Mississippi IHL Approves Innovative Degree Programs for State Universities

Mississippi IHL Gives Green Light to Groundbreaking Degree Programs

During their regular meeting, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) have granted approval for six novel degree programs within the universities in the state. This is a major step forward for higher education in Mississippi as five out of the six new programs are first of their kind in the state. The proposals for these unique programs achieved unanimous approval among the IHL board members.

New Programs Unveiled

The Associate Commissioner for Academic and Student Affairs, Casey Prestwood, took to the floor to introduce the audience to the new programs during the Thursday morning meeting. However, the commencement dates for these newly approved programs have yet to be decided.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University is set to welcome four novel degree programs: A Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Design and the Built Environment, Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, Master of Science in PK-12 Student Support, and an Educational Specialist in Professional School Counseling. As asserted by Prestwood, these degree paths are all firsts in the state of Mississippi.

The Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Design and the Built Environment is a 120-hour degree program, which will be hosted under the College of Architecture, Art, and Design. This curriculum merges disciplines, including architecture, art, interior design, and building construction science.

Following the success of the applied behavior analysis minor two years ago, the Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis degree has been constituted. This 120-hour degree will be directed under the College of Education, after the minor has already conferred 27 graduates.

“In the past decade, the demand for professionals in the field of behavioral analysis has witnessed one of the highest spikes across all job sectors,” stated Prestwood. The Master of Science in PK-12 Student Support was contrived to cater to the increasing demand for certified school counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools.

A decline in the number of applicants seeking the school counseling license in Mississippi has been observed, and hence, the Educational Specialist in Professional School Counseling program, the last of the four, has been devised.

University of Mississippi Medical Center

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is due to introduce a Master of Science in Health Professions Education. This initiative follows a faculty survey which found that less than a quarter of respondents had received formal training in teaching or learning theories. This 30-hour degree program will cater to clinical professionals and aims at building skills in teaching, curriculum design, and learning theories.

Delta State University

The Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education is the sixth degree program, soon to be available at Delta State University. While it may not be a trailblazer like the aforementioned programs, it is nonetheless a pioneer.

In Mississippi, the only similar program is available at Mississippi College. To deal with the burgeoning teacher shortage across the nation, this 120-hour program provides students with a more simplified path to the teaching profession, which Prestwood acknowledged.

“By eliminating the need for multiple program coordinators, this program offers a more efficient route for students to enter the teaching profession,” Prestwood further concluded.