Students learn outside of the traditional classroom with engaging academic courses.
By Megan Z. Shearin '06
Forget your preconceptions about the college classroom.
Virginia Wesleyan offers a bachelor's degree in 38 majors and a variety of minors throughout the liberal arts and sciences.Virginia Wesleyan College's academic program is breaking the mold of the "traditional college education." Students at Virginia Wesleyan are learning in an environment that's more than just quizzes and reading from textbooks.
In the tradition of the liberal arts, students are studying many perspectives, and have the opportunity to discover through exploration. And, Virginia Wesleyan provides students the opportunity to learn and grow in an open atmosphere that accepts new ideas and encourages free thinking.
Featured below are three engaging academic courses Virginia Wesleyan offers throughout the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Social Sciences divisions. Each is distinct in its own way, and each represents the College's commitment to providing students a transformative education.
Virginia Wesleyan offers a bachelors degree in 38 majors and a variety of minors throughout the liberal arts and sciences.
Students Abuzz Over Beekeeping
Beekeeping is the perfect hobby for students interested in improving the quality of the world's food supply, making all-natural honey and potentially earning a little extra cash on the side.
"Bees and Beekeeping," taught by Batten Associate Professor of History Dr. Dan Margolies, introduces students to the history and basics of beekeeping and hive organization. With more than 40,000 bees and three hives in a field at the southern edge of campus, there's plenty of one-on-one bee action for Wesleyan students.
"From this course, students learn how to start up a new hive and understand basic hive management practices," said Margolies. "It's an introduction to the fundamentals and pleasures of keeping bees as either a hobby or a business."
Honey produced from the Bees and Beekeeping course is sold on campus in the Scribner Bookstore. All procedures support the program.Wearing veils, gloves and white jump suits tucked into their socks, students learn how to install packages, or small boxes of bees. The installation of new packages of bees is the first step in establishing new hives.
Matthew Shurman '09, a transfer student from Gloversville, N.Y., hopes that he can enjoy the perks of beekeeping in the future.
"I plan to raise bees to make my own honey one day. It's cheaper and I love being outside," he said.
About Beekeeping
Beekeeping, primarily helpful to pollination, is a natural resource that's essential to maintaining the quality of our food supply. Approximately one hundred different crops are dependent on pollination, and one-third of the food we consume is completely reliant on honeybee pollination.
Students Praise Worship Class
In what other course would class time entail watching a church congregation dressed up in costume while blowing noisemakers?
"Worship: Historical, Theological and Aesthetic Prospectives," taught by Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Craig Wansink, explores the differences in Christian worship by exposing students to a variety of religious practices within Christianity.
Stepping outside of the classroom, students experience three different worship services off campus, including a traditional and non-traditional service at the Temple of Israel and a worship service at Calvary Revival Church. Students have also attended programs and services on campus ranging from an African American Spiritual Choir to a presentation on Hindu music and dance.
Off-campus worship services include a Jewish Purim, a non-traditional Jewish service and a worship service at Calvary Revival Church. "Not only have the trips given us a new perspective on the different styles of worship, but now we can take everything that we've learned and apply it in class during our discussions," said Heather Templeton '10 from Gloucester, Va. "This course defines a liberal arts education."
Wansink notes that many students know that like Christians, Jews read scripture, sing music and pray during worship service. However, students found that no musical instruments were used during singing and the reading of the scripture at the traditional Jewish morning service. The scripture was read in Hebrew by different members of the congregation.
"There was a level of conversation during the service that students were not used to," said Wansink. "People talked casually with their neighbors throughout the service."
At the Jewish Purim, students watched as worshipers dressed up in costume and acted out the Biblical book of Esther. When certain names were called, the congregation stomped their feet or blew their noisemakers.
"Most students have not been to a Jewish service, and I want them to see the traditional service as well as the broader context of it," said Wansink.
Students Experience Meteorology in Creative Atmosphere
Assistant Professor of Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm has teamed up with WTKR Channel 3 Meteorologist Vanessa Murdock for this spring's Meteorology course.
Set up as a lecture and lab, taught by Murdock and Malcolm respectively, students are learning the science behind weather phenomena such as clouds, hurricanes and tornadoes. Murdock, who has been a meteorologist for five years, also brings real-word experience into the classroom.
"I love sharing my knowledge of meteorology with Virginia Wesleyan students," said Murdock. "I hope each student finishes the class with a good understanding of meteorology and a desire to learn more about it every day."
In mid-April, students will tour the WTKR Channel 3 News Station and experience a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a local meteorology station.
"I love sharing my knowledge of meteorology with Virginia Wesleyan students." - Vanessa Murdock, WTKR Channel 3 Meteorologist "Most students' main experience with meteorology is watching the weather on television," said Malcolm. "During the tour of Channel 3, students get to see the computer systems and cameras used for forecasting, and connect the principles they've learned in class that can be applied to predicting the forecast."
Amanda Ford '09 from Chesapeake, Va., described the course as interesting and said she is excited to tour the weather station.
"Weather impacts every aspect of our lives and by studying the process, I have a better understating of the events that occur," said Ford. "Having the field trip will help to promote the understanding of weather by seeing the professionals at work and comprehending their thought processes when it comes to their occupation."
For the course, students are also conducting independent research on a topic related to weather. Topics from the comparison of weather at high elevation cities to low elevation cities, to air pollution from a power plant are just a few subjects being researched.
Tia Butts '09 contributed to this story.
04.01.09