Graduate Studies Fair Set for May 1

A Graduate Studies Fair at Fairmont State University on Tuesday, May1, is designed to be a "one-stop shop" for potential graduate students. Those interested in pursuing a graduate degree will be able to talk one-on-one with program faculty and financial aid counselors.

The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference Rooms of the Falcon Center. For more information, call the Office of Graduate Studies at (304) 367-4098.

FSU offers the following graduate programs: Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Human Services and a Master of Science in Nursing, which is offered in collaboration with Marshall University. For more details on these programs, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/graduatestudies.

"FSU is small enough to allow each graduate student opportunities for interaction with fellow students and distinguished faculty members, yet large enough to provide challenging and diverse areas of study," said Rick Harvey, Dean of Graduate Studies.

"To better serve graduate students, the university schedules classes at times designed to meet the scheduling needs of part-time as well as full-time students. In fact, several programs and many courses are delivered primarily online."

Many fields that once employed graduates with bachelor's degrees now prefer to hire those with master's degrees. Since 2005, the number of students enrolled in graduate courses at FSU has doubled to a total of about 650. Developing select graduate programs with a focus on regional needs is one of the main goals of FSU's Strategic Plan.

Graduate offerings continue to expand. Initial courses for the Master of Science in Human Services will be offered in the fall 2007 semester. The program will prepare students for administrative positions in human service agencies ranging from adolescent care facilities to facilities for the elderly or mentally disabled. Students will learn to deliver services based on the environmental conditions and mental state of their clients, how to assess client needs, how to control client environment, how to manage staff and how to assess community resources.

"This is the first Human Services master's degree program being offered in the state," Harvey said. "With the aging 'baby boomer' increase in the population, we anticipate a high demand for graduates of the HCSA program because of the increased need for human service facilities."

The U.S. Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts average to faster than average growth for social and human service workers between 2004 and 2014, ranking the occupations among the most rapidly growing in the nation. This translates to a growth rate in jobs between 17 percent and 27 percent or more for some regions.

Student internships will be arranged with local agencies that currently work with the Department of Behavioral Sciences by providing locations for undergraduate practicum. These locations include The WV Department of Human Services, Family Service Agency, Disability Determination Services, Valley Health Care System, Center for Independent Living, Fairmont General Hospital, Dept. of Social Services, Burlington Family Service Agency, Trauma Recovery Institute, Vintage Adult Day Treatment Center, United Summit Center, United Hospital Center Dept. of Social Services, Senior Citizens Centers, Hospice Care and Hope Inc., Domestic Violence Center.