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Purdue Receives Approval for Competency-Based Degree
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12/11/2016
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A new program at Purdue University (IN) offers students an alternative route to a bachelor’s degree.
Transdisciplinary Studies in Technology — the institution’s first competency-based degree — received final approval from accreditors last month.
Students in competency-based programs earn academic credit based on their mastery of content and skills, rather than the culmination of credit hours. Supporters say the Purdue degree, which also includes a mentorship component, is the first baccalaureate program of its kind in the nation.
“This degree creates a study plan around the student rather than an academic schedule,” Purdue President Mitch Daniels said in a statement. “Students take work at their own pace through the program and, in the end, come away with a proven skill set that is meaningful to employers in today’s business world.”
The Purdue program emphasizes hands-on learning and collaboration. To receive a degree, students must demonstrate expertise in eight content areas ranging from design to effective communication.
Through the program, students learn about a variety of fields, including computing, engineering, construction, and aviation technologies. The humanities-infused curriculum also emphasizes leadership, innovation, ethics, and teamwork.
Purdue’s approach is a promising one, Charla Long, executive director of the Competency-Based Education Network, told Inside Higher Ed.
“Competencies can be developed outside your discipline,” she said, “and be as relevant to your discipline.”
Other institutions that offer competency-based degrees include the University of Michigan, as well as schools within the University of Texas system.
Source:
NACAC
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