College faculty recently approved two new academic programs—a master’s degree in coaching and sport leadership and a computer science and mathematics major. Both additions are highly sought academic programs that will allow Randolph to meet the needs of both current and future students. 

Coaching and Sport Leadership Master’s Program

The coaching and sport leadership master’s degree is the first of its kind to be offered at any school in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The intensive, one-year program is open to sport and exercise studies majors and non-majors alike, and courses will be available both on campus and online. 

Meghan Halbrook, a sport and exercise studies professor and director of the new program, said one of the main goals is to graduate students who are skilled in all aspects of coaching and who exhibit the utmost professionalism.

“At the collegiate level, and especially in Division III athletic programs, coaches’ responsibilities surpass what they do anywhere else,” Halbrook said. “This program will give students a broader understanding of not just the sport they’re in, but also the things they’re going to encounter day-to-day in a coaching career.”

The curriculum for the new program will include courses in coaching psychology, research methods, coaching techniques and theories, sport administration, conditioning and safety principles, and sport media and technology, to name a few. 

Halbrook said Randolph already has a proven track record of producing great coaches through its sport and exercise studies undergraduate program, but now students will have another opportunity to hone their skills before leaving the confines of the Red Brick Wall. In addition, students may apply for graduate assistantship positions for discounted tuition as well as free room and board on campus. Current Randolph students as well as students graduating from other schools are welcome to apply to the program.

“I think our students deserve this and will really benefit from it,” Halbrook said. “The vast majority of our students really love Randolph—especially those who are involved in athletics and other campus organizations—so this program allows them to stay another year and gain even more valuable experiences.”

Applications will be accepted starting in February, and the first cohort will begin classes in July 2020. Contact Halbrook at mhalbrook@randolphcollege.edu or 434-947-8590 for more information. 

Computer Science and Mathematics Major

Randolph has officially joined a growing list of prestigious institutions across the nation to offer a new, hybrid major in computer science and mathematics. Students may declare the new major immediately.

Math professor Marc Ordower said Randolph is joining the likes of high profile schools such as Yale, Northeastern, and Harvey Mudd by offering a computer science and mathematics major. 

“I was delighted to find out there are so many other good schools offering it,” Ordower said. “It’s a serious program with serious meat on both the computer science and mathematics side, and I think any student coming out of here will be well served for further study or a future career in computer science, mathematics, or any combination of the two.”

The curriculum for the new program incorporates computer science-specific courses such as coding and programming, algorithms and data structures, computer architecture and assembly language, and software development, among others. It also includes mathematics courses in linear abstract algebra, calculus, and techniques in mathematical proof. Like any other major at Randolph, students will complete their studies with a senior capstone project. 

Randolph has offered a computer science minor since 2017, and the College has produced many successful graduates in the field. Recent graduates have gone on to work as software engineers, systems analysts, web developers, information security analysts, and even in video game development and design. 

At its core, Randolph’s computer science program will give students the fundamentals to succeed in an ever-changing world.

“We won’t have any graduates whose skills are outdated in five to 10 years,” Ordower said. “This is a really rapidly developing area, and as with any of our fields of study here, we want to make sure we’re turning out students whose skills will be adaptable as it evolves. We’re doing our best to ensure that those skills will transfer to any new languages or architecture that arise.”

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