Offering business degrees for adults
By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Business name: Nichols College Graduate & Professional Studies
Address: 124 Center Rd., Dudley, MA
Executive Director: Kerry Calnan
Contact Information: 800-243-3844
What is Nichols’ Graduate and Professional Studies division?
“This program covers any part-time undergraduate or graduate student,” said Kerry Calnan, executive director. “Generally, GPS students are 25 to 45 or 55, folks coming back to school or who did not go to college right after high school, or students getting a graduate degree.
“We offer an undergraduate business degree which is customizable, for instance, students could take more finance or more human resources courses or design their own program. Then we have a master of business administration (MBA) and a master of science in organizational leadership (MSOL).”
“Our programs are career-focused, with real world curriculum developing skills that are directly applicable in the workplace. We also provide student success coaches to help our evening students meet their personal goals.”
And you specialize in a very flexible program?
“Yes, because our adult learners have busy schedules. We offer six starting times throughout the calendar year. Classes are seven weeks long for 90 minutes every week, and students usually take two every 15 weeks.
“Students can decide whether they come to a campus, in Dudley or Worcester, or attend remotely online. They decide on a week-to-week basis; they do not have to sign up for an online class only or a traditional class only. It’s our ‘HyFlex’ option, and we’re the only ones around doing this type of program,” Calnan said.
“Students who flex into the class remotely participate just as though they are in the classroom. We use web conferencing software, so students participate via voice and webcams.”
Describe the two graduate degrees.
“An MBA is almost a starting point these days for management or an executive role. Nichols is known for the leadership component in its MBA curriculum. The MSOL is our most versatile degree. We focus on communication, leadership, negotiation and conflict resolution?skills used in all jobs and all companies.
“We are also known for our focus on career advancement and career goals, so students have to tell us why they are here, what are their goals and timeline. Assigned coaches help students continue to evaluate what they are doing so they can meet those goals.”
What is the financial and time commitment?
“The graduate degrees take 18 to 24 months. Our MBA is 12 courses and the MSOL 10 courses. Students can get both graduate degrees by taking 16 courses, about two and a half years.
“The undergraduate program is 41 courses, and we will accept transfer credit for all but 10 of those courses. Adults getting an undergraduate degree have often started and stopped in the past, and have collected courses from various colleges. We’ll evaluate those courses and take up to 31 if they meet the criteria for our degree.
“Undergraduate courses are $900 a class, graduate classes are $1,800. It’s a great value, and employers will often offer some reimbursement. We don’t have any traditional textbooks, so students don’t have to spend another $300 for a book. We use open resources instead of textbooks.
“We do not require standardized tests, neither a GMAT for the graduate degrees or SATs for the undergraduate. When people are thinking of coming back to school, they worry about that,” Calnan said.