Missourians invited to finish college with Mizzou's online degrees

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Missourians who started college but did not graduate are invited to "finish like a Tiger" by applying to one of the University of Missouri's online bachelor's degrees. Mizzou recently added two undergraduate degree completion options — a bachelor of educational studies and a bachelor of science in hospitality management. Other majors include general studies, health sciences, interdisciplinary studies, radiography, respiratory therapy and RN-BSN.

"By adding online bachelor's degree options, we are making Mizzou more accessible to Missourians who can't relocate to campus to finish their undergraduate education," said Jim Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies and interim vice provost for eLearning. "If you started school someplace else and would really like to have an MU degree on your résumé, this is your chance to finish like a Tiger."

Courses in the programs are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus. Faculty credentials was just one of the criteria cited in a recent U.S. News & World Report study that ranked MU's online bachelor's programs in the top 50 nationally.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in 2012 there were more than 900,000 Missourians who had started but never completed college.

"Our effort to increase the number of Missourians with bachelor's degrees is premised on 175 years of being the state's land-grant institution," Spain said. "Accessibility to education should not be a deterrent to those wanting to complete their degrees."

Those who dropped out of college with just a few hours, even many years ago, are encouraged to consider Mizzou. "Watching the post-traditional students move through our program while balancing full-time jobs and families is so rewarding," said Kristofer Hagglund, dean of the School of Health Professions, which offers three health sciences degrees online. "We are used to working with students who come back to school after long breaks; we understand their needs."

Many community college graduates already choose Mizzou to earn their four-year degrees at the Columbia, Mo., campus. This initiative invites those who don't want to relocate to earn bachelor's degree online. The efforts builds on the University's recent Internet connectivity agreement that gives Missouri community college alumni continued access to computer labs to complete Mizzou course work.

"MU provides excellent options for community college graduates to pursue their four-year degrees on campus and online," said Kim Houston, transfer admissions coordinator. "For those who are place-bound after earning their two-year degrees, the option to still be able to earn a bachelor's degree is helpful. There is so much potential for career growth and change with a Mizzou degree."

Those interested in transferring their previously earned credits to Mizzou should apply by early summer to start classes in August. Learn more at online.missouri.edu/finish.

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