BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Two new programs and a new concentration will be offered to Illinois Wesleyan University students beginning in the fall of 2025.
These offerings join more than 100 majors, minors and concentrations currently available for students.
Nutrition
The Nutrition major will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the science of nutrition and its application to human health, wellness and disease prevention. Students will explore the role of nutrients in the body, the composition, processing and transportation of food, the relationship between diet and chronic conditions and the importance of education in community based nutrition.
Associate Dean of Health Sciences Lindsey Kellar said the program will prepare students for a variety of career paths, including clinical dietetics, community nutrition, food service management, health coaching, sports nutrition, research and education.
“A greater public awareness of the importance of nutrition related to holistic well-being — along with the increase in chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease — has contributed to the increased demand for nutrition professionals,” said Kellar.
Undergraduate nutrition programs are on the rise in the U.S., with the Bureau for Labor Statistics reporting that job opportunities for nutritionists are growing at a faster than average growth rate than all occupations.
Physical Education
The Physical Education major will prepare students to teach PE to students in prekindergarten through high school. Graduates will be equipped to design and implement safe, age-appropriate physical activities, provide effective instruction in exercises and sports, adapt activities for diverse student needs and abilities, and promote lifelong wellness and healthy lifestyle choices.
Dean of the School of Educational Studies Leah Nillas said there is a growing interest in teacher education programs, which aligns with “critical workforce needs” in education.
“What truly distinguishes this major is its holistic approach to health education,” said Nillas. “By integrating courses in public health, nutrition and wellness promotion, students develop a comprehensive understanding of health across different cultural contexts. This broader perspective shifts the focus from traditional physical activity instruction to promoting lifelong wellness – preparing graduates to inspire lasting healthy habits in their future students.”
Nillas added that the major is likely to aid in recruitment efforts for the University pertaining to student athletes who are interested in both Titan sports and becoming physical education teachers.
Quantum Science and Technology
Housed under the Physics Department, the new concentration in Quantum Science and Technology (QST) positions Illinois Wesleyan among a select group of Midwestern universities offering undergraduate training in this rapidly emerging field. The program provides an additional pathway for students pursuing careers in quantum physics, quantum computing and quantum technologies.
Professor and Chair of Physics Narendra Jaggi noted that the courses required for the QST concentration were initially offered on an experimental basis to assess student interest and institutional resources.
"The introductory course quickly filled to capacity," he said, "drawing students from a range of majors — including physics, mathematics, computer science and chemistry."
“We see this program as a prime example of the deep and broad learning that defines a liberal arts education,” Jaggi added. “It offers interdisciplinary training and encourages strong student-faculty collaboration — an approach that has already propelled our physics majors, and students in our Optics & Photonics concentration, into leadership roles in both academia and industry. We are excited to bring the same level of opportunity to those pursuing the new Quantum Science and Technology concentration.”