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NMSU offering revamped degree aimed at working professionals

https://newscenter.nmsu.edu/Articles/view/13744/nmsu-offering-revamped-degree-aimed-at-working-professionals

 

The relaunched degree plan will change the number of upper division credits required for students who already have an associate’s degree in applied sciences from another institution, such as the four NMSU community colleges around the state.

Under the new degree plan, these students can now earn a bachelor’s degree in applied studies after taking 36 upper division courses – twelve fewer than the 48 required to graduate in other degree programs, while meeting all other standard requirements for graduation.

“The BAS degree offers flexibility for students to take what they and their advisor determine are applicable courses for their next steps, so each student’s path will be unique,” said Patti Wojahn, head of NMSU’s interdisciplinary studies department and one of the developers of the new degree plan. “We have so many people in the region and beyond who hold an associate’s degree and years of valuable experience in areas such as fire science, environmental and energy technology, and automation and manufacturing. Many might be ready to move into managerial or new career positions requiring a bachelor’s degree.”

The bachelor of applied studies degree is not a new one at NMSU, but the more streamlined approach comes as a result of faculty members from both NMSU and DACC coming together to find solutions to meet the needs of students that were not being addressed by either campus.

“What we found is that students were having to take a lot more credits than other bachelor degree programs in order to graduate,” said Monica Torres, the president of Dona Ana Community College. “Because of what they already took at the associate’s degree level, and then the additional 48 hours of upper division courses, plus the other requirements, they were graduating with close to 170 credits, 30 to 50 credits more than a typical bachelor’s degree. So we worked together to figure out how we can make it reasonable for people to actually finish the bachelor’s program.”

“It’s a matter of both cost and time,” said Wojahn. “If you’re paying for almost 170 credit and taking the time to do all those courses…our degree was making it very difficult for students to finish.”

Under the new degree plan, students will still be required to reach a minimum of 120 credits necessary to graduate for all students seeking a bachelor’s at NMSU. But now more credits they earned getting their associate’s degree (currently 107 credits, on average) will be transferrable to the bachelor’s of applied studies. While the path to the BAS is very flexible, students are encouraged to complete a minimum of one minor to help them toward their next steps.

“In our NMSU system, 300 students a year graduate with an associate’s of applied studies,” said Wojahn. “For the BAS, we are targeting those adults who, at this time, might be ready to return to school in a part-or even full-time basis to continue their education.”

Though the flexible degree will be open to anyone with an associate’s degree in applied science, the main focus of the bachelor’s in applied studies is the professional who already has experience in the work force.

“We’re really trying to appeal to the working adult who is looking to move up in his or her career,” said Wojahn. “Those who might need a bachelor’s degree in order to earn a promotion, or to shift careers. That is the main target of the applied studies program.”

Pursuing this bachelor’s degree will also open up potential students to a whole new skill set distinct from the education they got at community colleges such as DACC.

“They are going to get a ton of technical training at DACC,” said Torres. “A huge percentage of the program is spent on technical skills. But the bachelor’s degree is going to further develop critical soft skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking skills, decision-making and other managerial level skills necessary to thrive in the workplace. It also proves that these are people who know how to complete something. It’s just a testament to the fact that they will persist, which is a trait that is attractive to employers.”

Courting those with experience in the professional world will also serve as a benefit to the university at large, especially in the classroom.

“Those students who have been out in the workforce for quite some time have gained valuable learning and work experience,” said Wojahn. “So when they return for their bachelor’s, they bring that to the classroom. It becomes an asset to their fellow students, as they get exposed to people who have actually been out in the field. Those students with an associate degree can be leaders in our classrooms at NMSU.”

The new requirements for the bachelor’s of applied studies will go into effect in the NMSU catalogue beginning with the fall 2019 semester. For more information, contact Jennifer Hodges at the Center for Academic Advising.