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21 September 2007
JSU Free to Expand 2 Degree Programs

By Markeshia Ricks
Star Capitol Correspondent
09-21-2007


Reprinted here in its entirety.

MONTGOMERY — Jacksonville State University has received a green light to expand its degree programs in public administration and in secondary education.

The Academic Affairs Committee of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education approved two proposals Thursday that will allow the university to offer a concentration in athletic administration in its Master of Public Administration program and a concentration in coaching for its Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.

While this does not change the number of graduate programs the university offers, it does allow students more options, said JSU President William Meehan.

More options could mean more graduates. Though the number of students enrolled in graduate courses dropped from 1,183 in 2005 to 1,091 in 2006, the number of degrees awarded has gone up.

According to the proposal for the master’s program, the athletic administration concentration targets those interested in working for municipal recreation departments, athletic departments for community/junior colleges, and entities such as the YMCA.

Meehan said expanding the master’s program offers people who work in public recreation entities, but who have degrees in other areas, an opportunity to develop new skills without obtaining a new degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration.

“With the 15 hours concentrated in that area, they can learn enough to establish a good solid recreation program,” he said.

Jeff Chandler, head of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at JSU, said the new concentration also will be appealing to alumni who work for the university as full employees or graduate assistants, and have an interest in athletics.

“A lot of our baccalaureate people get hired by the university, or are working as graduate assistants, and they want or need to get a master’s degree for their job,” he said. “Right now they don’t have an option to concentrate in this area.”

Chandler said the university offers the additional course work that students will be required to take through his department, but those courses are offered only as electives.

As soon as the full higher education commission approves the proposal in its regular meeting today, the university can allow students to pursue the concentration as part of their degree focus.

Meehan said the coaching concentration for the undergraduate degree in secondary education is aimed at providing new teachers an extra skill set.

“When I went into education I was asked to coach basketball, and though I had watched it a great deal I knew nothing about teaching it,” he said. “With this concentration they can learn some skills and the characteristics needed for coaching. It doesn’t certify them to coach any particular sport, but it does offer some practical application.”


About Markeshia Ricks

Markeshia Ricks is capitol correspondent for The Star.

See story at The Anniston Star's website: www.annistonstar.com .

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