The programs have been approved by Thomas More University’s board of trustees, though state approval and accreditation remains to be seen.
Thomas More University is expanding its academic offerings by a total of five new degree programs. The university aims to continue expanding its roster of academic programs to keep up with evolving job markets and emerging workforce demands. The board of trustees have approved these five new programs, though the school is still seeking state approval and the necessary accreditations to begin enrollment.
The five new programs that have been approved by the school are within the School of Education and the Robert W. Plaster College of Business. The programs are Master of Education Leadership, Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership, Bachelor of Science in management, Bachelor of Arts in hospitality management, and Master of Science in information technology management.
According to an article on Thomas More University's website, Bruce Rosenthal, MBA, Ph.D., who serves as the dean of the Robert W. Plaster College of Business, shared his thoughts about the new programs that will be joining the offerings within the College of Business. He is quoted as saying, “Twenty or 30 years from now, our students will be working in fields that haven’t been invented yet, in jobs that don’t exist yet. At Thomas More, our programs focus on skills – such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork – that are applicable no matter your future responsibilities. The addition of these degree programs is reflective of our identity as a Catholic liberal arts university, where we prepare our students to be successful not just in their careers, but in life.”
The Bachelor of Arts in hospitality management program is intended to help students become well equipped with the skills they will need to take up leadership roles in the hospitality industry. The program includes planned partnerships with Columbia Sussex and St. Elizabeth Healthcare in order to provide students with hands-on experience before they graduate from the program.
The Bachelor of Science in management program will build upon more general management courses that are already offered by the College of Business and will take into account the needs of local employers and advisory groups as courses are developed. An internship or other hands-on learning experience will be required for students who take this program.
Also within the College of Business, the Master of Science in information technology management program will combine IT skills with general management skills. Rosenthal said of this program, “This program is designed with a hands-on curriculum that not only sharpens managerial skills but provides advanced IT knowledge. We anticipate the MSITM to attract students from a diverse range of educational backgrounds and professional experiences, who see the advantages of our small class sizes, experienced faculty, and presentation of material within the context of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.”
Within the School of Education, the two new program offerings are intended to help address a current shortage of school principals within area K-12 schools. The Master of Education Leadership program and the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership program are both intended to help K-12 teachers pursue the licensure needed to transition into becoming school principals.
Alissa Ayres, who is the director of graduate programs in education, said, “Regionally, schools and districts recognize the need for strong leaders as demand increases. With the addition of these degree programs, Thomas More continues support of both public and private schools in Northern Kentucky with a new emphasis on strong instructional leadership.”
For more information about Thomas More University, visit the school’s website.