Executive education: Back to school

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Just as the reasons for going back to school are varied, the most sought-after programs are also varied.

McCallin says the most popular Colorado Community College programs are nursing, business, child development, emergency medical services and criminal justice. “We have a lot of growth in our new-energy programs as well,” she says. For example, Red Rocks Community College has degree and certificate programs in solar energy.

This spring, CU Boulder’s Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies launched CU Complete, a service that offers academic, career and financial aid advice to former students who wish to return to complete a degree. Heinz says some career changers have specific questions, such as which biology courses should they take so they can transfer to a nursing school. Others are less focused.

“We have people who say, ‘I really like working with people and I’m really fast on the computer, and I don’t like working nine to five so what do you think?’” Heinz says.

Some of the most popular Continuing Education and Professional Studies programs at CU Boulder are biotechnology, engineering, telecommunications and sustainable practices. CU Boulder also offers Available Credit Courses for Eligible Special Students (ACCESS).

Non-degree students can take a course in business or digital media, for example, to see if they want to pursue it further.

Anne Sandoe, director of MBA Programs at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, says those students have not been laid off, but they hope the additional MBA credential will help them maintain their employment.

“We see a lot of interest in entrepreneurship, not necessarily for starting their own business, but how to take an entrepreneurial approach and assess the feasibility of an opportunity, whether or not they own the company,” she says. “It’s a way to enhance their value to an organization.”

At UC Denver, one new program is the Master of Science in Global Energy Management. The program began in January with 30 students. John Turner, the executive director of the program, says it’s designed for executives who want to become chief executive officers or start their own companies. “We have seen a big increase in inquires about the program,” he says.

Several areas are growing at the University of Denver. Lynn Gangone, the dean of The Women’s College, says the school has seen a 10 percent increase in enrollment. The bachelor’s degree in business administration is the most popular program. “You’ve got to be nimble,” she says. “If you are employed in a corporation and your corporation is downsizing and you are still there, you are doing lots of jobs now. You are asked to be a broader and deeper employee.”

Metro State’s Sandoval-Lucero says the top six programs at that school are psychology, business management, behavioral science, criminal justice, accounting and history. “Most employers like liberal arts and science graduates because they know how to write, they can use a computer, they have communications skills and the employer can train them,” she says. “As for business management, accounting and criminal justice, those lead directly to specific careers.”

Nimbleness is important for the unemployed, too. In April, Cindy Sheets was laid off from her job as a staff accountant at a fire and security system company. She had been attending The Women’s College part time, and switched to full time. She’s not looking for another accounting job. “I definitely want to transition into business, more operations and administration,” she says. “I’ve been in accounting for 20 years.” She expects to earn her bachelor’s degree in business in summer 2010.

Paying for college is another challenge. The tightening credit markets mean fewer home equity loans, a once-popular way to pay for education.

Also, companies are eliminating or decreasing their tuition reimbursement benefits. No matter, Sheets says. “There are student loans and scholarships out there. I took out student loans. I figure when I get the big job I will pay those puppies off.”

At DU’s University College, Pearson says half the undergraduates are majoring in leadership and organization studies. Among graduate programs, environmental policy and management is popular, and so is strategic human resource management. “Every company has HR,” she says.

Patrick Walsh is a graduate student and a career changer studying for a dual degree in environmental policy and management and organizational and professional communication. He is also studying for a certificate in Alternate Dispute Resolution and plans to work as a mediator. He used to attend DU part time while working for churches. A year ago his job moved to Houston, and although he tried working remotely and moved to Houston briefly, he soon returned to Colorado. “I ended up having to quit, right when the economy tanked,” he says.

He now attends University College full time and expects to complete the degrees in November. He hasn’t landed a job yet, but he has been on many second and third interviews. “I think it’s a wonderful thing to go back to school,” he says. “I was the runner-up on so many of these jobs. The University of Denver has a very strong reputation.”

Enrollment in CCU’s MBA program has grown 25 percent in the last year, Moroney says. The Project Management Certificate, a 12-credit-hour certificate, is also seeing increased interest. Education is growing too, and enrollment in the Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction program is up about 30 percent this year. CCU also launched a Licensed Practical Nurse to Associate of Science in Nursing program, designed for LPNs who want to apply for Registered Nurse licensure.

At CSU-Global, the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree in organizational leadership are the most popular programs. “The ability to think critically and navigate a complex world, and the ability to be a leader and participate as a leader, those skills are becoming more important,” Puzziferro says.

Organizational leadership is also big at Regis, in its Master’s of Science degree. Also, Husson says, people are returning to school for degrees in education.

The future 

The Women’s College will soon launch its Center on Women’s Entrepreneurship. “Women have been looking at entrepreneurship as a way to engage more fully in the world of work,” Gangone says. “You put on top of that a recession where people are losing their traditional employment within corporations and other entities, and it gives individuals the incentive to take the risk to fulfill that dream.” This fall the school will launch a certificate program in entrepreneurship.

UC Denver plans to open a new component to the business school, the Graduate Career Connections center, in the fall. The new office will help match students with career opportunities, and also give students an opportunity to network with potential employers.

CU Boulder will launch one-hour toolbox workshops this fall. The sessions are designed for people who are debating whether to go back to school, and will offer topics such as time management and choosing a major.

Metro State recently announced it would launch a master’s degree program, but that program is in the planning stages.

Jobs and programs change, McCallin says, but students will continue to look for knowledge that will help them succeed. “You need to focus on critical job skills, how to think critically, how to be flexible, how to acquire information, a lot of skills as opposed to specialized knowledge,” she says.

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