Strategic Plan proposes accelerated degree programs

Students from all majors might be able to complete an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in the time it takes most students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, according to the Strategic Plan draft.

The Undergraduate Life section of the Strategic Plan proposes new professional master’s degrees and certificates for every school and the College of Arts and
Sciences that would provide students a leg up when entering the workforce.
 
“A lot of people are able to take a wide variety of undergraduate degrees and head in many, many directions with those undergraduate degrees,” said Greg Siering, director for the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning and member of the Undergraduate Life committee.

He said development of a variety of professional master’s degrees and certificates could allow students to focus on specific professions that interest them.

Some of these degrees are already in place in the Kelley School of Business and School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

“I think it’s important that we not only create degree programs that educate students in a general sense, but that notion of ‘create professional master’s degree and certificates’ allows students a more direct focus route into certain professions,” Siering said.

This proposed action would allow students to finish their undergraduate degrees in three years and finish a professional master’s degree or certificate in one to two years.
The potential degrees, and those already in place, allow students to shift their focus, and for employers to see that shift, Siering said.

Dennis Groth is the interim vice provost for undergraduate education and co-chair of the undergraduate life committee for the Strategic Plan.

“I think it’s important always for students to have access to options for students in undergraduate education,” Groth said. “We don’t want to limit what students want to achieve.”

While students could take classes from multiple schools to complete their master’s degree, the plan isn’t proposing that students create their own programs, Robel said
.
While a few professional master’s degrees are already in place, Groth said, the action is meant to build on what’s already in place.

“What’s interesting about this particular objective is that there already are options in place,” he said.

“It could be that students aren’t made aware of them and it could be that we have new ones, but the idea is that every school and college will take a look at this and figure out what the best way that their degree programs at the graduate level can link to an undergraduate degree.”