WHEELING - A self-described small town girl, Amber Duncan-Scott said deciding to join West Liberty State College's first class of graduate students was a no-brainer.
Duncan-Scott and about 20 others gathered Thursday at the college's satellite center in Warwood for their introduction to receiving a master's degree in education from WLSC.
This is the college's first stand-alone master's degree program, which will help put the school on the road to becoming West Liberty University, said President Robin Capehart. He expects university status to be attained in the spring.
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College President Robin Capehart talks to students about the college’s first stand-alone master’s degree program, which is expected to help put it on the road to becoming a university.
"You will be the first graduate class of West Liberty University, and that will be exciting," John McCullough, executive vice president, told the students.
Duncan-Scott of Wintersville is a special education teacher at Triadelphia Middle School in Ohio County. She said she had been contemplating going back to school for her master's. When she learned her alma mater was starting a program, her decision was made.
"West Liberty is like a family. ... It's offering what I want, and it's local and convenient," she noted.
Fact Box
MASTER PLAN
West Liberty's master's program in education:
= has an enrollment of about 20 students
= costs $200 per credit hour for West Virginia resident; $250 per hour for out-of-state students
= is expected to lead to university status in the spring
Capehart said starting with a master's in education program was a natural first step for West Liberty, which served as a teachers college nearly 80 years ago. In the future, the college is considering also offering master's degrees in health sciences, such as nursing, and in business administration.
The current curriculum offers three different programs of emphasis: multi-categorical special education, advanced teaching, and technology integration. The two-year program inludes 24 credit hours of core courses and an additional 12 credit hours from a chosen program of emphasis.
For a West Virginia resident, the cost is $200 per credit hour, while out-of-state residents pay $250 per credit hour. For more information about the program, call Beth Musser, School of Education dean, at 304-336-8247. The master's program was approved by the state's Higher Education Policy Commission and the Higher Learning Commission, which is West Liberty's regional accreditation agency.