Arkansas Tech University will be able to offer doctoral programs for the first time, beginning next summer.
The university was granted a change in role and scope Friday by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board. The first doctoral program will be offered in education, and designed for kindergarten through 12th grade education professionals who wish to serve in school district leadership positions.
“The opportunity to offer doctoral programs is a milestone in our continuing efforts to meet the educational needs of our constituents,” John Watson, vice president for academic affairs, said in a news release.
The decision has been four years in the making, as the university’s letter of intent was approved in July 2010. In the years that followed, Arkansas Tech underwent an out-of-state-review and program reviews by the ADHE Coordinating Board before the program was approved.
The first cohort of the degree will be offered in summer 2015.
The coordinating board also approved a bond issue for Arkansas Tech for construction of an allied health building and other campus improvements. The bond is not to exceed $6 million for up to 30 years.
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