The program changes were approved by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education this month after being moved forward by Southeast's Board of Governors following its May meeting.

Bachelor of Arts in Writing: Creative Writing and Professional Writing

Deleting options for Creative Writing and Professional Writing and offering a writing degree puts this major in line with what employers are requesting and takes into consideration feedback from graduates. The Bachelor of Arts in writing will offer students a variety of writing courses and prepare them for the variable writing taks that will be required of them in the workforce ranging from technical writing to social media.

Masters of Science in Biology

This new program is designed to provide increased flexibility for students to tailor their degree. Students will work with faculty advisors to develop a plan to ensure they will be successful in the biology subdiscipline they wish to pursue a career in. The flexibility, along with the reduction of required hours, will strengthen students' application materials while providing them with better opportunities and a broader foundation.

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness: Horiculture and Cannabis

This new 15-hour option under the Agribusiness degree was created because Hemp related careers are some of the fastest growing sectors of employment, particularly in the agriculture industries. Cannabis plants grown for food, herbal, or medicinal uses increasingly require horticulture systems to assure the assure product quality and the safety of human consumption. Students completing the cannabis emphasis will be prepared for the business, horticulture, and chemistry aspects of the cannabis industries, a combination that is truly unique in higher education. Southeast Missouri State University will be the first institution to offer such a program. 

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics: Mathematics and Statistics

The name change of the Option in Applied Mathematics and Statistics to the Option in Mathematics and Statistics was approved to better prepare graduates of the mathematics degree for careers related to mathematics and statistics. The intention is that this degree will be more attractive to students and prepare them for a career in analytics, big data, and appropriate utilization and analysis of information required in many businesses and industries. 

Law Enforcement Academy: Undergraduate Certificate

By offering the Law Enforcement Academy as an undergraduate certificate program, participants will be eligible for Title IV financial aid and for Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. Creating the certificate program will also allow other majors that wish to pursue a career in law enforcement the ability to take Law Enforcement Academy courses for credit as an elective track.