The following proposal and its associated policy exceptions is submitted for consideration and approval by the Graduate Council and administration of Missouri Western State University Submitted by: Dr. Michael Ducey, Chairperson Department of Chemistry Accelerated Program: B.S. Chemistry/ Natural Science/ Chemical Business to MAS Chemistry Description: Each academic year exceptional undergraduate students will be selected for early acceptance into the MWSU Master of Applied Science Chemistry accelerated program. This selection will be competitive in nature and will be decided by a committee of faculty from the department of Chemistry. Ideally, students selected for early acceptance will participate in a chemistry related internship or serve as a Graduate Assistant during their summer prior to their undergraduate senior year or first year in the MAS program. Such internships may be local, regional or national in scope and location. Purposes: 1. Encourage a larger percentage of B.S. Chemistry/ Natural Science/ Chemical Business students to pursue graduate training in their field. 2. Recruit and retain high ability students to the B.S. Chemistry/ Natural Science/ Chemical Business program. 3. Recruit and retain high ability students to the MAS Chemistry program. Early Acceptance Criteria: - Students who have completed at least 45 but not more than 89 credit hours may apply. - Applicants must have completed CHE 310/311 Organic I with lab, MAT 167, and a course from the Chemical Business Concentration portion of the core. - Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. - Submit a written statement describing career goals. - Two letters of reference. At least one letter must be from a faculty member. - Apply for graduate admission (entry fee paid by Chemistry Department for students accepted into the program) following completion of 90 credit hours. Benefits to the Departments and the Institution: - Addresses Performance Funding areas o Increase Student Persistence to Graduation o Develop processes that will enhance student career information and access to graduate study, employment, and life opportunities. - Recruiting tool for undergraduate students (especially those with high academic ability) into the B.S. Natural Science/ Chemistry: Chemical Business option. - Recruiting tool for graduate students into the MAS Chemistry program. - Improve retention and degree completion rates, especially at the undergraduate level.
Benefits to Students: - Early admission/ guaranteed seat - Internship or graduate assistant opportunities - Accelerated graduation from MAS program as students will begin taking MAS coursework during their senior year. Students will be allowed to count 12 hours toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. The following Exceptions to Policy are Requested: Undergraduate Level: Currently, no policy exists within the bachelor s degree completion requirements that would require exceptions or changes to policy. The proposed program does not change any requirements for the obtaining the baccalaureate degree within the general studies nor major requirements. All courses taken at the 500 level or above are counted within the elective hours of the baccalaureate program. Graduate Level: The following exceptions will be required: 1. Current policy allows undergraduate students to take no more than 6 credit hours of graduate coursework at 500 level and only during their senior year. The following exception will be required: Students accepted to the BS Natural Science/Chemistry/Chemical Business to MAS Chemistry accelerated program may enroll in up to 12 hours of graduate coursework during their senior year at either the 500 OR 600 level. 2. Current policy states that a course taken for undergraduate graduation credit will NOT be allowed to count as graduate credit. The following exception will be required: Students accepted to the BS Natural Science/Chemistry/Chemical Business to MAS Chemistry accelerated program may count up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework, taken while there are undergraduates, toward both their undergraduate AND graduate degree requirements.
Notes and Issues: - The application of hours toward the completion of both undergraduate and graduate degrees is common at many institutions including Missouri State University, Washington University, Stony Brook University, and the University of Arizona. In all cases, this option is only available to top students who have been awarded admission to the accelerated degree program. - Regional Institutions with accelerated graduate programs include the following: (the most common programs are nursing, BS-MD, and BS-JD) o Missouri State University (includes chemistry). The chemistry program includes 2-4 students per year. o Washington University (St. Louis) o University of St. Mary (Leavenworth) o UMKC o KU o MU o SEMO o Washburn University - The tuition rate students pay for their graduate courses will be at the graduate rate. This is in accordance with current University practice. - In general, undergraduate financial aid resources are NOT applied to graduate courses/ coursework. As a consequence students will be notified as part of their program application that they may be responsible for up to 12 hours of graduate tuition prior completing their undergraduate degree requirements. - There is a tuition loss for each of these students that equates to 12 hours of undergraduate credit. This is equates to approximately $2712/student admitted to the program. That noted, the program is intended to recruit NEW students to MWSU and persist them through to their MAS degree. Each of these students will bring $10,707 in graduate tuition revenue to MWSU. This translates to a net tuition revenue gain of $7995 relative to losing the student to a graduate program at another institution. - Additionally, should the accelerated program attract a student who would not have enrolled at MWSU but for the accelerated degree, a combined gain of approximately $38,855 would be realized. Attachments: 1. Sample Accelerated Graduation Plan including an example of double counted hours. 2. Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree student application and Course Designation Form
Sample Accelerated Graduation Plan for B.S. Natural Science/Chemistry/ Chemical Business to MAS Chemistry 12 Hours Double Counted Fall Even CHE 111 General Chemistry I 5 MAT 167 Calculus I 5 ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric 3 XXX XXX General Studies cat 3 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 16 Spring Odd CHE 120 General Chemistry II 5 BIO 106 Principals of Cell Biology 4 ENG 108 College Writing and Research 3 COM 104 Oral Communications 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 15 Fall Odd CHE 310 Organic Chemistry I 3 CHE 311 Organic Chemistry I Lab 2 CHE 321 Quantitative Analysis 4 PHY 110 College Physics I 4 ACC 201 Intro to Financial Accounting 4 Total Semester Credit Hours 17 Spring Even CHE 312 Organic Chemistry II 3 CHE 370 Biochemistry 4 PHY 111 College Physics II 4 ACC 202 Intro to Managerial Accounting 3 XXX XXX General Studies Cat 4 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 17
Fall Even MKT 301 Principles of Marketing 3 ECO 260 Principles of Microeconomics 3 MGT 350 Organizational Behavior 3 GBA 211 Business Law 3 XXX XXX General Studies Cat 4 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 15 Spring Odd CHE 340 Physical Chemistry for the Bio Sciences 4 CHE 380 Environmental Chemistry & Chem Mgmt 3 ECO 261 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 GBA 220 Business Communication 3 XXX XXX General Studies 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 16 Summer 2015: External Internship Fall Odd CHE 495 Chemistry Seminar 2 CHE 490 Chemistry Research 1 GBA 210 Business Statistics 3 PED 1XX Lifetime Sport 1 CHE 640 Industrial Scale-up and Production 3 MGT 503 Organizational Theory 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 13 Spring Even (UG Degree Awarded) CHE 326 Instrumental Analysis 4 CHE 470 Biochemistry II 3 PED 101 Health and Wellness 3 CHE 520 Laboratory Safety and Management 3 ENG 540 Writing for Management and Supervision 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 16 Courses in red are counted toward both undergraduate and graduate degree completion.
Summer Even CHE 680 Intellectual Property in Scientific Setting 2 Total Semester Credit Hours 2 Fall Even CHE 530 Principles of Quality Assurance 3 MAT 609 Technical Analysis for Decision Making 3 ECO 607 Managerial Economics 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 9 Spring Odd CHE 650 Analytical Method Development & Validation 3 MAS 695 Managerial Economics 3 MKT 605 Marketing Strategy 3 Total Semester Credit Hours 9 Summer Odd (Graduate Degree Awarded) CHE 610 Applied Chromatography 1 CHE 611 Applied Spectroscopy 1 CHE 613 Drug Discovery 1 Total Semester Credit Hours 3
Missouri Western State University Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Application and Course Designation Contract This form is used to notify the Graduate School that the Department supports a student s participation in the BS Chemical Business to MAS Chemistry accelerated program. Students must also submit a formal application for admission to the Graduate School, and be admitted to the designated program, prior to receipt of this form. All course information must be completed in full. Student Name: Last First Middle Email G# Address City State Zip Current Undergraduate Program Overall Hours Completed Anticipated Completion Date for Bachelor s Program: Term to Enroll in Graduate Level Courses Fall Spring Summer Year First Term of Enrollment as a Graduate Student Fall Spring Summer Year Please list the graduate courses that will be counted toward completion of both your undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Term Year Department Course # # of Credit Hours Course Title I understand that by participating in this program that any undergraduate financial aid that I receive may not be applied toward graduate courses, even when I am still in an undergraduate status, and that I may be financially responsible for paying for my graduate level coursework. Student Signature Required Signatures Graduate Program Director Date Undergraduate Department Chair Date Graduate Dean Date Return your completed form to: Department of Chemistry Missouri Western State University 4525 Downs Drive St. Joseph, MO 64507 Route to: Graduate Dean Registrar Financial Aid