Rogers State University has proposed to offer a bachelor of science degree in biology.
The new Bachelor of Science in Biology was approved on Wednesday by the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents – RSU’s governing board.
The degree must be approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
The biology degree would be the fifth bachelor’s degree offered by RSU. Last year, the university began offering bachelor’s degrees in business information technology, applied technology, liberal arts, and social sciences.
This spring, more than 500 students enrolled in the new bachelor’s degree programs. Enrollment is expected to increase beyond that number next fall, said RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley.
“We are gratified that so many students have taken advantage of our new bachelor’s degree programs and our status as a new four-year university,” Wiley said. “The proposed bachelor’s degree in biology has been requested by our students, as well as members of the community, according to surveys and other research.”
The new degree would offer options in medical/molecular biology and environmental conservation.
“These were the two options that are most in demand,” Wiley said. “The medical/molecular option will educate students to work in laboratories at medical centers and clinics, and the environmental conservation option will allow them to pursue careers in the rapidly growing field of conservation.
“The environmental conservation option will produce graduates who will be trained to help preserve the beautiful lakes, streams, and forests of Eastern Oklahoma,” he added.
If approved, the proposed biology degree will be offered by RSU’s Department of Mathematics and Science, located in the School of Mathematics, Science, and Health Sciences.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the OU Board of Regents approved the deletion of the university’s associate of applied science degree in court reporting due to insufficient interest in the program. All majors will be phased out during the 2001-2002 academic year, and the final court reporting degrees will be awarded in May 2002.
In addition, the OU regents approved combining the business and mathematics options within the university’s associate of science degree in computer science.
For more information on the proposed bachelor’s degree in biology, and all other bachelor’s and associate’s degrees offered at RSU, call (918) 343-7546 or 1-800-256-7511.