Graduate programs extend Messiah's mission
From her home in Texas, hundreds of miles from Grantham, Pennsylvania, Suzanne Dell MA ’16 completed a Master of Music in conducting in July. That degree came from Messiah College.
“Getting my master’s was always something I had wanted to do,” said Dell, a director of the Blue Raider Band for the L.D. Bell High School in Bedford, Texas. “I did not, however, want to leave my job or my home to pursue it as a full-time student. The mix of online and onsite instruction was perfect for my work and family situation.”
What makes a busy professional seek out a degree program so far from home? The convenience of an online program is certainly a draw, but many colleges and universities offer remote instruction in today’s plugged-in society. Why did Dell choose Messiah, specifically?
“We talk a great deal about knowledge, skill and character,” said Rob Pepper, dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “Society is looking for people with a strong knowledge base, with strong relevant skills and those of high character. These same threads that shape and mold the undergraduate experience are woven throughout our graduate program, as well.”
Extending the mission
Committed to stellar undergraduate academics for more than 100 years, Messiah launched its graduate programs seven years ago through a strategic effort. Supported by the Board of Trustees, the movement was championed by President Kim Phipps and Provost Randy Basinger while also fully vetted through the College’s strategic planning and budgeting process. Phipps said it was important for Messiah to expand its curricular offerings to include graduate programs for two key reasons.
“First, our region and the broader world need Messiah graduates in every profession and discipline at every level of leadership. Institutionally, we were ready to fulfill our mission in this new context,” said Phipps. “Second, the changing demographics of fewer high school graduates in the Mid-Atlantic compelled us to be innovative and pursue new student audiences.”
The tremendous growth of graduate programs has resulted in the formation of its own school—the School of Graduate Studies—that includes more than 600 students; multiple degrees, certificates and program options; the College’s first doctoral launch; and even a new facility.
“In creating the School of Graduate Studies,” said Pepper, “we adopted a centralized organization model that focuses on graduate programs while preserving the identity of the strong undergraduate programming.”
One component of that identity includes the new Winding Hill facility, a 32,000-square-foot space two miles from the main campus. It houses the allied health graduate programs: occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), counseling and the dietetic internship. The facility offers specialized classroom and lab space, an onsite cafe and many other amenities specifically relevant to graduate students and faculty in these programs.
With the exception of the OT and PT degrees, students conduct the bulk of their studies through Canvas, the College’s online learning management system. There are synchronous sessions—where the entire class logs on at the same time—and asynchronous, when students log on at their convenience individually.
“The way we conduct synchronous classes sessions is similar to Facetime or Skype and provides the opportunity for students and faculty to engage in real time, regardless of the distance,” said Pepper.
To meet the growing trends and needs in healthcare, students who already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing can choose from two graduate programs at Messiah: a Doctor of Nursing Practice: family nurse practitioner (post-BSN to DNP-FNP) or a Master of Science in Nursing: nurse educator (MSN).
“Nursing meets a lot of the things we want to do at Messiah College in terms of educating people in leadership, service and reconciliation,” said Louann Zinsmeister, director of both programs. “Our graduate programs take that to the next level.”
Nurse practitioners, part of a growing field, provide direct primary care to patients. The DNP, Messiah’s first doctorate-level program, requires four to six years of study. The first cohort of 19 students began classes in August.
“The curriculum is built for the future,” said Zinsmeister. “The nurse practitioner is fulfilling a need of our society. There are going to be more and more in the older age group who require some kind of primary care that isn’t necessarily done in a hospital.”
The MSN, on the other hand, is a two- to three-year program for those who want to become nurse educators, teaching future students to become competent nurses. Zinsmeister explained that the nurse educator workforce is retiring rapidly and new educators are needed to fill the gaps. The first cohort of nine women graduated from Messiah’s MSN program in May.
One of them, Nancy Frank MSN ’16, is Messiah’s clinical liaison placement coordinator for the undergraduate nursing program. “At the end when we looked back, it was amazing how all of our learning experiences had built on each other to transform our perspectives into that of nurse educators,” said Frank, who is now working toward a Ph.D. at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Both Messiah programs are conducted primarily online, allowing students to complete coursework on their own time. Clinical hours are completed at a variety of healthcare and higher education settings.
“It’s very self-directed. You’re doing clinical hours and classwork.” said Zinsmeister. “What I really hope people understand is that online does not mean easy. Our main goal is to build quality programs so that we can serve the needs of people.”
Advancing with the knowing, being, doing triune of excellence, Messiah offers two education graduate degrees that prepare professionals to work with everyone from kindergartners to college students.
The Master of Arts in higher education prepares graduate students to begin or advance a career at a college or university. Conducted primarily online, grad students can choose from concentrations in academic support services, college athletics leadership, strategic leadership and student affairs. Or, they can create their own course of study.
The program integrates faith and learning while also equipping students for jobs in a secular environment. “I think our students have to be prepared to work in multiple places in a multitude of types of colleges and universities,” said Dottie Weigel, director of the program. “Get them to think outside that box of Christian higher education.”
Marcus Washington ’05, MA ’14 completed the program two years ago and now works as an assistant director of residence life at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. “The program is designed in a way that you have meaningful, impactful discussions with your classmates that allow you to develop personal relationships,” said Washington. “I owe my advancement in my career to my degree in higher education.”
The Master of Education, geared predominantly toward educators teaching K-12, offers three degree tracks in special education, a track in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)and a track in curriculum and instruction. The program also offers numerous certification and certificate options, including a certificate in autism spectrum disorder. In 2015, the program was ranked No. 8 in Best Online Programs by BestColleges.com.
“We are committed to providing the highest level of academic programming and teaching,” said Nancy Patrick, program director. “In exchange, we expect our students will engage fully in the curriculum and give their best to the learning process.”
For Lilian Schultz M.Ed. ’16, an administrative assistant in Messiah’s Early Learning Center, the M.Ed. with a concentration in TESOL was more than a professional accomplishment. The degree has strengthened her ties to the community.
“I teach ESL [English as a Second Language] part time and volunteer as a director of an ESL program in Harrisburg,” said Schultz. “This program has opened up many doors for me in the community, where I see myself as a resource and an advocate for English language learners.”