A 4+1 Information Assurance or Information Systems degree in the future?

[Sal Atticum]

DSU is looking for help from the SD Board of Regents:

The modification involves the creation of a 4+1 program, which would allow a student who is earning a bachelor's degree in computer information systems, computer science or computer and network security to obtain a master's degree in information assurance or information systems with one additional year of courses.

Madison Daily Leader

Also on the docket is looking at online versions of a BS in Marketing and a Sociology minor.

Not knowing anything at all about DSU, I can only assume they're doing this because it would lead to quicker graduation (higher turnover=more students?) and because the online programs might bring in more cash that can be used for other things.  Any DSU people have insight into that?

[pmp6nl]

Only one year for a masters beyond undergrad?  I do not like the idea of double counting classes, in my academia experiences this as been described as unacceptable. It seems as if this would undervalue the importance of a graduate degree and a proper number of courses, related coursework, and experiences.  I feel that if this becomes common place master's degrees may be written off as nothing more than a bachelors degree.

[Sal Atticum]

I would probably disagree.  For my MS, I got to transfer credit for part of it to get my 30 credits.  For PhD, if I didn't get to transfer most of my MS credits, I'd be in school absolutely forever to get 90 credits (10 semesters at 9 credits each, plus time for dissertation writing).  There are times when it doesn't make sense to hold people in school so they can meet an arbitrary goal.

[pmp6nl]

In my experience, as was described by several professors, transferring credits was not an option for me, you simply could not double count undergrad to grad.  Its not necessarily an arbitrary goal, its ensuring that the student becomes an expert on the subject, well rounded in the subject material, and able to critically think and to be someone that will ask the tough questions to ensure that field is headed in the correct direction.

I do realize that they may be able to do it in less classes by double counting, but in my opinion that is making them less well rounded.  My Masters degree was 45 credits, I did not get to transfer or double count any classes.  You cannot say that someone with say 130 undergrad credits and 18 grad credits is the same as me with 130 undergrad credits and 45 grad credits... its not the same, its 148 vs 175 credits, thats 27 credits or 9 classes, you learn a lot in the classes.  There is a difference between double counting between masters and doctoral and bachelors and masters.  Undergrad and grad courses, format, expectations, etc. are completely different, as they should be.  With my program it was 90 for a PhD, but that included masters credits, which is fine, because as I mentioned grad is much different than undergrad.

I am not saying you or anyone else is not deserving of the degree, because I am sure you know your subject matter, but I am saying that it is heading in the wrong direction.  In fact if this person was to apply for a federal job that required a masters degree I do not believe they would be eligible as the feds require 2 years in graduate school.  Whats next, a PhD in 4+2?