by Tom Fink- RSU
Rogers State University has been given the green light by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to offer its first three-year bachelor’s degree with a goal of meeting a critical workforce demand in northeast Oklahoma.
The State Regents on Thursday approved RSU’s request to offer an accelerated Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Development. The degree will offer options in Automation Manufacturing and Digital Systems, and Cyber Defense and Digital Forensics.
RSU becomes the first regional university in Oklahoma to gain approval for a reduced credit hour bachelor’s degree.
“Rogers State University is in the center of a rapidly growing region for advanced manufacturing and information processing, and these industries require employees who have education in engineering, automation, robotics and artificial intelligence,” said Dr. Don Raleigh, president of RSU. “This degree will provide opportunities for traditional students, working adults, career changers, military learners, and CareerTech graduates to earn a life-changing degree in a shorter amount of time with less expense.”
“This accelerated degree was developed after extensive conversations with our workforce partners,” said Raleigh. “Our proximity to the MidAmerica Industrial Park, the Tulsa Ports, and Tulsa’s aircraft and defense industry make us the perfect university to implement programs to meet the needs of these companies.”
While a traditional bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours or more, the Cyber Defense and Digital Forensics option will require 98 credit hours, and the Automation Manufacturing and Digital Systems option will require 104 credit hours.
Students who enroll in concurrent courses through Rogers State University will be able to complete many of the general education degree requirements.
Enrollment in the program will be announced at a later date pending program approval by the Higher Learning Commission
RSU has experienced rapid growth in STEM based degrees and has started construction on the $35 million Robson Center for Science and Technology as the new home for many of these programs.
Serving more than 3,500 students, RSU is the only public residential university in the Tulsa metro area.
