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Back to School
For adult learners, an advanced degree or new course of study no longer requires being tied down to a traditional classroom model.
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By Abernathy Miller The pandemic has created a seismic shift
Franklin University
in our society, and the reverberations can still be felt even as caseloads and hospitalizations drop. As we return to a sense of normalcy, many people are reassessing their personal and professional priorities—which could include going back to school. Whether you’re looking to get a leg up in a competitive market, starting your own business or breaking into a new industry after serious burnout, Central Ohio institutions of higher learning can help. Three local leaders for adult learners— Franklin University, Mount Carmel College of Nursing and Indiana Wesleyan University’s Columbus Ohio Education and Conference Center—have programs that make it possible (and accessible) to pursue an advanced degree or other certification.
“Franklin has always been dedicated to, and motivated by, working adults. We formulate our curriculum around people who have a lot going on,” says Sara Burris, the associate director of graduate admissions at the 120-year-old university. “Some advanced degree programs require that people take time off from their jobs in order to complete their graduate and doctoral programs; we have programs that fit around that busy adult lifestyle.” Franklin University offers 20 master’s programs ranging from criminal justice and business administration to health care administration, organizational leadership and more. Thanks to pandemic-era burnout, Franklin University and other Central Ohio institutions are seeing a shift in both the health and education sectors.
“With the Great Resignation, people learned a lot through this pandemic about who they are and who they want to be. We’re seeing a lot of health care workers coming back to school to switch to health care administration due to burnout,” says Burris. “Another thing is education—more students are looking to switch to the administration side because the day-to-day of teaching K–12 has become so overwhelming.” But burnout isn’t found only in education and health care. Anyone looking to ditch a 9-to-5 job, either to open their own business or pursue a more flexible field, will find Franklin University a good place to start. “With people starting their own businesses or looking to switch industries, our MBA and DBA programs have been growing in popularity,” says Burris. “We have seen MAY 2022 COLUMBUS MONTHLY
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development—a training-the-trainer type situation,” says Burris. “With so many industries going to fully remote workforces, there needs to be new and exciting ways to train employees besides a PowerPoint presentation.” With class sizes under 24 students, direct access to instructors who have realworld industry experience, affordable tuition and grants available, Franklin University is a solid option for anyone investing in an advanced degree. Mount Carmel College of Nursing
When students graduate from Mount Carmel College of Nursing, they often don’t say goodbye for long. With 68 percent of students returning for advanced degrees after attending the school for undergraduate degrees, Mount Carmel College of Nursing must be doing something right. For alumni and new graduate students looking to advance their education in health care, Mount Carmel offers a trio of master’s degrees that can be completed in as little as 18 months. Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner and nursing–leadership/clinical operations programs allow nurses the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge.
By offering a mix of online learning, inperson instruction and immersive experiences, as well as the short 18-month timeframe, Mount Carmel offers flexibility for working adults. For those looking into a doctoral programs, Mount Carmel College of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree that can be earned in 18 months with one of three specialty areas: academic leadership, clinical practice and health care executive. The best part? Mount Carmel scholarships and reimbursement programs from local health care agencies (including Mount Carmel Hospital Systems) make it easier for working nurses to offset cost. Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is another institution that’s been making education accessible and affordable for busy adults, in this case since 1985. What started as a program to help students complete programs—initially holding classes in churches and hotel conference rooms—has grown to several centers across the Midwest, including the Columbus Ohio Education and Conference Center in Hilliard. “Our mission is to build character and competency to go into the marketplace
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many potential students looking at different career objectives because they woke up and decided this isn’t what they wanted to be doing the rest of their lives.” Franklin University also accommodates students who aren’t quite sure whether they want a full graduate degree. For those interested in shorter programs and specialized course work, Franklin University’s certification programs could be a perfect fit. “We have great graduate certificates. Those are shorter programs that fit directly into their master’s degree,” says Burris. “It’s perfect for students who want to do something shorter, get their feet wet and see if it’ll work out for them before they commit to a full master’s degree.” Franklin’s online microcredentials and certificates allow students to tailor their educational experience and gain a competitive edge without committing to a full degree by building skills through à la carte courses. Students can get certified in data analytics, criminal justice leadership, adult-gerontology primary care, psychiatric mental health nursing, instructional design and more. “Instructional design is an industry that I see really growing. It’s about training and
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and make an impact,” says Erica Elliott, vice president of marketing and engagement for IWU. “IWU has always made an effort to meet students where they are.” With multiple start times a year (up to eight for some programs), a robust offering of more than 160 programs that span disciplines from business to human services, and the opportunity to take all classes online, IWU has made adult learning as accessible and flexible as possible. “We developed our first online class in 1997—we’ve really been early pioneers in the online learning space,” says Elliott. Like other institutions of higher learning, IWU has seen the effects of the Great Resignation in its student body and is offering innovative ways to make advancing in a competitive field or switching industries easier than ever. “We’re seeing more people regrouping and figuring out what they want to do with their lives. While the primary premise for IWU students is usually elevating in their industry, many new students are looking to pivot their careers entirely,” says Elliott. “We’re seeing a greater need for certifications.” Indiana Wesleyan University is also working to expand its talent ladder, a division of IWU that has a variety of certifications, from cybersecurity to digital marketing, offering credits for courses that can transfer to IWU graduate degrees. “We’re really trying to unbundle degrees. We’re breaking up programs into microcredentials, which allows students to take à la carte classes that will be immediately helpful in their careers and that they can then build into a level of certification or a degree, if they choose,” says Elliott. “Instead of having people come in and do a full degree, we’re offering different pathways into programs.” This “stackable degree” approach not only accommodates adults with demanding schedules, but also mitigates financial strain and ensures students aren’t wasting time on courses that aren’t necessary to achieve their goals. “[Stackable degree options] definitely help the cost equation. As the value of higher education has recently come under attack, people are definitely more cost-conscious— they want to know they’ll get a return on their investment quickly,” says Elliott. “When you give individuals an opportunity to stack their learning—whether that’s building credits through courses or certificates—it gives them the flexibility to manage the cost, but also gives them the skill set they need to excel in the workplace right now.”
Graduate’s Guide An overview of the graduate and doctoral programs available in Central Ohio; tuition rates are in-state for the 2022–23 academic year and do not include room and board or fees, unless otherwise noted. Compiled by Abernathy Miller Ashland University Columbus Center
1900 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Columbus; 614-794-0803; ashland.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: Brethren Church Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in American history, business administration, education, fine arts, health risk communications, applied exercise science; doctorate in leadership studies, nursing practice Program length: One to five years Tuition: All-inclusive tuition, one-year international MBA and online accelerated programs, $34,650; all other MBA programs, $860/credit hour; master’s of education, $570/credit hour; executive doctorate in leadership studies, $965/credit hour; DNP, $695–$710/credit hour Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Capital University
1 College and Main, Columbus; 614-2366011; capital.edu Capital University Law School, 303 E. Broad St., Columbus; 614-236-6500; law.capital.edu Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, 2199 E. Main St., Columbus; 614-236-6856; capital.edu/trinity Status: Private Religious affiliation: Lutheran Advanced degrees offered: Main campus: master’s degrees in education, music education, business administration, nursing; doctorate of nursing practice; CULS: master’s degrees in taxation, legal studies; Juris Doctor; TLS: master’s degrees in divinity, theological studies, youth and family ministry, sacred theology Program length: Varies Tuition: Master’s programs, $656–$690/ credit hour; doctoral programs, $950– $1,367/credit hour Accreditation: Capital University, Higher Learning Commission; Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada; Law School, American Bar Association
Columbus College of Art & Design
60 Cleveland Ave., Columbus; 614-2249101; ccad.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: None Advanced degrees offered: Master of Fine Arts in visual art; Master of Professional Studies in retail design Program length: MFA, two years fulltime; MPS, one year full-time or two years part-time Tuition: MFA, $39,650/year full time; MPS, $25,000/year full-time or $12,500/ year part-time Accreditation: Ohio Department of Higher Education, The Higher Learning Commission Franklin University
201 S. Grant Ave., Columbus; 614-7974700; franklin.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: None Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in accounting, business analytics, business psychology, computer science, criminal justice administration, cybersecurity, data analytics, health informatics, health care administration, human resource management, informational technology, instructional design and learning technology, marketing and communication, nursing (including MSN-FNP), public administration, business administration; doctorates in family nurse practitioner, nursing practice–leadership track, business administration, organizational leadership, health care administration, instructional design leadership Program length: 14 to 20 months (master’s programs); two to three years (doctoral programs) Tuition: Master’s programs, $670/credit hour; doctoral programs, $748/credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission Indiana Wesleyan University Columbus Ohio Education and Conference Center
3455 Mill Run Drive, Ste. 550, Hilliard; 614-529-7550; indwes.edu Status: Private MAY 2022 COLUMBUS MONTHLY
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Religious affiliation: Christian Advanced degrees offered: Nearly 40 master’s programs in dozens of subjects, including business, education, religion, nursing, hard and soft sciences, and more; doctoral degrees in business, education, organizational leadership, nursing, health sciences (physical therapy and occupational therapy) Program length: Typically two to three years Tuition: Master’s programs, $470–$685/ credit hour; doctoral programs, $595– $1,010/credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
127 S. Davis Ave., Columbus; 614-2344266; mccn.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: Catholic Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, nursing leadership—clinical operations, psychiatric—mental health nurse practitioner; Doctor of Nursing Practice with three track options: leader in clinical practice, executive leader, executive academic leadership Program length: 18 months Tuition: Master’s programs, $582/credit hour; doctoral programs, $722/credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission Ohio Christian University
1476 Lancaster Pike, Circleville; additional locations in Chillicothe, Columbus, Grove City and Lancaster; 855-628-4723; ohiochristian.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: Wesleyan tradition
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Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in leadership, ministry, business administration; dual MBA/MA in ministry Program length: Two years Tuition: $338–$530/credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Ohio Department of Higher Education
Religious affiliation: None Advanced degrees offered: Combined Master of Science and dietetic internship; Doctor of Nursing Practice Program length: Varies Tuition: $334–$628/credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission
Ohio Dominican University
Otterbein University
1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus; 614-2514615; ohiodominican.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: Catholic in the Dominican tradition Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in English, TESOL, theology, business administration, education, physician assistant studies, sport management Program length: 16 to 24 months Tuition: $540–$939/credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, Ohio Department of Higher Education Ohio State University
250 University Hall, 230 N. Oval Mall, Columbus; 614-292-6031; gradsch.osu.edu Status: Public Religious affiliation: None Advanced degrees offered: 127 master’s degrees, 102 doctoral programs and 29 graduate certificates in 114 subject areas Program length: Varies Tuition: $719–$3,509/ credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission Ohio University Dublin Integrated Education Center
6805 Bobcat Way, Dublin; 740-593-2800; ohio.edu/dublin Status: Public
1 S. Grove St., Westerville; 614-823-3210; otterbein.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: United Methodist Church Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in allied health — healthcare administration, allied health — exercise and health science, athletic training, business administration, education, educational mathematics, teaching, nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Program length: Two years (most master’s programs); two to three years (DNP) Tuition: Most programs, $570–$662/credit hour; nursing programs, $642-$1,250/ credit hour Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Pontifical College Josephinum
7625 N. High St., Columbus; 614-8855585; pcj.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic Advanced degrees offered: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in theology Program length: Four years Tuition: $42,245 (including room and board) Accreditation: Association of Theological Schools, The Higher Learning Commission, Ohio Department of Higher Education
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3081 Columbus Pike, Delaware; 740-3631146; mtso.edu Status: Private Religious affiliation: United Methodist Church Advanced degrees offered: Master’s degrees in divinity, theological studies, counseling ministries, practical theology, social justice; doctorate of ministry Program length: Two to three years (master’s programs); four years (doctorate) Tuition: Master’s programs, $885/credit hour; doctorate, $19,500 if completed in four years Accreditation: Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada