New LSUS degree programs will prepare students for high-demand careers

LSU Shreveport is expanding its bachelor’s degree programs to offer students even more career options.

A bachelor’s degree in nonprofit administration will be the first of its kind in Louisiana. The program will provide a foundation in a variety of careers at not-for-profit organizations. Courses will focus on everything from strategic planning to volunteer management.

Nonprofit administration majors will have opportunities to connect with nonprofit professionals; participate in nonprofit workshops, trainings, and conferences and learn from hands-on activities with nonprofit service opportunities. 

LSUS students and staff from the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research connect with the community at festivals and other events throughout the year.

Students will also have the content knowledge to pursue the Certified Nonprofit Professional Credential, which is the only nationally recognized credential in nonprofit management. This certification requires specific course completion, a baccalaureate from an accredited institution, a minimum of 300 internship hours or comparable professional experience, participation in a conference, and other leadership and service activities.

The bachelor’s degree program will be part of the LSUS Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research. It aligns with the institute’s other programs, including the master’s degree in nonprofit administration.

“Nonprofit organizations are a vital part of the community, employing 8 percent of the Louisiana workforce. With an increasing need for qualified individuals, the nonprofit sector provides a wealth of vibrant career opportunities,” says Dr. Heather Carpenter, director of the Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research.

Another new degree program will also offer abundant opportunities for hands-on learning for students pursuing health careers.

LSUS students adjust monitoring equipment while a firefighter undergoes testing in the LSUS Human Performance Lab atmosphere chamber.

The bachelor’s degree in occupational physiology will prepare students for graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise science and environmental science, says Dr. Cory Coehoorn, director of the Human Performance Lab at LSUS.

The program will also equip students for immediate entry into professional areas such as the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force and careers specializing in training and educating firefighters, law enforcement, and operational physiologists as well as personal training and strength and conditioning.

Students will get hands-on experience testing people in an atmospheric chamber that can mimic any kind of real-world environmental conditions. The chamber is part of the sophisticated equipment in the new $1.2 million LSUS Human Performance Lab. Students will use the new LSUS Cyber Collaboratory to solve real-world problems associated with prosthetic design, injury prevention, recovery, and occupational and environmental stressors.

The program will offer students hands-on learning experiences through partnerships with local fire, rescue and law enforcement agencies.

“Students are already involved in the data collection,” Dr. Coehoorn says. “Each student is required to do two hours of data collection per semester, either with community members or with research subjects. This is a unique degree, and it’s an up and coming (career) area.”