Since 2016, Missouri State’s graduate enrollment has risen, resulting in a 29% cumulative increase.  “We’re happy with the increase in total enrollment, and we’re particularly pleased to see substantial growth in students working to earn graduate credentials,” says Dr. Julie Masterson, dean of the Graduate College. “Since 2015, we’ve seen a 38% increase in this area. And this fall, we have 4,001 students pursuing degrees or graduate certificates — the first time we’ve exceeded the 4,000 mark.”

Strategies for Success

Masterson says these gains are the result of a multi-pronged strategy to meet students where they are and serve them with industry-focused preparation. She walked us through several facets of this approach.

New Graduate Programs

The addition of new programs has helped drive enrollment growth. These new programs are tailored to emerging industries and societal needs, and they appeal to a broad spectrum of prospective students. Examples include:

• In 2020, Dr. John Rose and his team in the department of defense and strategic studies launched the Doctor of Defense and Strategic Studies. It now has 122 students.
• Also in 2020, we rolled out the Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing. This program, managed by Graduate Program Director (GPD) Cristina Pippa, averages approximately 20 students each year. Students receive professionally-focused, industry-minded training that prepares them to work in the film and TV industry and in theaters throughout the world.
• This fall, we accepted the first class of the Doctor of Psychology program, designed to prepare students to meet the growing need for mental health care.

Innovations in Existing Programs

We’ve found that innovations within existing degree programs can make as big an impact as introducing new ones. Just a few examples of this innovation:

• Dr. Jerry Masterson, GPD for Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, is partnering with Dr. Chuck Garner in the Agency for Teaching, Leading and Learning and Dr. Kayla Lewis, GPD for Literacy programs, to provide paths for teachers who want advanced literacy training. In this program, students work toward an individual certificate. As an added benefit, if a student doesn’t have the academic credentials to gain admission to a master’s-level program, the certificate can provide a pathway to admission. It’s a better route than enrolling as a non-degree-seeking student because it allows students to be properly advised as they work toward the goal of pursuing a degree. This fall, there are over 100 students in this program.
• Another example is the STEM-focused Master of Business Administration, which is currently undergoing the approval process. Dr. Elizabeth Rozell and her MBA colleagues feel confident that this version of the degree will result in new markets, particularly with international students.

Leveraging External Opportunities

We’ve also used strategies to tap into external funding sources and expand outreach to new pools of international students. Examples include:

• College of Education Dean Dr. Barri Tinkler and her team have seen important gains through two recently-funded programs. Dr. Denise Cunningham leads the Elementary Mathematics Specialist Certificate program, which is designed to equip elementary teachers to offer quality math instruction; enrollment has increased from zero in 2021 to 84 this fall. Tinkler also worked with Dr. Reesha Adamson to classify our degrees in special education as apprenticeships. This change helped us double enrollment in special education graduate degrees from 2021 to 2022.
• We’ve also widened our recruitment efforts with an eye toward international students, which not only boosts enrollment numbers but also builds a multicultural learning space — preparing students for our interconnected world. We see two strong examples of this approach in the Computer Science program, led by Academic Unit Leader (AUL) Dr. Ajay Katangur and GPD Dr. Lloyd Smith, and the Project Management program, led by AUL Dr. Richard Gebken, GPD Dr. Nebil Buyurgan and Megan Dieckoff. These programs have tripled their enrollment over the past few years, primarily due to new students from southeast Asia. Brad Bodenhausen and his team have helped identify strong prospects, and faculty in these programs have been willing to go the extra mile to serve additional students. In fact, Bodenhausen, President Clif Smart and Provost Dr. John Jasinski are visiting China in October — representing Missouri State, speaking with students and facilitating new partnerships.

International Dual Degrees

Since 2018, partnerships with universities in China, spearheaded by Dr. Jerry Masterson, Warren Frerichs and Dandan Liu, have yielded 73 additional students in the Master of Professional Studies program.  After a brief hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, cohorts began returning in 2022 through online classes, and this fall, we welcomed these students back to campus. We’re now working to expand this program and add new partners in South America.

Increased Student Support

We’ve seen an increase in the number of graduate assistantships, and this has played an important role in our enrollment gains. Graduate College staff members Phillip Raleigh and Lisa Taylor ensure that these graduate assistants are supported. These assistantships give our students opportunities to gain practical experience in research, teaching or administration while also providing stipends and tuition/fee support. Units that employ graduate assistants get fresh perspectives, energy and knowledge.

Last year, we started a pilot program to allow community organizations to host graduate assistants. We launched the program with two assistantships at a local business; this year, we’ve placed seven community assistantships. From the student perspective, this program provides the same benefits as university placement and also expands the students’ professional networks. For the university, the program provides support for more graduate students without requiring additional university funding. We hope to continue to add partners to support both our community and our graduate programs.

Process Improvements

In 2018, many of our programs began using GradCAS for applications. Since we made this change, the number of applications processed by Amber McBride and her graduate admissions team has nearly doubled — rising from 2,227 to 4,241.

And students aren’t just starting graduate programs; they’re finishing. The number of students cleared to receive a graduate credential by Christy Graham, Graduate College team member, has increased by 44%. Dr. Carrisa Hoelscher, associate dean of the Graduate College, has implemented focused marketing and recruitment efforts and program-specific marketing campaigns.

We’re currently completing an inventory to reflect current practices and needs among our GPDs. The inventories will be completed and analyzed this fall, and we hope to develop plans for implementation during Spring 2024. We want to be sure that the role of the GPD is properly articulated and that programs have sufficient resources for strong marketing and recruitment, admissions and graduate student success.

Celebrating Changed Lives

From Spring 2015 through Summer 2023, Missouri State conferred almost 15,000 graduate credentials. For these graduates, this means the potential for more earnings, increased leadership opportunities and higher job satisfaction. Graduate education helps ensure that we cultivate informed citizens who are equipped to engage and lead in our complex world.