LINCOLN – The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education recently granted the Nebraska State College System approval to offer a system-wide master’s of science degree in organizational management. Courses for the degree will be offered at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges.
“The organizational management master’s program is designed to prepare students for administrative, supervisory, management, or leadership positions in a variety of corporate, government or not-for-profit settings,” Larry Schultz, vice chancellor of academic affairs and general counsel, explained. “It is best suited for individuals who have acquired an understanding of the general skills and abilities in their profession, as well as professional certification or licensing in their field, and are seeking advanced, specialized study to specifically enhance their career path progress.”
Schultz said that the new master’s program was created in response to “special economic and labor force considerations related to the generally increasing demands of the modern economy for knowledgeable workers.” He added that there was a need for this type of master’s degree program, as current offerings did not provide educational opportunities for those seeking graduate coursework in diverse areas.
Graduate degrees currently offered within the Nebraska State College System include education and business. By adding the new master’s program, Chancellor Stan Carpenter said, it will enable the colleges to more fully realize their commitment to meeting the unmet needs of their respective service regions.
“The degree is unique, as it was collaboratively designed by representatives from each of the colleges and will primarily use courses currently offered. This is a cooperative degree program, so students attending one of our three colleges may take courses at the other two colleges to earn credits and complete their master’s degree,” Carpenter said.
The 36-credit-hour program will consist of a common core of courses ranging from 9-12 credit hours. The core courses were crafted to meet the needs of rising leaders in a variety of organizational settings and will focus on building general competencies relating to graduate study and research, statistics or mathematical communication and description, and organizational processes and leadership principals.
Additionally, 18-21 credits must be earned in a specialized concentration area, such as human services, natural resources, sports recreation management, or entrepreneurial and community development. A six-credit thesis, scholarly project, or internship or a combination of a project and internship is also required.
Chadron and Wayne plan to offer the courses this fall, while Peru must get legislative approval via a change to the college’s limited role and mission defined in state statue. Up until now, Peru has been limited by statute to offering only one master’s degree in education.
“There is no other opportunity for advanced study in law enforcement, health and human services, sports and recreation management, entrepreneurial and community development, and natural resource administration for place bound individuals in the Nebraska State College System service regions,” Carpenter said. “People who want to stay in these areas and enhance the viability and vitality of their communities are faced with limited career opportunities or must move. This program will benefit those individuals and keep them in the rural communities with which they are committed. This will great benefit the state of Nebraska.”
The Nebraska State College System Board members include: Chair Steve Lewis, Lexington; Chair of the Academic, Personnel & Student Affairs Committee Willa Kosman, Scottsbluff; Chair of the Fiscal & Facilities Committee Larry Teahon, Chadron; Chair of the Enrollment & Marketing Committee Bill Roskens, Omaha, Richard Halbert, Falls City; Dr. Doug Christensen, Lincoln; Chadron State student representative Carla Giger, Alliance; Peru State student representative Heath Christiansen, Verdon; and Wayne State student representative Lucas Virgil, Weston. The Board of Trustees next meet March 30-31 in Peru.
The Nebraska State College System serves close to 8,000 students from Nebraska and surrounding states through three geographically diverse institutions: Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges. Combined, the three colleges offer more than 200 degree, certificate, and pre-professional programs that are accessible on the three campuses, via the Internet, and in several satellite locations throughout the state. With more than 250 credentialed faculty members and 45,000 successful graduates, the NSCS provides significant human and intellectual capital that contributes to the current and future economic strength of the State of Nebraska.