University of New England

UNE adds new degree programs in communications and education

BIDDEFORD - The University of New England's Board of Trustees recently approved the addition of new degree programs to the College of Arts and Sciences located on the University Campus in Biddeford. The approved degree programs are a bachelor of arts in communications and online master of science in education with concentrations in educational leadership, inclusion education, literacy (K-12) and curriculum and instruction strategies.

Communications
The bachelor of arts in communications degree will be housed under the newly re-named Department of Business and Communications. New students will be accepted into the major beginning in the fall of 2007.

The communications program will provide students with a diverse approach to the study of communications. The program core is 36 credits, 33 of which are communications theory and practice, journalism, public relations and courses exploring the use of media technology, and three that are a senior project or internship. The degree program also includes 12 credit hours of non-communication requirements in computer technology, public speaking, advertising and marketing, and is rounded out by 30 hours of general electives.

Courses include Public Speaking, Understanding Media, Introduction to Journalism, Principles of Public Relations and Communication Law and Regulation.

For more information on the Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree, contact a University of New England admissions counselor at 800-477-4863.

Education
The Department of Education will be launching four master of science in education (MSEd) programs that will be delivered completely on-line. Online course delivery will allow faculty to deliver high quality instruction to professional educators worldwide. Online classes will begin September 5, 2007.

The MSEd programs are 30 credits, 15 of which are a core curriculum taken by all MSEd candidates and 15 that are in an area of concentration. Prospective students in the MSEd program will choose from four concentrations: Educational leadership, inclusion education that will provide regular educators with more background in special education, literacy (K-12) that will delve deeper into the importance of reading and writing, and curriculum and instruction strategies.

A fifteen-hour Certificate of Advance Graduate Studies (CAGS) will also be offered online in each of the four disciplines to those educators who already hold a master's degree and wish to progress beyond this degree. The Education Department will continue to offer a full 30-hour CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership to professional educators who are pursuing school administration positions.

For more information about the master of science in education degree online programs, contact a University of New England enrollment advisor at 800-994-2804.

(Press release posted March 22, 2007)