Assumption College Announces Third Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Program

Worcester, MA— Assumption College has just announced a new opportunity for undergraduate students to continue their studies at the College in pursuit of a Master's Degree. Under this Fifth Year Option Program, undergraduate seniors may now seek early admission to the Master of Arts in Special Education program. Students must have either a Concentration in Elementary or Secondary Education, or a major in one of the academic subjects of the liberal arts and sciences appropriate to Massachusetts teacher licensure at the 5-12 level. This program would allow students to earn a post baccalaureate degree a year earlier which could save them money in tuition costs.

"If students successfully completed the program, they would be eligible for licensure in Massachusetts at the Elementary, Middle, or Secondary level and as a teacher of students with moderate disabilities," said Mary Kielbasa, interim dean of the College."It allows students to take courses in Special Education during their senior years, that fulfill the requirements for a Master’s Degree," said Dean Kielbasa.
Assumption College currently has two other accelerated programs in place; one in the Business Studies program, and the other in the Rehabilitation Counseling program.

The BA/MBA program was born out of a change in state requirements that calls for accounting majors to have 150 semester hours in college education to be eligible to take the Uniform CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Examination. Since undergraduates are required to have 120 hours, the BA/MBA program will enable the CPA candidate majors to begin their graduate work during their senior year, fulfill the additional 30 hours, and receive both a BA and MBA degree. According to Joseph Foley, chairperson of Business Studies and Associate Professor of Accounting, "Having this program allows our undergraduate students to stay in school to get the required hours needed to sit for the CPA exam. We are the only College in the area, from Amherst to Waltham, that offers this opportunity."

For those that are interested in a Rehabilitation Counseling program, the accelerated program "is a great opportunity for highly motivated students with a major in Social Rehabilitation to study the field in a more advanced manner," said David St. John, Interim director of the Institute of Social Rehabilitation. "This type of program prepares students for entry into the field and allows them to earn a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with only one year of post baccalaureate study instead of two.

According to Adrian Dumas, director of Graduate Enrollment Management and Services, "Having students who excel in their studies and achieve the degree of Master of Arts or Master of Business Administration in five years demonstrates the quality and strength of Assumption’s academic environment."