University Adds Ph.D. In Chemistry

Old Dominion will add two new degree programs this fall, a doctoral program in chemistry and an undergraduate major in maritime and supply chain management, within the B.S. in business administration degree program.

Philip Langlais, dean of graduate studies and associate vice president for research, said the Ph.D. program in chemistry is “essential to achieving our goal of becoming one of the nation’s Top 100 public research institutions.”

“Our faculty and key administrative leaders have successfully made the case that ODU has the ability and desire to meet the growing demand within Hampton Roads, Virginia and the nation for doctoral-level chemists trained to tackle our most pressing biomedical, environmental and basic science problems,” Langlais said.

“This is a significant enhancement to our department,” added Kenneth Brown, professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “With it, we can attract top-quality graduate students and top-quality faculty members who would not come to a non-Ph.D.-granting department.”

The university projects a 2006-07 enrollment of 10 chemistry doctoral students, with the number jumping to 40 by 2010-11.

The College of Business and Public Administration’s new major in supply chain management will be the first of its kind in Virginia and only the second such program int he country.

Students pursuing the major will be required to complete 120 credit hours. The specialized coursework will include international shipping, supply chain and logistics, shipping management and port management, along with other supply chain and logistics course options.

“We saw a need to educate managers to work for the port and maritime industries,” said Nancy Bagranoff, dean of the business college. She noted that in the past few years, CMA CGM and Zim, two of the world’s largest shipping companies, have located their North American headquarters in Norfolk. Additionally, AP Moller Co., which owns Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping line, is constructing a container marine terminal in Portsmouth.

The ODU program will build upon the university’s Port and Maritime Institute and the graduate level four-course track and certificate program in port and maritime management. Wayne Talley, director of the institute, said the major will help meet the need for a skilled work force in the area.

“With a 10 percent annual growth in containerized cargo at U.S. container ports expected in the foreseeable future, the need for employees in all sectors of the maritime industry is great in both Hampton Roads and across the country,” Talley added.