Georgia Southern University Approved to Offer Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Degrees

Georgia Southern University has received approval by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents to offer baccalaureate degrees in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering with classes set to begin in Fall 2011.

“There are defining in moments in the life of every major university.  The approval to offer engineering degrees at Georgia Southern is definitely one of the most notable in our institution’s more than 100-year history,” said Brooks Keel, Ph.D., president of Georgia Southern University.  “An adequate supply of engineers is critical not only to the goal of fostering a statewide environment that nurtures high-tech industry, but to the future prosperity of Georgia.”

Prior to the November 9 approval, the state of Georgia had a limited number of options for engineering education and many in-state students were forced to explore out-of-state alternatives.

“We are very grateful for the support that we have received from the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents, the Chancellor and his staff during this entire process,” said Keel.

Building on a Tradition of Engineering Education

Georgia Southern University has been offering nationally accredited baccalaureate degrees in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering technology for more than 30 years.  In addition, Georgia Southern has offered the Regents Engineering Transfer Program (RETP) and Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program (GTREP) for nearly 20 years.  The unique programs have offered students who successfully completed freshman and sophomore level university core and engineering science courses the opportunity to transfer to Georgia Tech to complete their engineering studies.

Georgia Southern’s existing engineering technology programs have seen a steady increase in enrollment in stark contrast to national trends.  In addition, the in-state work retention percentage (or the number of graduates that begin their professional careers in-state following graduation) at Georgia Southern University is estimated at 78.9 percent, far above other competing institutions.

“Georgia Southern’s new engineering degrees will retain the applied nature of their engineering technology roots, but will allow the University to fulfill its evolving mission of teaching and research,” said Bret Danilowicz, Ph.D., dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology (COST).  “These new programs will enable Georgia Southern to not only train engineering graduates that will be in high-demand by employers, but it will also allow us to significantly increase our ability to promote and develop the economy of Georgia.”

The new degree programs will initially be housed within COST, but it is envisioned that Georgia Southern University will create a new College of Engineering to accommodate expected increases in student interest.

Georgia Southern’s existing engineering technology programs will be phased out as the three new engineering programs become established, allowing students currently enrolled in these degree programs to complete their program of studies.

Supply vs. Demand

During the past 20 years, the U.S. has not produced enough engineering graduates to meet employment demands. The Engineering Workforce Commission found a 19.8 percent decrease in the number of engineering degrees awarded between 1986 and 1998.  During the same period, the total number of college degrees awarded in the U.S. increased by 20 percent.

Similarly, the historic shortfall of engineers within the state of Georgia is projected to continue, as the overall number of engineering graduates has decreased, and the aging engineering workforce continues to retire at a faster rate than can be replaced.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, during the 2008-18 decade, overall engineering employment is expected to grow by 11 percent.

“There is definitely a demand for well-trained engineers with hands-on experience and Georgia Southern University is the perfect place to offer engineering programs,” said Georgia State Senator Jack Hill. “Georgia companies and those considering Georgia for their manufacturing operations or high-tech businesses continue to need well-trained engineers and supply continues to be an issue.  Georgia Southern now joins a select few universities to offer engineering in the state and will help support not only one of the fastest growing areas in Georgia, but in the country.”

Supporting Economic Development in Georgia

The addition of engineering programs at Georgia Southern will make an immediate impact on economic development activities in the state of Georgia. By creating an increased supply of qualified engineering graduates, Georgia companies will have the opportunity to attract, hire and retain entry-level engineers that meet their requirements without having to recruit out-of-state. 

Additionally, a review of U.S. Census records reveals that the more engineers working in a state, the wealthier the state.  Prior to today’s approval, Georgia had less than a third of the number of public engineering schools found in a typical state, and fewer than half the number of public engineering schools found in even the nation's poorest states.

Today, a number of Georgia Southern’s students come from coastal and rural areas of Georgia and will return to those areas as engineers, supporting the economic development of these fast-growing regions. The Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development at Georgia Southern University recently performed an Economic Impact Analysis (EIA) of the benefits of transitioning the University’s existing engineering technology programs to engineering programs. In just a five-year span of time, the additional regional economic output to the counties surrounding Georgia Southern University would experience more than a $7 million increase.


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Atlanta Christian to Offer Major in Biology

Beginning this fall, Atlanta Christian College will offer a major in biology – the first natural science major at ACC. The College announced today that it had received approval from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to offer a biology program.

“The biology degree will serve as a launching pad for additional science degrees in the future,” said Dr. Kim Macenczak, vice president for academic affairs. Courses within the biology program encourage students to reflect on the relationship between the life sciences and the Christian faith, while honing skills in critical observation, analysis and precision.

“Plans are underway for study abroad programs for biology majors, as well as the use of venues in metro Atlanta for detailed study of the natural sciences,” Macenczak added.

Atlanta Christian’s new Department of Math and Science is chaired by Emory University graduate Dr. Dedra Woolfolk.

Atlanta Christian College’s mission is to educate students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world. Founded in 1937, the College enrolls more than 900 students. The College’s board of trustees is currently in the process of selecting a new location for the main campus in order to accommodate further growth. Atlanta Christian College is affiliated with the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.

New Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology Links Winship With Graduate School

A new interdisciplinary doctoral program in cancer biology will allow students with a primary interest in cancer research to train with faculty associated with Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center — the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Emory University’s Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (GDBBS), a division of the Laney Graduate School, in partnership with Winship, is creating a new doctoral program in Cancer Biology and will begin accepting students in the spring of 2011 for fall enrollment.

The Cancer Biology graduate program will provide students with the ability to focus their course work and training specifically in all domains of cancer research. Although graduate students have been able to work in laboratories at Emory specializing in cancer, organizers expect the new program to expand training and research opportunities.

“There has been considerable interest in cancer among applicants to the GDBBS, yet no single program existed to capture students who have a primary interest in cancer research. Our goal is to recruit the brightest young scientists interested in cancer,” says Erwin Van Meir, PhD, professor of neurosurgery and hematology and medical oncology, and the program’s founding director.

Students will be able to tailor their training, addressing areas such as the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive cancer initiation and progression, or the more clinical and translational aspects of cancer therapeutics and drug discovery.

“The creation of a graduate program in cancer biology aligns with Winship’s strategic vision, which includes education of the next generation of cancer scientists,” says Walter Curran, MD, executive director of Winship. “This is an important program that will influence the field of cancer research in the years to come.”

Like other PhD training programs in the GDBBS, the Cancer Biology program stands outside a single departmental base. As such it will draw from a diverse base of Emory faculty with active research labs representing several departments within the School of Medicine, the School of Public Health, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory College departments including Chemistry, Biology and Physics, and the nearby Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“It’s important to recognize that the Cancer Biology program will enhance and complement the other graduate programs within the GDBBS,” says Keith Wilkinson, professor of biochemistry and director of the GDBBS. “Because of its interdisciplinary approach and large number of training opportunities, the Cancer Biology program will fit well within the GDBBS.”

Lisa Tedesco, PhD, Laney Graduate School Dean, is enthusiastic about the new program. “The Cancer Biology program promises to be an outstanding area for doctoral student preparation, in its contributions to new science and new cures, with high impact in basic, translational and clinical research.”

The new program will initially accept six new students per year with matriculation starting in Fall 2011 and applications opening this month. The Cancer Biology program will represent the ninth PhD program within GDBBS, and the first new program in over a decade.

Paula Vertino, PhD, Emory professor of radiation oncology, will serve as director of graduate studies. Lawrence Boise, PhD, professor of hematology and medical oncology, will serve as director of recruitment.



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Waycross College and the University of Georgia form partnership

Waycross College students who wish to one day attend the University of Georgia now have a clear academic path to follow. The institutions recently signed two agreements that will ease the transfer of WC students into the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Agriscience and environmental systems degrees

The agreements establish formal options for students who earn an Associate of Science degree from WC to transfer directly into the UGA CAES Agricultural Education or Agriscience and Environmental Systems majors. Both majors are offered on the UGA campus in Tifton, Ga., just 70 miles west of Waycross. A student must complete the associate degree with a grade point average of 2.8 or higher.
Mark Van Den Hende, WC vice president for academic affairs, sees the new transfer agreements as another way for WC to fulfill its mission.

“Partnerships with other University System of Georgia institutions, like the University of Georgia, make attending Waycross College extraordinary,” he said. “Since our goal is to get students ready to transfer to a four-year college, partnerships streamline the process and guarantee that it fulfills our student-centered mission.”

Waycross graduates can stay in south Georgia for UGA degree

WC President David Palmer is pleased that WC graduates now have the opportunity to earn a UGA degree while staying close to home.

“Everyone agrees that the University of Georgia is one of our national flagship academic universities,” Palmer said. “While many of our graduates over the past 34 years have gone on from Waycross College to their junior and senior years in Athens, now we are directly linked to UGA. Students can earn a UGA four-year degree with only two years in Waycross and two years in Tifton – barely 75 miles from home. What an opportunity!”

UGA administrators are equally excited about the new venture.

“This agreement gives students as well as advisors a roadmap to follow,” said Joe West, assistant dean on the UGA Tifton campus. “If they follow that roadmap, take the proper courses and maintain standards, they will find a smooth transition to the University of Georgia Tifton campus. We are excited about this partnership with Waycross College as we reach out to our sister institutions in south Georgia by providing access to the University of Georgia.”

"We wanted to work with local community colleges to create a pathway from their program to ours,” said Joe Broder, CAES associate dean for academic affairs. “We want students to finish their Waycross degree, then come to Tifton. This way they're ready to be successful at UGA, and it’s a win-win for Waycross and UGA.”

Article by Jessica Green of the University of Georgia and Taylor Hereford of Waycross College.

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Georgia Tech and Kaist Partner to Offer Dual Degrees

The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have announced dual degree programs in electrical and computer engineering (ECE). The new programs will be offered at two campus locations: Georgia Tech’s main campus in Atlanta and at KAIST in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

All lectures at KAIST will be presented in English to better serve a growing number of students from overseas. Undergraduate students may earn either a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering from Georgia Tech in tandem with the bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from KAIST. While in the dual undergraduate degree program, students spend two years each at both Georgia Tech and KAIST. For the master’s dual degree program in ECE, students spend two semesters each at both institutions. Participating students must satisfy the graduation requirements established by both universities in order to earn degrees from both institutions.

“One of the goals in our strategic plan is to support Georgia Tech’s objective to become a global university,” said Gary S. May, professor and Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of Electrical and Computing Engineering.  “We feel that these dual degree programs will help prepare our students to become leaders who will contribute to cultural, political, educational, economic and high-tech concerns in their home countries. In addition, collaborations between the two institutes will create opportunities to educate students who possess the skills for excelling in a dynamic global environment.”

Georgia Tech students participating in the dual bachelor’s degree program will spend their first and fourth years in Atlanta and their second and third years at KAIST. KAIST students spend their first two years in Daejeon and the final two in Atlanta. For the dual master’s program, Georgia Tech students will complete their first year at Georgia Tech and second year at KAIST, while KAIST students will complete the first year at KAIST and second year at Georgia Tech.

“KAIST’s proximity to many governmental research facilities, funding agencies and headquarters of many high- tech companies provides a rich resource for student internships and faculty research collaboration opportunities.” said Sung Kyu Lim, ECE associate professor and KAIST dual degree program director. “In addition, KAIST is near the National Research Foundation of Korea, which is comparable to our National Science Foundation. This symbolizes the strategic importance of KAIST as the leading national research institute in Korea.”

Key areas of interest at KAIST and local industries are information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology. With approximately 8,000 students, KAIST is home to one of the top science and engineering programs in South Korea and Asia. 

The new programs, pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, are scheduled to start in Spring 2011 for the dual BS and Fall 2011 for the dual MS. In addition, since costs for the new degree programs will primarily be covered by tuition, they will be revenue neutral.

The application deadline for the inaugural class is October 1, 2010, for the dual BS and December 1, 2010, for the dual MS. For more information, you may e-mail the program director, Sung Kyu Lim, at limsk@ece.gatech.edu or call 404-894-0373.



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UGA receives $700,000 National Science Foundation grant to create new Professional Science Master’s program in biomanufacturing; first of its kind at UGA

The University of Georgia has been awarded federal stimulus funding to launch an innovative new program that will help meet the workforce needs of Georgia’s growing biotechnology industry.
The three-year, $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will create a new Professional Science Master’s program in biomanufacturing and bioprocessing that capitalizes on UGA’s academic strengths, facilities and industry ties. Only 21 of 210 universities were selected to receive the highly competitive award.

“The focus of a PSM is different from the traditional undergraduate, master’s or doctoral degree,” said Timothy Davies, co-director of the program at UGA and a research scientist in biochemistry and molecular biology.“It allows individuals to pursue advanced scientific training in a particular sector of industry while developing a strong foundation in business practices. It equips students with the skills that industry requires.”

“This new PSM program is an exciting first at UGA, providing a more direct connection between graduate training and workforce development, in an area of intense need in this country,” said David Lee, vice president for research. “This is a prime example of a new trend in workforce-directed academic/industrial/government partnerships.”

The degree program is awaiting final approval from the University Council Executive Committee and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. It will seek official recognition as a PSM program from the Council of Graduate Schools.

Approximately 200 PSM programs across the U.S. now respond to the national need for a stronger scientific workforce to enhance the nation’s competitiveness, said Davies.

The eight to 10 students in the new program will focus their studies in one of three areas of biomanufacturing—biofuel/biochemical, industrial/environmental or pharmaceutical—in either a large company or small firm setting.

Participating faculty represent UGA’s Terry College of Business, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Bioenergy Systems Research Initiative and Faculty of Engineering. The interdisciplinary nature of PSM faculty “demonstrates the central importance of biomanufacturing to all aspects of biotechnology,” said Davies.

The biomanufacturing training facilities at UGA are unique in the Southeast and state-of-the-art for industry, said Davies.

“Typically, the Bioexpression and Fermentation Facility and its equipment are available only to researchers and industry clients,” he said. “Students trained at UGA’s PSM program could potentially go straight to work at DuPont Danisco’s new biofuel facility in Tennessee or at a veterinary pharmaceutical company like Merial.”

The university’s strong industry links will enhance students’ experiences through seminars and guest lectures, lab-based case studies and internship opportunities. Committed industry partners include Merial; industrial enzyme producer Novozymes; biopharmaceutical firm Inhibitex, Inc.; and technology providers DCI-Biolaffite, Innovative Controls and Smartflow Technologies.

The GeorgiaDepartment of Economic Development’s Centers for Innovation and Georgia Bio, the state’s leading biotechnology trade organization, also have signed on to provide industry contacts and expertise. The Georgia BioBusiness Center, UGA’s own technology incubator, will foster links between students and regional start-up companies.

The NSF funds will be used to support recruitment and fellowships for students in the new master’s program. Additional support for the program is being provided by UGA’s Office of the Vice President for Research, Graduate School, department of biochemistry and molecular biology and Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, which will serve as the degree program’s administrative home.

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New Jobs Forecast Predicts Millions of Workers at Risk of Being Left Behind

/PRNewswire/ -- A new, highly detailed forecast shows that as the economy struggles to recover, and jobs slowly return, there will be a growing disconnect between the types of jobs employers need to fill and numbers of Americans who have the education and training to fill those jobs.

The report, Help Wanted: Projecting Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018, by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, forecasts that by 2018, 63 percent of all jobs will require at least some postsecondary education. Employers will need 22 million new workers with postsecondary degrees - and the report shows that we will fall short by three million workers without a dramatic change in course. This translates into a deficit of 300,000 college graduates every year between now and 2018.

"America needs more workers with college degrees, certificates and industry certifications," said Anthony P. Carnevale, the Center's director. "If we don't address this need now, millions of jobs could go offshore."

The Center's study is the first to help Americans connect the dots between employment opportunity and specific education and training choices. The report projects job creation and education requirements through most of the next decade, showing job growth by industry and occupation nationally, and with state-by-state forecasts.

Substantial gains in employment will not occur until 2011. It will take until 2015 for job creation to catch up to where it would have been before the massive recession losses. In 2018, America will need more college-educated workers than it will have.

-- Employers will need 22 million new workers with AA's, BA's or better -
and we will fall 3 million short.
-- In addition, employers will need 4.7 million workers with
postsecondary certificates.


The fastest growing six industries and five occupations will require the highest levels of education, with the exception of sales support and health care support. In 2018, 75-90 percent of jobs in the following industries: Information Services; Private Education Services; Government and Public Education Services; Financial Services; Professional and Business Services and Healthcare Services will require postsecondary education or training. These industries will provide 40 percent of all jobs in 2018. About 90 percent of the jobs in four of the five fastest growing occupational clusters require postsecondary education. They are Healthcare Professional and Technical Occupations, STEM Occupations, Community Services and Arts Occupations and Education Occupations.

Postsecondary education and training determine access to the middle class. Those with only a high school diploma or less are falling out of the middle class.

But what matters most is the occupation for which you prepare. That's why 27 percent of people with certificates and 31 percent of people with AA degrees earn more than the average BA.

The report also provides a state-by-state analysis on jobs and education requirements.

-- The District of Columbia, North Dakota, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and
Colorado will lead the nation in the share of total jobs requiring
postsecondary education.
-- Texas, California, Nevada, Mississippi, and Arizona will lead the
nation in the share of total jobs for high school dropouts.


"Instead of asking whether everyone needs to go to college, we should be asking if we can produce enough workers with high level degrees and credentials that meet the demands of the 21st century economy," said Jamie P. Merisotis, President and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education, which supported the research.

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, put it simply: "The bottom line is: we are under-investing in education. This report shows that the demand for well-educated Americans isn't being met by our current investments."

"We're sending more students to college than ever before, but only about half them will ever earn a degree," said Hilary Pennington, Director of Education, Postsecondary Success & Special Initiatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "This report shows why it is critical that we create the kinds of supports and incentives that help students earn the credentials that employers value."

Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018 is part of the Center's efforts to support such an alignment. One barrier to more effective education and career planning lies in the shortcomings of the official data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the primary source for projecting education and job requirements, but its estimates of postsecondary education demand between 1998 and 2008 fell short of the actual postsecondary education demand in 2008 by 47 percent. The Center's methodology tested accurately within 4 percent.

Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018 is available online at http://cew.georgetown.edu/, or hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Center at cewgeorgetown@georgetown.edu. There are three documents: an executive summary, a national report and a state-level analysis. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (cew.georgetown.edu) is an independent, nonprofit research and policy institute that studies the link between individual goals, education and training curricula and career pathways.

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Ashworth College Launches Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Ashworth College announced today the addition of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education to its roster of online degree programs. The new bachelor's curriculum is nationally accredited and designed to provide students with in-depth instruction in the principles and procedures of supervising and educating children from newborn to age eight.

With 64% of U.S. mothers with children between the ages of 1 and 6 years working outside the home, it's not surprising to see a renewed emphasis on kindergarten and first-grade readiness. As a result, employment in child care is expected to grow by 38% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

"For those interested in becoming a public or private elementary school teacher, a bachelor's degree is typically a prerequisite," stated Dr. Milton Miller, Vice President of Education at Ashworth College. "And with increased employment opportunities in non-traditional teaching roles, including pre-school, special education, after-school programs, tutoring services, youth recreation programs and camps, we believe the time is right to introduce this new bachelor's degree program."

The program will cater to undergraduate students with little or no previous college credits as well as those with an associate degree and planning to take their education and career to the next level. Ashworth also offers an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.

In addition to laying the foundation for a broad base of knowledge through general education courses, Ashworth's eight semester distance education program offers specialty courses such as child development, early childhood literacy, curriculum development, cultural diversity, and exceptional children. Each focuses on preparing students for careers in the field of early childhood education.

"With an Ashworth College Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education, students will graduate with skills that can be immediately applied in an early childhood environment," said Deepa Chadha, Degree Program Director at Ashworth. "Ashworth's instructors are experienced, working professionals who give our students the added benefit of practical, real-world knowledge."

Ashworth's Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education program is comprised of forty comprehensive courses which include learning objectives, lecture notes, review questions, multiple-choice exams and written assignments. Courses include:

Achieving Academic Excellence
Art & Creative Development
Child Development
Children's Literature
Creating Learning Environments
Creative Expression & Play
Cultural Diversity
Curriculum Development
Early Childhood Literacy
Early Childhood Math & Science
Exceptional Children
Guidance & Discipline
Health, Safety & Nutrition
Home, School & Community
Introduction to Early Childhood Education
Movement & Music


Because Ashworth is a distance education institution, students can start the program at any time, study at their own pace, and take exams online. The program is extremely conducive to the working professional's schedule.

"Like all of our degree programs, the Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education is self paced," commented Dr. Miller. "Many of our students work full-time jobs and have families. We want this to be as flexible as possible so that they can incorporate their studies into their work and family schedules. It helps that they can complete their online courses at home and not travel to a classroom."

About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in distance education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused online high school and career diploma programs; undergraduate and graduate online certificate programs; and online Associate degree, Bachelor's degree and Master's degree programs that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth High School is further accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information visit AshworthCollege.edu.

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GSU to offer transatlantic degrees in international economics and modern languages

Georgia State University and the University of Venice were recently awarded $1 million from the U.S. Department of Education and the European Union to offer a transatlantic dual degree program for undergraduates in international economics and modern languages.

The degree program will be administered by Georgia State's College of Arts and Sciences and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, as well as the University of Venice, Ca' Foscari. The two institutions plan to award dual degrees to program graduates.

Next fall, the first cohort of students will begin the dual degree program that aims to train economists who are "culturally and linguistically fluent," said Richard Keatley, GSU lecturer for modern and classical languages and program co-director.

"Transatlantic degree programs are the wave of the future," Keatley said. "Graduates will have a year of experience in their own field in the European Union. When they'll complete the program, students will have two diplomas, which will allow them to work in the two largest market places in the world."

Six Georgia State students and six students from the University of Venice, Ca' Foscari will be selected to participate each year, for a total of 24 students over the four year course of the grant. Each student will receive a $12,000 stipend to pay for their education and travel expenses.

Undergraduates will spend more than a year abroad learning language and cultural perspectives, including a semester in France at the Université de Versailles, a third, non-degree-granting institution.

Georgia State students interested in the International Economics and Modern Language transatlantic degree program would apply during their sophomore or junior year. Once accepted, students would need to satisfy graduation requirements of the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents and the Italian National Certifying Board, as well as pass language certification exams in Italian and French.

GSU's proposal for the joint degree program was one of 25 selected this year for funding by the federal ATLANTIS program. ATLANTIS is jointly administered by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education and the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture. It provides grants for up to four years to add a European-United States dimension to international curriculum development and related student exchange.

Georgia State began the offering the International Economics and Modern Languages (IEML) degree program in fall 2006. It was designed to provide students with the analytical tools to do economic research, consulting and policy analysis on global issues, along with the language skills needed to work with the United States' major trading partners.

To date, only three language options have been available to IEML majors: French, German, and Spanish. The ATLANTIS grant adds Italian to the existing program and makes it financially easier for students to add a study abroad component to their degree program, said Shelby Frost, GSU associate professor of economics and program co-director.

"In today's world, it is increasingly important for economists to have a worldwide perspective," Frost said. "Globalization is the new reality and people that understand the global economy stand a much greater chance of making better policy decisions to improve our world."

For more information, please visit http://aysps.gsu.edu/BA_IEML.html.

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Georgia Baptist College of Nursing to Introduce Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree in 2010

Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing will add a Doctor of Nursing Practice to its graduate degree offerings in 2010. The College, based on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, began offering a Ph.D. in Nursing Education this fall.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will support advanced practice nurses in the areas of informatics, organizational analysis, and practice-focused research. The DNP degree acknowledges the importance of clinical expertise at the doctoral level. Students will design clinical projects that improve both the delivery of patient care as well as patient outcomes.

The Georgia Baptist College of Nursing’s DNP program offers a post-master’s, five-semester, online course of study that includes 43 semester hours and over 500 clinical hours. The College utilizes both in-person and online learning techniques to effectively and dynamically transform the online classroom into a platform that reaches the highest possible level for learning.

“Graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program will be prepared to meet the changing demands of this nation's complex healthcare environment, which requires the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes,” said Dr. Linda A. Streit, interim dean of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing.

For more information on the DNP program, call (678) 547-6700 or visit www.mercer.edu/nursing.


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Georgia Tech Creates New Online Master’s Degree in Information Security

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The College of Computing today announced the creation of a new Master of Science in Information Security available online in a distance learning format, a flexible degree option for working information security professionals who want more than industry certification. Georgia Tech is the only university of its class certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education that offers the degree in an online format.

“Because of the growing sophistication of threats we face in cyber space, organizations that both build new security solutions and those that must utilize such solutions to protect their information technology assets will need qualified IS professionals with advanced knowledge of the field to address new security challenges,” said Mustaque Ahamad, Professor in the College of Computing’s School of Computer Science and Director of the Georgia Tech Information Security Center. “An organization’s reputation rests on its ability to safeguard its information and remain compliant with regulatory requirements. This requires a much broader, deeper understanding of the field than a certificate can supply.”

Georgia Tech is an established leader in the field of information security research and education, unique in its offering of a technical or policy specialization in the degree program. Close ties to the College of Management and the School of Public Policy in the College of Liberal Arts keep the policy track relevant while the technical portion of the degree is taught by faculty from a nationally ranked top ten computing program. Approximately 30 candidates per year are expected to be admitted to the distance program. Georgia Tech currently has over 25 faculty actively engaged in information security research.

“The rigor, breadth and depth of Georgia Tech’s MS in information security degree program comprehensively prepares students for the high level of accountability that information security leaders have in today’s environment”, said Christopher Rouland, CEO of Endgame and former CTO of IBM Internet Security Systems. Mr. Rouland, a recognized leader in the information security field, received the MS in information security degree from Georgia Tech in 2008.

The new online degree program offers the same course rigor and academic discipline that is found in the traditional on-campus curriculum. Each student is required to complete seven core courses and three additional courses in a self-selected technical or policy specialization. Core areas of study include Information Security, Applied Cryptography, Network Security, Secure Computer Systems, and Strategies and Policies. The technical specialization examines the dimensions of providing security for information processing systems, including secure operating systems and applications, network security, cryptography, and security protocols. The policy concentration focuses on the many non-technical possibilities of information processing and security, including domestic and international policy processes, organizational routines and innovation, risk perception, industry-government relations, and the constitutional framework for governmental actions. An applied research project must also be completed.

More information about the degree program can be found at http://www.cc.gatech.edu/infosec.

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Georgia State to offer master’s and doctorate degrees in neuroscience

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has granted approval to Georgia State University to offer Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in neuroscience.

“Through a rigorous academic curriculum and an emphasis on cutting-edge research, those graduating from Georgia State’s new Ph.D. program will add to the greater body of knowledge that will ultimately bring forth new treatments and interventions to neurological diseases and disorders that affect millions across the globe,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Risa Palm.

“Georgia State has long been a national and international center for neuroscience research,” said Dean Lauren Adamson of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The creation of a Ph.D. program in neuroscience will let us take a leading role in educating the next generation of researchers.”

The program begins during the fall semester of 2010. Applications will be accepted starting in mid-November, and the deadline for applications is Jan. 5, 2010.

“The program will help to increase Georgia State’s visibility nationally and internationally in a field that is very important to both biotechnology development in the state, as well as biomedical research,” said Walter Wilczynski, professor and director of the Neuroscience Institute.

The program will also allow Georgia State to build better neuroscience collaborations with other universities in the state, such as Emory University, the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and the Medical College of Georgia, Wilczynski said.

The program will be based in Georgia State’s Neuroscience Institute, an interdisciplinary unit within the College of Arts and Sciences, which includes faculty from biology, chemistry, psychology, physics and astronomy, computer science, mathematics and statistics, and philosophy. Additional faculty and students will be drawn to the institute from other areas such as computer information systems, and educational psychology and special education.

Officials are developing a curriculum of core courses to be added alongside GSU’s existing courses in fields such as biology and psychology. Students in the Ph.D. track will earn the M.S. degree as they complete the doctoral program. About 14 students per year are expected to graduate from the program.

Neuroscience graduate students at GSU can become active members of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, headquartered at Georgia State. The CBN is a multi-disciplinary community of neuroscientists across seven metro Atlanta colleges and universities, for broader educational training. As CBN members, graduate students participate in collaborative research and groups that take multi-disciplinary approaches to complex research questions.

The CBN also affords opportunities for graduate students to participate in neuroscience education efforts that range from elementary school through the graduate level.

This past spring, Georgia State partnered with Georgia Tech to establish the Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, which provides expert brain imaging facilities to support research in basic and clinical human neuroscience, including a research-dedicated functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

For more information about the Neuroscience Institute, visit http://neuroscience.gsu.edu.

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Emory Launches Graduate Program in Bioethics

Emory University is launching a new master of arts degree program in bioethics, which will provide advanced interdisciplinary study for professionals and students interested in the social and ethical challenges facing medicine and the life sciences.

“I am very pleased to be launching our master's program in bioethics," says Paul Root Wolpe, director of Emory's Center for Ethics, which is the academic home of the program.

"We have designed the program to give the students a thorough grounding in bioethics while providing hands-on experience in institutions like the Centers for Disease Control, NASA, the Health Care Ethics Consortium of Georgia, and Emory’s superb medical, nursing, public health, law, business and theology schools," says Wolpe. "The program is so innovative and exciting I wish I could take it myself.”

“We are excited to add a master’s degree in bioethics,” says Lisa A. Tedesco, vice provost and dean of Emory's James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies. “The program reflects our strong commitment to scholarship that engages difficult problems and contributes to the public good, and it resonates deeply with the expertise, experience and resources available at Emory. We are grateful to Kathy Kinlaw, associate director of the Center for Ethics, and her team for leading the creation of this new degree program, and to Paul Root Wolpe for the vision and leadership he has brought to the Center.”

“Graduates of Emory’s master's in bioethics program will be trained to help advance the national conversation on important issues influencing public policy, scholarship, practice and education in the field,” says Kinlaw, who also directs the Center’s program in health sciences and ethics.

Faculty of the Center for Ethics who are teaching in the program include scholars and practitioners in a variety of disciplines, such as medicine, nursing, public health, law, theology, business, the life sciences, philosophy, religion, sociology and psychology.

Courses in the new program began this fall with six students enrolled in the inaugural class. The program anticipates strong interdisciplinary interest as recruitment for fall 2010 begins.

For more information on Emory's new bioethics master's degree program, contact Kinlaw at 404-727-2201.


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Training Nursing Leaders at Georgia State

The Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing at Georgia State University received more than $800,000 in a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a new master’s degree concentration in Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Innovations. The three year grant provides funding for the development of the program, as well as for faculty and a staff administrator.

The nursing school has already initiated the new concentration, which features optional courses in nursing informatics and nursing leadership, and ten students have enrolled for fall 2009. Georgia State will become the only university in Atlanta to offer the nursing informatics curriculum and the second statewide.

By offering a degree concentration in nursing leadership and informatics, Georgia State is helping to fill a gap in the health care system. As health care strives to become more efficient, particularly through the use of technology, a need has arisen for nurses who understand both patient care and how technology can be used to improve care. With this increased use of technology, including the transition to personal health cards for all citizens by 2014, nurse informaticists who can translate technology into practice are in great demand.

“The need for a master’s degree concentration in nursing leadership and healthcare innovations is enormous. Nurse leaders are needed to implement innovative strategies for enhancing patient care outcomes and maximizing the use of technology in practice,” says Cece Grindel, associate director for graduate nursing.

The School of Nursing is working with Georgia State’s Institute of Health Administration to offer some of the coursework required in the new master’s program concentration. For more information on the degree program’s curriculum, visit http://chhs.gsu.edu/nursing/docs/HealthcareInnovationsCurr.pdf.

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Georgia Southern University to offer its first Ph.D. program

Georgia Southern University has received approval to offer its first ever Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, a Ph.D. in Logistics/Supply Chain Management. Classes are scheduled to begin in Fall 2010.

“The approval of Georgia Southern's first Ph.D. degree can be included among many firsts for the university, such as achieving university status and recognition as a Doctoral-Research institution by the Carnegie Foundation. All are major milestones along the road of our more than 100 years of history,” said Georgia Southern President Bruce Grube.

While the new program is the University’s first Ph.D. program, it is also one of only two degrees in the state of Georgia to focus on the fast-growing field of logistics and supply chain management. University System of Georgia institutions offer more than 180 doctoral programs, but Georgia Southern will be the only university to offer the Ph.D. in logistics/supply chain management through its College of Business Administration.

“This is a major accomplishment for Georgia Southern, particularly as we continue to grow not only in size, but in quality,” said Gary Means, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Southern. “The Ph.D. builds on Georgia Southern’s already nationally-recognized College of Business Administration’s undergraduate degree program in logistics.”

The new degree program will train students for both advanced practice and academic positions, providing a tactical solution to the need for Georgia residents trained in logistics and materials management.

“With the Port of Savannah emerging as one of the largest ports in the country and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport’s prominence in air cargo, Georgia is home to many major distribution centers and trucking terminals,” said Ron Shiffler, dean of the College of Business Administration at Georgia Southern University. “Logistics is a critical function in the business economy and is expected to add more than 500,000 jobs during the next decade.”

“Employment opportunities for graduates in this field are abundant and in high-demand. Nationally, only a limited number of universities offer such a degree. In fact, existing doctoral programs are unable to supply enough graduates to meet current demand not to mention future expected growth,” said Jerry Wilson, chair and professor of logistics and marketing. “This program will provide a pathway for today’s professionals to teach future logistics students. In addition, those entering industry will be prepared to act as consultants and analysts helping develop Georgia’s preparedness to enhance the logistics and transportation industry.”

The College of Business Administration, which will offer the new degree, is recognized as one of the Best 296 Business Schools by Princeton Review.

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Georgia Southern University Offers New Master of Healthcare Administration Degree

Georgia Southern University’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health will offer a new Master of Healthcare Administration degree beginning this fall.

The two-year, 45-credit-hour degree is designed to prepare professionals for some of the top jobs in healthcare administration, a growing field that is expected to have a large need for executives and managers in the coming years.

“A Master of Healthcare Administration degree will prepare professionals for middle and upper management positions in the healthcare industry,” said James Stephens, program director and former hospital/healthcare system chief executive officer. “Right now, healthcare accounts for 16 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and aging baby boomers are expected to place more demands on the healthcare system. There is high demand for well-trained and qualified healthcare professionals.”

Stephens says the Master of Healthcare Administration degree will prepare graduates for management and executive positions in hospitals, health systems, physician clinics, public health departments, government health agencies, health insurance companies, healthcare consulting firms, ambulatory centers and surgical centers.

“Professionals with undergraduate degrees in business, nursing, public health or those working in the healthcare industry now are ideal candidates for the Master of Healthcare Administration degree,” said Stephens.

Founded in 2004, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health was the first school of public health in the University System of Georgia. Today, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health is nationally recognized for its efforts to enhance health and eliminate health disparities of rural communities and underserved populations in Georgia and the southeastern region, the nation and the world.

For more information about the Master of Healthcare Administration degree, visit www.jphcoph.georgiasouthern.edu.

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Georgia Southern University’s Online Courses a Popular Option for Professionals Wanting to Advance Careers

Jamey Grover visited Georgia Southern numerous times while his son was a student at the University. Then, Grover decided to pursue his Masters in Education degree online.

“I’m 51 years old, work full-time and I’ve loved this program,” Grover said prior to receiving his degree last month. “My wife was teasing me after I took my last exam – I kept heading over to my computer and I felt a little lost without a class or a test to take.”

Grover was one of 72 graduates who received online degrees from the University during the spring commencement ceremony – a record number for Georgia Southern. The University offers online degrees in the fields of business, education, and healthcare. The online programs are especially popular with professionals juggling work and family.

“These online degree programs allow working adults and those who are outside of our campus area to complete their degrees. We offer flexibility and high-quality programs that meet the needs of adult learners wishing to further their careers,” said Gary Means, dean of continuing education and public services.

While Grover completed his online degree this spring, Debbie Bose is now starting on hers. As she works full-time in Macon, Bose is enrolled this summer in her first coursework toward a Master of Education with a major in Instructional Technology.

A 27-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, Bose said a master’s degree will benefit greatly in her current position as a training manager. Bose’s experience will come full-circle – after earning her online degree, she will be able to apply her knowledge toward creating curriculum and using technology to enhance online training for the Postal Service.

“I’m not interested in just theory. When I get this degree, I’ll know hands-on how to do what I want to do,” Bose said.

Not everyone may think of online programs as being “hands-on,” but Bose knows differently. “Some people think, when you do courses online, they will be easy, but anyone who goes through it knows that’s not the case. It’s very challenging,” she said. “It actually requires a greater degree of dedication because you have to get in and learn it yourself. You have to be disciplined.”

Bose said she researched online programs for about a year and chose Georgia Southern’s Instructional Technology program because of its credibility and affordability. She also praised the University’s customer service, saying that any question she had was answered promptly.

The application deadlines vary among the different programs, but students still have time to register for some fall semester online classes. For more information on the University’s online offerings, visit http://online.georgiasouthern.edu.

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U.S. Army Increases Medical and Dental School Benefits

/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army Medical Department announced today that it is increasing the stipend associated with its Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) to $1,992 per month, effective July 1, 2009. Through this economic downturn, many medical and dental students are faced with anxiety about taking out student loans to finance their education, especially knowing that the average medical school student loan debt is $150,000 after graduation(i).

The United States Army Medical Department (AMEDD) through its F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) helps students to finance their graduate medical, dental or veterinary degrees, as well as select nursing degrees or certain degrees within the Medical Service Corps by providing students with the full cost of tuition; school related fees and books; as well as a stipend of $1,992 per month throughout the school year. In addition, HPSP recipients in the Medical Corps and Dental Corps are eligible for a one-time $20,000 (less tax) sign-on bonus.

"The call to serve as a health care professional is vital to the health of our nation and our Army, but we continue to face shortages of qualified medical professionals in both the civilian and military world," said Colonel Rafael Montagno, commander U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Brigade. "Now more than ever, it's important that students know there is financial support available to help them achieve their dreams of a health care career."

For many students seeking a valuable career in health care, qualifying for loans and student loan debt is a serious issue preventing them from pursuing advanced degrees. According to a 2007 study by the American Association of Medical Colleges, physicians who are on a standard 10-year loan repayment plan would see half of their after-tax earnings go towards their loan payment.

Graduates of HPSP finish school debt-free and, as members of one of the largest health care organizations in the world, gain unparalleled practical experience beyond what is available to their civilian counterparts.

The scholarship is available in 1, 2, 3 and 4-year increments and provides benefits during school and after graduation for those who are currently enrolled in a graduate medical, dental or veterinary program, or those pursuing psychiatric nurse practitioner degrees or other medical service degrees such as optometry or clinical/counseling psychology. Upon graduation and entry into active duty, AMEDD Officers receive increases in salary and new opportunities for a broad range of residencies, fellowships and special pay incentives. Acceptance of the Critical Skills Accessions Bonus includes a four-year active duty and four-year Reserve service obligation, which can be fulfilled concurrent with service obligations related to HPSP upon completion of residency programs and becoming licensed to practice.

For 10-and-a-half months of each school year, a monthly stipend of $1,992 will be paid to each scholarship recipient. This amount is adjusted each year to allow for cost of living increases, but amounts to more than $20,000 annually in addition to the cost of tuition and other school related fees. The remaining six weeks of the year are dedicated to hands-on training during which HPSP participants receive Officer's pay as a second lieutenant.

Graduates of the HPSP program receive all the benefits of active duty Officers including:

-- Paid continuing education courses, seminars and conferences
-- No-cost or low-cost medical and dental care for you and your family
-- A comfortable home on-post or a generous housing allowance if you live
off-post
-- Opportunities to travel throughout the world
-- Attractive retirement benefits with 20 years of qualifying service
-- A flexible, portable retirement savings and investment plan similar to
a 401k
-- 30 days of vacation earned each year
-- Rank and privileges of an Army Officer
-- Low-cost life insurance

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New Engineering Master’s Degrees Aimed at Emerging Environmental Challenges

Mercer University’s School of Engineering is launching two new degree programs this fall to help meet the nation’s mounting environmental challenges. In August, the School will welcome its first classes for the Master of Science in Engineering in environmental engineering – for students with engineering degrees – and the Master of Science in environmental systems – aimed at practicing professionals with degrees in other science disciplines.

The degrees are timely, according to their designers, because the curricula not only provide training in sustainability, green engineering and ecology, but also address the nation’s most pressing environmental challenges: emerging contaminants and aging environmental infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers, in its most recent report card, gave an overall grade of D for the infrastructure in the United States, and the country’s drinking water, wastewater, energy and hazardous waste systems all received either a D or D minus.

“These new environmental graduate programs will train environmental engineers and scientists to replace the aging infrastructure with sustainable designs and develop innovative approaches to treat emerging contaminants associated with personal care products, endocrine-disrupting compounds and pharmaceutical drugs, as well as conventional pollutants,” said Dr. Richard O. Mines, professor of environmental engineering and director of the School of Engineering’s graduate programs.

Both programs are designed for working professionals, with most courses offered once a week in the evenings. The programs have four major areas of study, where students will study the most advanced techniques and models in biotechnology and remediation, water quality, solid and hazardous waste and air quality issues. A number of the courses include an emphasis on green engineering and sustainable design. The programs also emphasize management, adding skills in leadership and project management while also upgrading each student’s scientific and engineering skills.

The Master of Science in Engineering in environmental engineering is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in any area of engineering. Earning an environmental engineering degree will allow the graduate to be eligible for registration as a professional engineer after passing the fundamentals of engineering examination. In addition, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying has approved new rules that will eventually require applicants for the professional engineer certification to obtain a master’s degree or equivalent to be eligible for the exam

The Master of Science in environmental systems offers practicing professionals with backgrounds in biology, chemistry and environmental science the opportunity to take advanced courses related to environmental engineering and science, which will extend their knowledge and enable them to effectively work on multidisciplinary teams to solve challenging environmental problems. The degree is available to students with an undergraduate degree in any area of science. Earning the Master of Science in environmental systems also makes the graduate eligible for registration on the National Registry of Environmental Professionals.

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More students earning online degrees from Georgia Southern University

When Alex Giles receives his degree from Georgia Southern University on May 9, he won’t be the typical graduate.

Giles is already well-established in his career field. He is 46 years old. And he took Georgia Southern classes while living and working about 300 miles from the campus.

Giles is one of 72 online graduates who will receive their degrees Saturday, the most ever for the University. Georgia Southern offers nine graduate programs, two undergraduate programs and three “blended” programs online.

“These online degree programs allow working adults and those who are outside of our campus area to complete their degrees. We offer flexibility and high-quality programs that meet the needs of adult learners wishing to further their careers,” said Gary Means, dean of continuing education and public services.

“I never felt like I was far away, even from 300 miles away,” Giles said.

When he decided four years ago to become a nursing instructor, Giles already had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and an associate degree in nursing, and had worked for several years in the medical field. However, he knew he needed even more education and training.

“Everyone knows about the nursing shortage, but an even bigger need is nursing faculty,” said Giles, who teaches at a technical college in Acworth, Ga. “I knew I had to get my BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) if I was going to go further in the teaching field.”

Giles enrolled in the Georgia Southern School of Nursing’s RN-to-BSN Program, which is offered completely online. He is one of 13 RN-BSN graduates this spring, from 12 different counties and 13 cities in Georgia.

“The RN-BSN Program at Georgia Southern provides an opportunity for registered nurses to earn a BSN degree from a Carnegie Doctoral-Research university without having to travel long distances, in many cases, to class. Registered nurses often consider online education their only or best choice for earning a BSN degree,” said June Alberto, nursing professor and RN-BSN program director.

“I looked at a lot of online programs, and I wanted a traditional academic program,” Giles said. “I never expected an online program to be structured so well and supported so well as Georgia Southern’s.”

While working full-time in Acworth, Giles took five online classes per semester to earn his BSN degree in one year. At the end of each semester, he would come to the Georgia Southern campus to present a project or assignment and to interact with instructors and other classmates. Giles described earning his online degree as “a challenge, but it was worth it.”

Although Giles has earned his Georgia Southern degree completely online, he never had any doubt that he would attend Commencement at Paulson Stadium.

“I wouldn’t miss it. That’s my school,” said Giles, who now plans to pursue his master’s degree in nursing.

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