Baby steps to a degree
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/brog/News/60307/
BENTONVILLE — In most degree programs, the students only have that big graduation day to anticipate.
Northwest Arkansas Community College delivers one of its degrees in “ baby steps, ” which gives students smaller milestones to celebrate. The college honored students for completing the first leg of their journey during a short Thursday-night ceremony.
“ We want to make the degree accessible, attainable and realistic, ” said Margie Vance, director of the retail management program.
The degree is the Associate of Applied Science in business management. Students within the degree choose a focus based on their interests. The students honored Thursday are in the retail management option. The degree is completed in three segments. The first involves about 16 hours of general-education courses. That is what the students honored Thursday had completed. They received certificates of achievement, Vance said.
The next two portions also earn students certificates of completion at the conclusion of each segment. The second segment includes general-business courses, and in the third segment, students choose courses related to their specific field of study, such as retail management.
Rebecca Murillo was one of the students honored Thursday. She earned an associate degree in general business last week but is finishing her second associate degree in business management. She chose the retail option, even though her work now is in the banking industry.
“ Retail is another door, and it will give me more opportunities to advance in my career, ” she said.