College, the supposed best four years of a young person’s life, is now being shortened by a year at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for students who wish to participate in a new three-year degree program.
According to a UMass press release, the program is currently only offered for sociology, economics and music majors.
However, the university hopes to eventually expand the program to one-third of their offered majors.
The new program was “an idea that emerged out of discussion from the central administration,” said Edward Blaguszewski, a UMass-Amherst spokesman.
“How, in difficult economic times, does one get creative and give students options? Given that all education is a major investment for folks, this is a good option for a certain group of students, especially for those coming in with some AP credits,” Blaguszewski, a Boston University alum, said. “It’s not for everybody, but it’s an opportunity and it’s a good option for students to have.”
Such a program required extensive additional planning on the part of the university, he said, and there were several issues the school needed to work out beforehand.
First of all, the school needed to make sure that courses on the three-year track are available and taught at the right times and in certain sequences.
Faculty also needed to be aware of students who want to navigate this fast track and make classes open and available to them.
“It does take planning up front, but it can be done,” said Blaguszewski.
In 2004, 120 students graduated from BU within six semesters or three years, and about triple that number graduated within just one more semester, BU spokesman Colin Riley said.
Victor Coehlo, the associate provost of undergraduate education, said most BU students do not choose to graduate early.
“Given BU’s location in a city of such culture, history and opportunities, students who choose BU are rarely interested in shortening the time they spend here as an undergraduate,” Coehlo said.
Three-year degree programs would be “suited to those individuals [who are] career-focused and see [college] as a stepping stone and not a time to explore,” Riley said.
“It’s a tightrope-providing little room for experimentation and transferring between majors,” Coehlo said. “A three-year degree would also make it difficult for students to be fully active in our study abroad programs, summer research and internship opportunities, and to take advantage of the many artistic and recreational offerings, all of these constituting part of our BU advantage.”
Some BU students who are “very academically focused and don’t need a summer break for internships choose to continue taking classes and accruing credits [in order to] matriculate quicker,” Riley said.
But many said they could see the appeal.
“I enjoy my summers and having time off. But I can understand why people would want to finish their degree and get into the working world faster. If you know what field you want to enter, this is a good option,” said College of General Studies freshman Jeremy Lowe.
Riley said that many students utilize the many options that BU has to offer as opposed to graduating early.
“Students with sufficient credits tend to try to add another major or minor and take advantage of the opportunity to take other electives. What better place is there to explore than a [university] that has over 200 degree programs?” Riley said.
Many students agreed with him.
“I think [the program is] good but also doesn’t give you time to experiment and see if you’re sure of your major. A lot of times students don’t get into a major until their second or third year, so it doesn’t give them much time to explore,” said College of Communication freshman Lois Alksninis.
“As a junior…I can say three years of college just wouldn’t be sufficient. I already feel I am having to rush so many decisions and am limiting the classes I should have more time to take,” said Sam Pressman, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Riley said that he doesn’t think that a similar program will happen at BU.
“The fact is that students at BU can and have been [graduating early], but I don’t anticipate a formal program,” Riley said.
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