Stick Around for Grad School
Graduate programs earn distinctions
Students and working professionals recognize the value of lifelong learning – for professional advancement and development, and personal growth and fulfillment. At MSUM, you don’t necessarily have to stay in Moorhead to get your graduate degree.
Most graduate programs are completely online or offered as a hybrid option. Those that aren’t are generally master’s degree programs required for employment, such as school psychology and speech-language pathology. Several MSUM graduate programs were named in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings based on student engagement, student services and technology, admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, and peer reputation.
- No. 120 Online Graduate Education Programs
- No. 139 Online MBA Program
- Online Nursing Program made the list, but was not ranked
“When I decided to pursue an MBA, I looked at regional and national institutions that offered the degree online. I chose MSUM because it’s online, it offered an emphasis in healthcare management and I was able to jump right in to the program without taking a lot of business prerequisites,” said Tai Clark, ’04 (social work), who is in the MBA-Healthcare Management program. She’s also the executive director at A Place For Hope: Recovery and Wellness Center, and is currently doing an internship at NASA.
“The program has already helped in my current work to think more holistically about the organization. I’m better equipped to leverage date for decision making, to do research independently, and to be more strategic in advancing our mission.”
Grounded in MSUM’s history as a teacher’s school, it’s no surprise that Educational Leadership and Special Education have reached triple digit enrollment. Both programs are online, collaborative, relationship-focused and personalized to help students grow as leaders and teachers.
“Our students gain skills and understanding of leadership and administration while also developing skills and confidence in using technology as a learning tool,” said Julie Swaggert, assistant professor of Teaching and Learning.
The Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction was ranked No. 26 for affordability of 146 schools offering advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction by Top Education Degrees, which provides high quality, well-researched education and career resources for individuals in the education field.
“MSUM’s online course delivery is a little different from other institutions; it is very interactive, relationship focused and personal,” said Michael Coquyt, program coordinator for Curriculum and Instruction. “Online delivery provides an opportunity for our graduate students, mostly working teachers, to collaborate across the state, region and country with other educators to learn about current trends and issues in education with the flexible scheduling needed to meet work and personal demands while attending graduate school to advance their career.”
Nicholas Enger, ’13 (economics), knows first-hand how beneficial and flexible it is to attend graduate school. After earning his undergraduate degree, he returned for his master’s and earned an MBA last summer. He says he received support and patience from his professors, and adds, “The wonderful faculty and staff at MSUM were incredibly helpful and supportive in the job finding process.”
The culture of support, guidance and commitment to students is spurring record-setting enrollment of graduate programs, up 13 percent from Spring 2015, and 24 percent from Spring 2014.
Check out all of MSUM’s graduate degrees and certificates at mnstate.edu/graduate.