Nurse photo from left to right Karen Alexander PHD, RN, CNOR - Program Director RN-BSN Ashton Zeplin- BSN Judy Hembd- Assistant Professor of Nursing Rebeccah Pruit- BSN

UHCL offers two new degrees

By Renny Mason Last updated Oct 20, 2015 118 0

Along with the incoming freshmen and sophomores, UHCL has added two new degree plans to its fiscal year 2015 roster.

In July 2014 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved a second doctoral program for UHCL’s School of Education. The program, scheduled to begin in spring 2015 with 15 expected students, is in Curriculum and Instruction with a STEM – science, technology, engineering, mathematics – specialization area.

The program will provide an opportunity to work with local school districts in addition to creating a STEM pipeline for the university. The added program could also open up possibilities for new grant activity, therefore bringing in extra money for the university to help better support education.

Mark Shermis, dean of UHCL's School of Education. Courtesy photo. — Mark Shermis, dean of UHCL’s School of Education. *Courtesy photo.*

“It will help change the culture of the institution,” said Mark Shermis, dean of the School of Education. “The new program opens up the possibility of having full-time doctoral students with a passion for STEM education.”

Shermis explained that the program is designed for returning adults with full-time jobs and families seeking to update their skill sets. Considering the time and financial requirements of the program, it is advised that students come prepared and with a little extra motivation.

“Students have to realize that it’s going to be challenging but also rewarding by the end of their time in the program,” said Sue Brown, chair of the doctoral program in curriculum and instruction. “It’s an opportunity to work with people who are excited and committed to STEM education.”

In addition to a second doctoral program, a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, located at the UHCL-Pearland campus, began this fall. The new BSN degree, which received final approval in October 2013, is specifically designed to allow registered nurses to work on the leadership aspects of the profession.

Additionally, the RN to BSN program is designed for students who have previously completed their associate degree in nursing from an accredited institution with a valid license to practice as a registered nurse in Texas, which means that the clinical aspects of nursing must have been completed before the student can enroll into the program. Karen Alexander, program director for the BSN program, explained that without clinical aspects, the BSN program at UHCL is meant to offer service learning, which is the foundation of the program.

“One of the truly rewarding experiences that this program offers is the intercultural and inter-professional experience,” Alexander said. “With the associate degree plan, nurses simply don’t get the community health and hands-on experience. This program opens up more options for them.”

Much like the new doctoral program in the School of Education, the new nursing program is designed for working students with families and lives outside of campus. The goal of the program is to attract students to come back to school and further their education.

“The only barrier to continuing their education is fear,” Alexander said. “You can’t finish until you get started; you have to step out on faith and start the process. Our goal is to convince them that it’s OK to come back to school.”

For more information on the nursing program, visit this link or email Karen Alexander at alexanderk@uhcl.edu. Further information can be found here.

For more information on the new doctoral program, contact the School of Education Office of Academic Advising, 281-283-3600, email education@uhcl.edu or visit the program’s home page.