In 1887, in the beginning days of then Buies Creek Academy, the school had just three faculty members – J.A. Campbell, his future wife Cornelia Pearson and A.E. Booth. It would be five years before the school had a library.
But Campbell built his school in an area starved for education. Enrollment at BCA jumped from 16 on Day 1 to 92 just five months later.
One hundred and twenty-five years later, Campbell University continues to grow. And one of the biggest stories to come from 2012 was the addition of new programs and new degree paths offered by the University’s six schools (the seventh, the School of Osteopathic Medicine, will open this fall).
The new graduate and undergraduate programs offer Campbell students more choices as they work toward careers in an increasingly competitive workforce. Below are some of the major announcements made in 2012:
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry
In May, the Divinity School announced the creation of a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degree, available beginning this fall. The MACM is a professional degree designed to prepare men and women for specialized, ordained or lay ministry. It will provide a foundation in the theological disciplines and specialized training in an area of specialized ministries. “It will allow focused preparation for ministry that will be especially suited for and accessible to persons who may already be serving in churches, in lay ministry, and in other ministry contexts,” said Divinity School Dean Dr. Andy Wakefield.
Master of Science in Public Health
In June, the College of Pharmacy & Health Science’s Master of Science in Public Health degree was awarded accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The inaugural class will arrive in August of this year. The two-year program anticipates filling more than 20 seats in the first class. The degree will focus on rural health care disparities and address the shortage of public health professionals. Students will work with faculty members to complete the Harnett County Public Health Assessment over the next year and partner with health departments, community clinics and other local organizations to conduct research and execute campaigns.
Dual Degree: Juris Doctor, Master of Science in Public Health
In July, Campbell Law School and the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences announced the establishment of a four-year dual degree program, which began last fall. The program allows students to pursue and obtain a Juris Doctor at Campbell Law, as well as a Master of Science in Public Health from the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. “The JD/MSPH is a powerful degree that will provide our students with an understanding of the intersections between law, health policy, and public health,” said Campbell Law Interim Dean Keith Faulkner. “JD/MSPH students will study topics including community health, health system reform and policy research. This program will be a great compliment for those students seeking a traditional legal job in health law and will provide an alternative career path for those seeking careers in the health care policy and non-profit arenas.
Physician Assistant Program
Campbell’s physician assistant program began in 2011, but 2012 saw the second class and thus, the program was at full-strength in terms of enrollment for the first time. A physician assistant education at Campbell is split up into two “years.” The inaugural class concluded the classroom portion of their education in August 2012 and began their 15-month clinical rotations last fall. The second class of PA students, 40 of them, began their journey last fall. Over the course of the 28-month program, the students are being trained and licensed to practice medicine, with Campbell’s program focusing primarily on rural or medically underserved areas. PAs differ from MDs or DOs in that they’ll be required to practice under the supervision of a physician.
Dual PA, Public Health Degree
In September, the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences launched the first dual physician assistant, public health degree in North Carolina. The new program, which takes less than three and a half years to complete, will begin next fall, allowing students to graduate with a Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree and a Master of Science in Public Health degree in December 2016. The PA and public health degrees normally last 28 months and two years, respectively. The dual degree was designed to broaden PA students’ perspective on health care services in terms of community or population needs, and teach them how to contribute as community health leaders, educators and policy makers.
Homeland Security Degree
One of the University’s most popular courses and areas of study in the past few years, Homeland Security will now be offered as a major beginning this year. Homeland Security students study to become familiar with domestic and international terrorist organizations, recognize strategies for disaster prevention and examine areas of the world in which international terrorist organizations are formed. Campbell will be one of the few universities in the country (and the only in North Carolina) to offer the major once the program begins.