CHaSS Graduates 590 at USU Spring 2015 Commencement

Nearly 600 students from Utah State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS) received bachelor’s degrees during spring commencement ceremonies May 2.

Wearing 2015 white tassels on their mortarboards, CHaSS undergrads became grads during the Saturday morning commencement ceremony held in USU’s Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The event came only a day after masters and doctoral candidates walked to receive their diplomas during hooding ceremonies also held in the Spectrum. More than three-dozen CHaSS students received graduate degrees May 1.

“Our 2015 CHaSS graduation was indeed a great success,” noted CHaSS Dean John C. Allen.

In all, CHaSS houses eight departments as well as Utah Public Radio and the university’s Intensive English Language Institute. Every student who graduates from USU passes through CHaSS hallways during their undergraduate careers, taking classes considered essential to a well-rounded education, including courses in English, history, sociology, political science and much more.

Among the hundreds of students who graduated with bachelor’s degrees from CHaSS departments, 101 received degrees in English (creative writing, teaching, literature studies, technical writing); 90 earned degrees in social work; and 45 achieved degrees in journalism (broadcast, print, public relations).

Along with the English, social work and journalism, CHaSS graduates received bachelor’s degrees in 20 other majors, including anthropology, communication studies, history (including teaching), international studies, law and constitutional studies, liberal arts, political science, sociology, Spanish (including teaching), French, German, philosophy, religious studies and more.

“Our graduates go into the world with high level skills in communication and critical thinking, as well as a knowledge of the world and cultures, a strong work ethic and an appreciation for lifelong learning,” Allen said. “I am confident that they will be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Following Saturday’s commencement ceremony, more than 2,500 CHaSS grads along with their families and friends gathered at an outdoor reception that included Aggie Ice Cream and a chance to say goodbye to faculty, staff and fellow students.

Utah State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences includes the departments of Aerospace Studies; English; History; Journalism and Communication; Languages, Philosophy and Communication Studies; Military Science; Political Science; Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology; as well as the Intensive English Language Institute and Utah Public Radio.

The college houses more than 20 undergraduate and nine graduate programs for potential study. A liberal arts degree from Utah State provides students with the breadth of knowledge and cultural awareness needed to contend with — and find solutions to — modern society’s most complex problems.

Writer and contact: Kristin Middaugh, CHaSS communications director, (435) 797-0267, kristin.middaugh@usu.edu