Edison State College to Launch Four New Bachelor Degree Programs
Apr 3, 2010
Edison State College to Launch Four New Bachelor Degree Programs
The Florida State Board of Education this week approved Edison State College’s applications for four new bachelor degree programs slated to begin in the Fall ’10 semester.
The four programs include a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Cardiopulmonary Sciences and three Bachelor of Science Degrees in Middle School Education – Math, Science and Language Arts.
According to Dr. Jeff Elsberry, Program Director, Respiratory Care at Edison State College, the Cardiopulmonary Sciences B.A.S. program will prepare current professionals and future graduates to adopt expanded roles, work more independently across the continuum of care, and collaborate as partners on the healthcare delivery team.
“The industry standard within the profession is transitioning from previously requiring an associate’s degree to requiring baccalaureate level preparation,” said Elsberry. “Additionally, the Cardiopulmonary Sciences B.A.S. program provides career advancement for entry-level health profession practitioners. Students who develop management, leadership and advanced diagnostic skills will gain a broader-based understanding of both health care delivery skills and the leadership dimension.”
No other institution in the area offers this program.
“As the area’s premier and primary educator of health science professionals, Edison State College continuously strives to identify areas of employment growth,” said Dr. Noreen Thomas, Executive Vice President at Edison State College. “We then evaluate employers’ needs and build programs that provide academic rigor and relevance.”
In 2008 Florida employed 11,515 people in this field. The AARC projects that within the next five years, a bachelor’s degree will be the minimum requirement for entry into the Respiratory Care field (AARC, 2008).
The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation finds that right now more than 1,000 cardiopulmonary professionals are employed in Southwest Florida right now, and projects thousands more will be needed in coming years.
Middle School Education in Math, Science and Language Arts
Right now there is no public or private school in Southwest Florida to educate Middle School Math, Science or Language Arts teachers, but the state of Florida predicts it will need to hire more than 3,000 middle school teachers in the next several years.
“We have an opportunity to provide more students access to in-demand careers in education,” said Dr. Erin Harrel, Associate Dean of the School of Education at Edison State College. “It is time for students in Southwest Florida to have an opportunity to become a middle school teacher without traveling far from home.”
The middle grades programs will prepare graduates to secure teaching positions in 5-9 grade levels in the applicable program discipline. These three programs (Middle Grades, Math, Science and Language Arts) represent the top three critical teacher shortage areas for 2009-2010.
The Florida Department of Education in December 2008 designated these three areas as the top critical teacher shortage areas for 2009-2010. The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation finds that by the 2012-2013 academic year there will be a need for an additional 3,397 middle grades math, science and language arts teachers in Florida.
“Our goal is to create Middle Grade Education programs with academic rigor and relevance that will provide students with opportunities for professional and academic advancement at an affordable price,” said Kristen Zimmerman, Associate Dean of Baccalaureate Programs at Edison State College. “There is a demand for these teachers and ESC’s programs will prepare graduates to easily transition into the classroom.”
Edison State College now offers a total of 10 bachelor degree programs, including Public Safety Administration, Secondary Biology, Secondary Math, Elementary Education, Nursing and Supervision and Management.
For more information about the new degree in Cardiopulmonary Sciences please contact Dr. Jeff Elsberry: (239)489-9251.
For more information about any of the six Education Degrees offered at ESC please contact the School of Education: (239) 489-9369.
For media inquiries contact, Catherine Bergerson, Director of Communications and Marketing, 239-489-9460 or mbergerson@edison.edu.
Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most established, most accessible and most affordable school of higher education serving more than 20,000 students in 5 counties with campuses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte, and a center serving Hendry/Glades. Many classes are available online at www.edison.edu.
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Last Updated: April 3, 2010
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