NSU Horizons Spring 2012

36 HORIZONS The Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies has changed its name to the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development (MSC) to reflect the center’s expanded mission. Since 2010, the scope of the center’s offerings has broadened to address social challenges such as autism across the life span, family issues, and parenting challenges. Three new institutes also have been established: the Early Childhood Institute, the Family Studies Institute, and the Autism Institute. Mailman Segal Center will pursue a more pronounced focus on research activities and dissemination and external funding. It also will develop a range of academic programs that offer training at the undergraduate and graduate levels. MSC is a part of the Division of Applied Interdisciplinary Studies at NSU. The genesis of the Mailman Segal Center traces back to 1972, when Marilyn Mailman Segal, Ph.D., founder and former dean, was awarded a four-year, $500,000 grant from the Federal Office of Human Development to produce a nine-part public television series, To Reach a Child , that focused on the first year of life. As part of the series, Segal established a school for parents that developed into the Mailman Segal Center’s Early Learning Programs. The Family Center, as it was initially called, was formed in 1975. Wendy Masi, Ph.D., a former dean, founded the Parent/ Child program in 1979. In 1980, the Family Center Preschool was founded, and a year later, the Mailman Family Center building opened its doors to the public. The Baudhuin Preschool, formerly known as the Fort Lauderdale Oral School, was acquired by NSU in 1983 and moved to NSU’s main campus. The Family Center became known for its groundbreaking work refining and bringing programs and ideas to the local, state, and national communities. In 2002, the Family Center was renamed the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies to illustrate its programs in early childhood education, including clinical services for children with developmental challenges with a special focus on the early diagnosis and treatment of autism; community outreach and advocacy; and of course, to honor its founder. In 2003, the Jim & Jan Moran Family Center Village opened, the only demonstration and training facility of its kind in the nation. BY FELECIA HENDERSON A new ame, new ra NSU’s Oceanographic Center has created a Bachelor of Science in Marine Professional Studies and a Master of Art in Marine and Coastal Studies. The bachelor’s degree is designed to provide students with an orientation toward the marine-related elds with an in-depth, scholarly perspec- tive on marine and coastal issues. These issues range from the depths of the deep sea to the heights of atmospheric climate change, to the details of port security, environmental impacts, marine transportation, and international policy. The master’s degree will provide a broadened perspective on marine and coastal processes and related societal impacts, applicable to students with or without an academic natural science background. Perspectives from emerging elds of study such as environmental history, environmental communication, and environmental psychology will be incorporated through individual course offerings. The degree will be relevant to those pursuing careers in a broad range of sectors including adminis- tration, teaching, government and policy, urban planning, communication and media, tourism, and business. The OC Adds Two New Degrees ACADEMIC NOTES