Date:
3/5/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES – The Board of Regents for Eastern New Mexico University has approved a new Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree with a major in applied arts and sciences for the Portales campus. Eastern becomes the first New Mexico school to offer the degree, which becomes effective this fall.
The degree is designed for students who have an associate of applied science (AAS), associate of science (AS), or associate of arts (AA) degree (or equivalent) with a technical or vocational major earned at an institution accredited by a Council for Higher Education Accreditation-recognized organization. The purpose of the degree is to provide community college graduates with the opportunity to complete a course of study leading to a well-rounded education and a bachelor's degree.
Almost all students who have completed an associate degree (AA, AS or AA) will be able to earn a fully-accredited bachelor's degree at ENMU in four semesters of full-time enrollment. Generally, only 65 semester credit hours beyond the associate degree will be required.
"The degree will help those working in vocational fields advance their careers," said Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president. "For example, the bachelor's degree in applied science will allow someone working in aviation who has an associate's degree to advance into management."
According to Dr. K. Paul Jones, vice president for Academic Affairs, by making this degree available, Eastern recognizes the dramatic increase in importance the workplace attaches to academic training and the need to support this academic preparation with a broad-based advanced support curriculum.
The program requires completion of an accredited A.A.S., A.S., or A.A. degree with a technical or vocational major; completion of a 46-50 semester-hour general education core program (the number of hours will depend on the student's community college program); and completion of 128 total hours.
For more information, contact Dr. Thurman Elder, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, at 505-562-2421 (thurman.elder@enmu.edu).