FSD 16-33 Dual Credit Master’s Degree Schedule

Purdue University Northwest Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Document 16-33

Submission Date: 4/21/2017

Senate Action and Date:

• For Discussion, 5/5/2017;
• Moved to Action, 5/5/2017;
• Approved, 5/5/2017

In Field/Out of Field Masters Degrees

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the accrediting body of Indiana colleges and universities, has indicated that no later than 2022, instructors of dual credit courses must either: hold a master’s degree or higher in the subject area they are teaching; or, hold an out-of-field master’s degree plus 18 credit hours of study in the subject area they are teaching. Purdue Northwest’s Faculty Senate, the authority over curriculum requirements for Purdue Northwest including dual credit courses, determined that beginning with the fall 2017 semester, each course requesting PNW credit approval by a high school must be taught by an instructor who holds a master’s degree in the field of study or who is working toward the HLC credential requirements and will complete coursework on the schedule outline on the following tables:

In Field Masters Degree

Out of Field Masters Degree

Out of Field Masters Degree

Please note that the tables indicate that a teacher may be working on an in-field master’s degree or adding 18 hours to an out-of-field master’s degree. The start year which is Fall of 2017 shows a minimum start of a Baccalaureate degree plus 6 hours for an individual working toward an if-field degree. While the out-of-field master’s would require a baccalaureate degree plus 6 hours. Also, to show progress toward degree completion the tables both suggest that the individual be successfully completing at least 6 hours of graduate credit per year. Finally, after year one, the minimum needed is advanced by 6 hours respectively.