Colleges offer unique degree opportunities

Specialized programs give students one-of-a-kind work experience

Instead of falling under a generic umbrella, select college programs in Southern Nevada give students a more focused and specialized education tailored to their career goals.

The Art Institute of Las Vegas, 2350 Corporate Circle, launched its fashion and retail management bachelor's program in October with 13 registrants. In three years, students move through courses like color theory, retail operations, planning and buying, fashion show production, and concept and line development.

"It's not a fashion design program," academic director Regina Verdin said.

Instead, students will learn skills for retail management positions, including display techniques and visual merchandising. Verdin said graduates of the program will be eligible for jobs as retail buyers, managers or in product and sales development.

"The need is just huge for upper-division management (in retail)," Verdin said. "I really see this program fitting that need."

The fashion and retail management program lasts 12 quarters and contains 192 credit hours.

At UNLV, students can major in entertainment engineering and design, a program focused on entertainment production.

The entertainment engineering major combines faculty from the College of Fine Arts and the Hughes College of Engineering, so students learn engineering principles, material design, new technologies and theatrical production techniques.

"This program breaks the traditional mold of engineering education," said Eric Sandgren, dean of the Hughes College of Engineering. "It represents a fresh approach, combining engineering technical expertise with the creativity of fine arts and the production of the shows on the Las Vegas Strip. There is nothing else like it in the country."

Graduates of the program will be eligible to work as project managers and department heads of entertainment production companies. Students need a total of 135 credits to complete a bachelor of science in entertainment engineering and design at UNLV.

At CSN, students can obtain an associate of applied science degree in casino management.

Classes in the program include those about gaming regulations, table game protection, slots management and gaming law.

At the culmination of their studies, students in the casino management program should be able to work in a casino cage, operate a slot department or casino, and deal table games.

Other specialized degrees available in Las Vegas include Regis University's master of nonprofit management, Nevada State College's bachelor of applied science in automotive technology management, and University of Phoenix's e-business program.