Middle Georgia State University approved to admit students to graduate programs

Middle Georgia State University has been approved to admit and register students for its new graduate programs.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges gave the school permission to take the next step in offering two master's degrees during the commission's annual meeting in Houston, Texas.

"We are grateful for the support of SACSCOC and mindful that there would be no Middle Georgia State University without the confidence of Chancellor Hank Huckaby and the Board of Regents," the school's president, Christopher Blake, said in a statement. "We are very excited to offer two highly marketable degrees to the citizens of Middle Georgia."

The Master of Science in Information Technology has tracks in information security/digital forensics and health informatics. The Master of Science in Nursing prepares nurse practitioners in adult/gerontology and acute care. Both degrees are completely online.

The Office of Graduate Studies will begin admitting, advising and registering students immediately. The last day for provisional acceptance into the spring 2016 semester cohorts is Jan. 7. Classes begin Jan. 11.

In spring 2015, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved a mission change for the recently consolidated institution, effective July 1, 2015. It concurrently gave permission for Middle Georgia State University to offer the MSIT degree followed by the MSN degree.

Full accreditation from the commission could happen as early as summer 2016, following a site visit in spring and after its executive committee meets for final approval in June.

The MSN degree must also be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, which itself can be achieved only when the first cohort of students is enrolled in its final semester.

University faculty are developing other potential graduate proposals at the certificate and master's level that will be targeted to the workforce needs of the region, according to a release from the school.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Middle Georgia State University approved to admit students to graduate programs ."