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NMC may offer 4-year degree courses
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Posted on Jul 11 2000
The Northern Marianas College has expressed optimism that its School of Education would be able to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees after the Western Association of Schools and Colleges completes its accreditation of CNMI’s center for higher education in October.
NMC Development and Alumni Relations Director Tony V. Deleon Guerrero said the college is currently gearing up for WASC’s scheduled visit three months from now.
“We are focusing on our School of Education. If it gets accredited, we will now be ready to issue four-year Education degrees,” he said.
The WASC team last visited the college in 1996 during which NMC was able to gain a six-year accreditation.
On the next evaluation, the college is expecting the team to pay close scrutiny to NMC’s two-year and three-year Education courses.
“This is a big challenge for us. But we are hopeful that we will get full accreditation,” he said.
In the Fall of 1995 the NMC School of Education began offering 300-level courses leading to a baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education.
Developed in conjunction with the University of Guam, the program allows NMC students to take a series of 12 300-level courses for the Third Year Certificate.
NMC students fulfill the baccalaureate requirements by completing 400-level courses, including the 12-credit student teaching requirement, through the University of Guam.
Students completing all of the requirements receive the baccalaureate degree from the University of Guam.
The School of Education is dedicated to enhancing the quality of education in the CNMI by providing certificates of study and associate degrees in the areas of Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education.
It’s Teacher Preparation Program is also designed to provide teachers and teachers-in-training with fundamental theories and the rationale with which to plan their lessons, and with the methods and techniques necessary to improve their performance as teachers. (MM)
