The Indiana University Board of Trustees approved two new degrees during its June meeting that will prepare graduates for in-demand jobs.
IU Northwest will offer a new online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in collaboration with IUPUI, IU Kokomo, IU South Bend and IU Southeast (where the degree has also been offered on campus). Courses for the collaborative online program will be asynchronous, making the degree more attainable for nontraditional students who have other responsibilities or may not live near an IU campus.
The new degree helps address several employment and educational challenges outlined in the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s 2020 strategic plan, which highlights the need for well-rounded workers who have technical expertise, in addition to being creative thinkers with strong problem-solving skills.
Students in the online program will complete 16 credits of mathematics/statistics, 40 credits of a ComputerScience Core, 6 credits of electives, and 8 to 10 credits of science lab and lectures.
Trustees also approved a new Master of Science in Education in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, which will prepare students to enter the IU School of Education’s Ph.D. program on qualitative and quantitative research methods.
The degree will require 31 to 34 credit hours in qualitative or quantitative research methods and includes both in-person and online classes. Students who complete the program will be equipped for industry, government or nonprofit jobs that involve conducting research and analyzing the results — many of which are high-paying positions.
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education must give the degrees final approval.
