Nku Announces New Graduate and Certificate Programs

Northern Kentucky University is announcing the addition of a new master degree program and several certificate programs, as well as significant changes to some of its long-standing master degrees.

“Higher education prepares our population to succeed in this changing world,” said Dr. Salina Shrofel, dean of NKU’s graduate programs and assistant provost for research. “The expanding global economy, the rapid growth of technology and our increasingly diverse culture demands that education be fluid and capable of adapting,” she said. “The faculty at NKU put a great deal of thought and careful planning into each program’s development.”

NKU will offer a Master of Arts in English and a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing beginning this fall. Directed by Dr. Roxanne Kent-Drury, these flexible programs will offer job preparation for professionals who write in business, non-profit, technical and scientific fields, as well as for language arts teachers in the region.

“This is a perfect degree for individuals who want to advance in their careers,” says NKU Literature and Language Chair Danny Miller. “Degrees in the disciplines help candidates get the job, but advancement is often tied to writing ability. Our program will contribute to the economic future of the region by helping teachers instill good writing skills in their students at all levels of education while also helping working professionals to enhance their individual skills once on the job.”

Dr. Kent-Drury, formerly a writing practitioner in the aerospace industry, adds that “the ability to write clearly and concisely has a huge impact on business efficiency. Both the MA in English and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing will be valuable to anyone who needs highly developed critical thinking skills in their jobs.” The program also plans to create an outreach center for writing that will offer consulting services to businesses, non-profits and the community at large.

The NKU College of Arts and Sciences has realigned its Master of Public Administration program, adding three areas of concentration. Joining the existing concentration on Nonprofit Management will be concentrations on Homeland Security and Metropolitan Government. Both a master’s degree and certificates will be available for each of these concentrations. “We are the only school in our area to offer Homeland Security and Nonprofit Management,” stated MPA director Dr. Shamima Ahmed.

In addition to changes in the public administration field, the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is also undergoing changes. In the fall, the name of the program will change to the Master of Arts in Integrative Studies.

“This name change is a better reflection of the course content,” said program director Dr. Debra Meyers. “Individuals in our program receive a diverse interdisciplinary education that is useful in a variety of career paths. The program really ‘integrates’ all the best that NKU has to offer.” A certificate in civic engagement will also be launched in the fall. The courses are designed to be of value to religious and nonprofit leaders.

Joining the list of new programs are new online degrees and courses. “Hectic schedules are a challenge to area teachers more than ever,” observed Dr. Paul Wirtz, director of many of the programs available through the College of Education and Human Services. “This year we added an online Master of Science in Instructional Leadership in Education to the online Master of Arts in Education degree. Those in the educational arena can receive the quality courses they need in a much more convenient fashion.”

In addition to the new programs, NKU is working to expand and grow its System Security certificates program. “This is a particularly vital area of study, and NKU is one of just a few schools in the United States to offer courses and certificates in data and system security.”

“I am delighted with the direction NKU’s graduate programs are taking,” said Dr. Shrofel. “We are responsive to the economic needs of the region and to the goals of the students.”