A curriculum revamp at the Woods College of Advancing Studies is renewing a focus on online and non-traditional education. The Woods College will now offer master’s degrees in cybersecurity policy and governance, applied economics, and health care administration. Some of these courses are entirely online, while others include in-class aspects as well.
As a college designed to provide students with practical degrees that prepare them to practice specific skills, the Woods College has taken a good step in expanding its offerings and creating programs that maximize benefit. With a focus on non-traditional education, the College benefits from constantly evolving to meet the needs of the workforce interested in further education. The College appeals to professionals who have already begun working in a specific field, like law, and a renewed focus on online classes allows more time-constrained students to pursue these newly offered master’s degrees.
By evolving with the times and creating new ways for potential students to attend, the Woods College exemplifies the importance of expanding into online offerings and new fields, such as the cybersecurity degree. This degree has already generated interest from lawyers and other law professionals attempting to master new skills necessary for the future of law and technology services.
Another positive aspect of this revamp is the increased inclusion of Boston College undergraduates in Woods Courses. Full-time BC students are permitted to take one four-credit class per semester in Woods. It also offers an “accelerated master’s program” which accepts a maximum of two undergraduate courses that can be counted as part of a graduate degree. This allows students to earn a graduate degree in less time. The appeal of these offerings lies in the uniqueness of some Woods College classes, as well as the preparatory aspect for those students interested in a graduate education.
These efforts to include traditional BC undergraduates in the Woods College and to offer increased graduate class opportunities demonstrates a positive connection between schools in the University. With a considerable amount of students interested in broadening the scope of their classes and possibly gaining a head start on their graduate studies, these increased offerings present a good opportunity that students should consider taking advantage of during their time as undergraduates.
Featured Image by Julia Hopkins / Heights Editor
