2008 Woodie Awards
Same Degree, Fewer Classes
Board of Governors Vote for More Flexible Bachelor's Program
Kristin Beason: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
Students may be able to take less hours and still graduate. Effective at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, the minimum baccalaureate degree requirements will change. In December, the UCM Board of Governors decided the new requirement would be a minimum of 120 hours. This includes a 20 hour minimum of upper division hours at UCM.
"This will be beneficial to students," said Provost George Wilson. "The main reason [for the change in requirements] is to create more flexibility for students. It will greatly reduce the frustration involved as students get through a degree program. It's in the students' best interests."
As a part of each department's curriculum review, faculty will be asked to consider the revised requirements as their program may be altered within the limits of the UCM restrictions. The curriculum and instruction will be changed if the faculty feels they can fit everything into a degree plan of 120 hours.
Those degree programs that will be changed beginning in the fall can be found in the 2008 catalog. Not all degree programs will be changed.
"[The degree requirement changes] will be helpful and more hassle-free for the students," said Mike Wright, dean of the College of Education.
The area in the College of Education that could be affected is the new articulation for the associate of art and teaching, a statewide community college transfer program.
Gersham Nelson, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said the changes in requirements will make it easier for students to get through a degree program.
"One of the things that will be a major change will be that there will be no required minor," Nelson said.
Individual degree programs at any college can still require a minor, if they choose. At the university level, it will not be required.
"This will be a positive change for the University," Nelson said. "Over time, faculty will have to think about and re-align a program's curriculum to reduce the hours to 120."
"This will be beneficial to students," said Provost George Wilson. "The main reason [for the change in requirements] is to create more flexibility for students. It will greatly reduce the frustration involved as students get through a degree program. It's in the students' best interests."
As a part of each department's curriculum review, faculty will be asked to consider the revised requirements as their program may be altered within the limits of the UCM restrictions. The curriculum and instruction will be changed if the faculty feels they can fit everything into a degree plan of 120 hours.
Those degree programs that will be changed beginning in the fall can be found in the 2008 catalog. Not all degree programs will be changed.
"[The degree requirement changes] will be helpful and more hassle-free for the students," said Mike Wright, dean of the College of Education.
The area in the College of Education that could be affected is the new articulation for the associate of art and teaching, a statewide community college transfer program.
Gersham Nelson, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said the changes in requirements will make it easier for students to get through a degree program.
"One of the things that will be a major change will be that there will be no required minor," Nelson said.
Individual degree programs at any college can still require a minor, if they choose. At the university level, it will not be required.
"This will be a positive change for the University," Nelson said. "Over time, faculty will have to think about and re-align a program's curriculum to reduce the hours to 120."
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