Interdisciplinary Programs

Matt will earn a major in the interdisciplinary program of Neuroscience and a major in Psychology. He plans on entering the new masters program in neuroscience at Central Michigan University this fall and later medical school to study neurosurgery and neuroscience research.

"Choosing an interdisciplinary major like Neuroscience has prepared me to engage in a variety of concepts, not just within neuroscience, but in everyday life, said Bombard. “By studying neuroscience from multiple perspectives, I feel prepared to enter graduate school with confidence and with the skills I need to be successful."

Matt is the president of CMU’s Neuroscience Society and membership selection chair for Mortar Board. He is a member of the Society for Neuroscience (SFN), Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, Goldkey, and the National Society for Collegiate Scholars. Matt was the Spring 2006 recipient of Sigma XI, the 2007 Summer Scholars Fellowship, and runner-up in SFN’s National Poster Competition. He received the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Travel Award, which allowed him to present his research at the SFN Fall 2008 meeting.

Throughout Matt’s college career, he has extensively volunteered in Dr. Dunbar’s neuroscience lab, and has been a tutor for chemistry, biology, and psychology. Matt also completed a Summer Scholars Fellowship in 2007 for CMU’s Office of Sponsored Programs and is a co-author with Dr. Dunbar on a recent journal publication in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.

At CMU, Angela serves on the executive board of the Public Relations Student Society of America, is in the Honors Program, sits on the executive board of the student-run public relations firm--PR Central, a member of the Homecoming Committee, and has been a leadership safari guide. She also works as a student writer for CMU Public Relations and Marketing. Angela recently returned from a short-term study abroad in Dublin, Ireland as part of the course HON321T.

Last summer, Angela worked for the Detroit Lions and The Guidance Center. This summer, she will intern at The Henry Ford Corporation.

"I chose the Integrative Public Relations program at CMU because the diverse course concentrations truly provide me with the real-world skills I am going to need in my career," Hernandez said. "I have already been able to gain internship experience in nonprofit, corporate, broadcast and sports public relations sectors because the skills I am learning are extremely adaptable to all of the fields in the program."

"I chose an interdisciplinary minor because it served a larger purpose," LaMothe said. "I knew going in what my goals were, and I saw that the European Studies minor is a wide-ranging course that covers everything from political science to geography. This minor could have easily been a bunch of history and political science courses, but instead it touches on a lot of varied subject matter. That was important to me because I knew that to fully understand Europe, I needed a program that approached it from many angles."

Ben is the founder and editor-in-chief of Grand Central Magazine, CMU’s first student produced online magazine. He spent two years as a staff reporter for CM-Life and until a few months ago, was involved in CMU’s Student Art League. Ben has written for Reuters as well as seven newspapers, magazines and other news organizations in Michigan as a freelance writer or intern.

Throughout Ben’s college career, he completed a study-aboard internship in Dublin, Ireland with NewsTalk 106FM, as well as an internship with The Oakland Press, The Oakland Business Review and Detroit Public Radio.

"I chose Museum Studies and Natural Resources as my minors because I realized that in my profession I need to know about many different subjects to successfully foster a connection between people and natural and cultural resources," said Thelen. "My interdisciplinary minors have allowed me to understand how different subjects such as biology, geology, geography, earth science, and history all come together to create a story of place and help me to tell that story."

Last summer, Jennifer completed a museum internship with the Great Lakes Visitor Center at Ludington State Park. She will complete an eight-month internship later this year at Glacier National Park in Montana. Jennifer recently returned from studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland as part of the course HON321T.

Jennifer was a student assistant at Clark Historical Library and tutored students learning biology. She volunteered at the Chippewa Nature Center and for the 2006 Alternative Spring Break. Jennifer works as a student assistant for CMU’s Museum of Cultural and Natural History and Academic Services at CMU.

At CMU, Jennifer received the Honors Program Directors Award, recipient of the National Association for Interpretation National Scholarship, Beaver Island Biological Scholarship, and the Honors Alumni Scholarship.

Lia began her graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology at CMU in 2008. She majored in Communications Disorders and Entrepreneurship, an interdisciplinary program. Lia earned minors in American Sign Language and the interdisciplinary program of Gerontology.

“I want to provide speech pathology services to older adults with speech and language disorders,” said Mackey. “My interdisciplinary program studies here at CMU have allowed me to study the gerontological aspects of communications disorders from many perspectives.”

While at CMU, Lia was president of the Gerontology Club, volunteered at several long-term care facilities around Mt. Pleasant and Isabella County, and actively raised awareness about gerontology within the campus community. She was on the Larzelere Hall Council and chairperson of the hall’s Community Service Committee.

Lia completed a summer internship at Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgeons, working for one of the world’s best cardiothoracic surgeons. Most of the patients were over 65, which provided Lia ample experience working with older adults.