Education

To Meet Workforce Needs, Ga. University System Creates A New Kind Of Degree

August 29th, 2018

Albany State University and Columbus State University will offer a nexus degree programs that require the same number of credit hours (60) as a bachelor’s, but they’re more specialized.

Mel Evan / Associated Press

For years, Georgia colleges have heard from industries — especially in the tech field — that they’re not producing enough talent. So, university system officials realized it was time for a change.

Tristan Denley, the system’s chief academic officer, says there was consensus around creating a new kind of degree program.

“We have to find a way that degrees that we design can be much more nimble can be much more agile can be much more easily change than they have been in the past,” he says.

So, Denley and others developed what’s called a nexus degree. They require the same number of credit hours (60) as a bachelor’s, but they’re more specialized.

Albany State University will offer nexus degrees in ‘Blockchain with data analysis’ and ‘Blockchain with machine learning.’ Columbus State University will offer a nexus degree in film production. Forty-eight credit hours will be coursework. Students will complete the other 12 through an apprenticeship.

Denley says businesses helped write curricula.

“They were at the table, making sure that exactly the right kind of knowledge and skill base is part of that degree, the design of it, the experiences of it, the apprenticeship of it,” he says. “When students graduate with these degrees, the industries will absolutely know what they’re getting.”

Denley says nexus degrees can and will change. So, as industries evolve, the degrees will too.

Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, says the new program shows colleges are learning to become more flexible.

“We’ve seen that in the technical colleges for a long time,” Clark says. “They’re nimble, they can turn on a dime. They can set up a training program for you. I think we’re going to see the same thing from our university system, as this is implemented.”

Clark says Georgia colleges need to become more adaptable if they want to produce graduates who can compete for high demand jobs.

“The whole world in the economy is changing so quickly that having those nexus degrees having more flexibility in our university system is going to pay off long run.”

Georgia’s university system is the only one in the nation–so far–to offer a nexus degree. They’ve been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The university system expects more colleges to offer nexus degrees soon.