Accelerating the College Clock
A bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years?
From high school graduation to a master’s degree in five years? Students in the college can now take advantage of programs that accelerate the college clock to allow them to earn both an undergraduate and master’s degree in that span.
In the last three years, six of these new accelerated degree programs have debuted in Arts and Sciences disciplines, specifically history, philosophy, political science, Spanish, computer science and chemistry. And in the more established Applied Economics program, enrollment has climbed. Three students are currently in their fifth year of the program while eight undergraduates are enrolled in classes that will count toward their master’s in applied economics once they enter the program. With accelerated study established as a university-wide priority, Carl Wainscott, graduate school assistant dean, expects programs and enrollees to “grow significantly in the coming years.”
“With the help of my professors, I was able to get over the hump. Earning a bachelor’s and a master’s in five years is a great incentive. Plus, it’s great preparation for future graduate work.” - Jared Sutsko, Arts ‘17
Dr. Joseph Daniels, professor and chair of economics, says that apart from the time advantage, the accelerated program is attractive for other reasons. “Financial aid is available to students in this program, and we have a strong record of placement thanks to our network of supporting alumni who offer internship and employment opportunities to our students.”
And as interest in accelerated study spreads to students at four-year colleges, partnerships led by economics and other departments meet that demand. “We have two students from St. Norbert College where they do not have a master’s program. The partnership was a natural because it gives their students the opportunity to participate in our applied economics master’s program,” says Dr. Farrokh Nourzad, professor of economics and director of graduate studies. The University of the Pacific in California, UW–Oshkosh and Wisconsin Lutheran College are partners as well.
For students, the difficulty level exceeds that of undergraduate work, yet manageably so. “There is a greater expectation for graduate students with more focus on students developing their own ideas,” says Jared Sutsko, Arts’17, a philosophy student in the second year of the graduate portion. “With the help of my professors, I was able to get over the hump. Earning a bachelor’s and a master’s in five years is a great incentive. Plus it’s great preparation for future graduate work.” With the tools and momentum gained from the five-year program, he plans to next pursue advanced degrees in theology.
— Guy Fiorita
