New, Revamped Programs Highlight Grad Ed Week

Graduate Education Week, taking place Oct. 19-23, provides an opportunity to learn about the variety of programs Truman offers.

For the past several years, the University has continued to expand and improve its graduate programs, choosing to focus on the needs of students and the demands of the current job market. At present, Truman offers advanced degrees in seven programs, soon to be 10. In addition to accountancy, athletic training, communication disorders, education, English, leadership and music, the University will offer a master’s degree in data science and two options in counseling.

The Master of Science in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling is a further continuation of Truman’s existing data science certificate program. This one-of-a-kind program combines the software and problem-solving skills of a data science degree with critical analytic, presentation and visualization skills representing the best of Truman’s liberal arts tradition. Analytic storytellers go beyond organizing and interpreting big sets of data. They synthesize critical conclusions for the lay person, help visualize those conclusions for information consumers and adapt it to varied audiences.

“Data science is an emerging field that is ripe with career opportunities,” said Jeanne Harding, director of the Institute for Academic Outreach. “Truman’s program is a very manageable option, either for working adults considering a career change or for new graduates seeking entry to a lucrative career field.”

Truman’s other new programs are also a response to market demands and strive to equip caring, committed, competent and culturally aware individuals with the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to become professional counselors in school and community settings. The Master of Arts in Counseling: School Counseling program is geared toward meeting the academic, career and personal/social needs of culturally diverse students in elementary, middle and secondary schools as certified and licensed school counselors. The Master of Arts in Counseling: Mental Health Counseling program specializes in community-based work as licensed professional counselors. Both programs will launch in fall 2021.

In an effort to accommodate the needs of students and working professionals, both the data science and counseling programs are offered online. An existing program has also recently embraced the virtual realm.

The Master of Arts in English now features an online option. Alongside the traditional in-person offerings, the online path makes an advanced degree in English a viable option for teachers and anyone seeking professional or personal development.

“By taking an open-minded approach to some of our existing programs, we are able to offer more opportunities to people who might not otherwise have the chance to continue their education and earn an advanced degree,” Harding said. “In-person education certainly has its advantages, but it isn’t always an option for everyone or every program. Our faculty have completed training in online teaching and are well prepared to deliver the excellence Truman is known for as a part of their online courses.”

Detailed information about all of Truman’s programs, including cost, application information and program descriptions, can be found at gradstudies.truman.edu. The Graduate Office can be contacted directly at 660.785.4109 or gradinfo@truman.edu.