Caldwell College's New Center for Graduate and Continuing Studies Focuses on Addressing Unique Needs of Adult Learners
Caldwell College's new Center for Graduate and Continuing Studies is offering adult students the exciting opportunity to learn and grow in an atmosphere that meets the needs of their busy lifestyles. "It really is a thrilling time for us. At the new Center, we recognize the unique academic needs and lifestyles of adults students," said Dr. Dennis DeLong, Dean of the new Center.
DeLong joined Caldwell College President Sister Patrice Werner, O.P., Ph.D, Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Paul Douillard and board of trustees members, faculty and staff at a celebration November 14 to kick-off the opening of the new Center.
In the Catholic tradition of St. Dominic, DeLong said, the Center provides goal oriented adult students with a supportive community to help them achieve their full potential. "Our adult students, in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, are very pleased with the flexible schedules, personal academic advisement, caring atmosphere and integrity and excellence in teaching that they receive at Caldwell College."
Caldwell College offers 28 undergraduate and 17 graduate programs to adult students.
Among its many outstanding graduate programs, Caldwell continues to be the first and only college in New Jersey to offer graduate training in art therapy. "The graduate program, which began in fall 2000, offers both a 60-credit Masters in Counseling Psychology with Art Therapy Specialization and a 30-credit Post-Masters Specialization in Art Therapy and is approved by the American Art Therapy Association," said Marie Wilson, Coordinator of Art Therapy Programs at Caldwell.
In the Education Department, Caldwell College offers a Post-Baccalaureate program for the student who has a degree in education but now wants to seek an additional endorsement to teach students with disabilities. The M.A. in Special Education has two options-students who are not certified in general education can gain dual certification in both general education and special education and students who are currently certified in general education can specialize in working with children with learning disabilities. "This program offers over 100 hours of field experience in surrounding school districts to gain practical knowledge and training in the special education environment," said Professor James Vivinetto, Coordinator of Special Education Graduation Studies at Caldwell. Vivinetto said the program focuses on Special Education Laws in compliance with the Individual Disabilities Education Act, an overview of learning disabilities and the latest trends in collaboration, inclusion and assistive technology. "This popular program has greatly increased in enrollment since its inception two years ago and offers a dynamic partnership in both general and special education in the metropolitan schools," Vivinetto said.
With New Jersey leading the country in the incidence of autism, with 1 in 94 children affected, there is a great demand for specialists trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a well-developed and highly-effective educational intervention for children with autism. To address that need, Caldwell College offers an 18-credit Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in ABA and a 39-credit Masters Degree in ABA, the first and only of its kind in NJ. The ABA programs are approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc., as meeting the coursework requirements to sit for certification in ABA. "There are many employment opportunities for educational specialists skilled in ABA. School and home programs for children with autism desperately need qualified people and Caldwell College is at the forefront of training ABA specialists," said Dr. Sharon Reeve, Coordinator of the ABA programs at Caldwell.
Caldwell's recently introduced MBA program is already making its mark. The 39-credit program offers a general track as well as specialized ones in Accounting and Not-for-Profit Management. "We are developing a wonderful cadre of MBA students," said Professor Bernie O'Rourke, Associate Dean of the Division of Business. "In addition to our well-developed academic work in the classroom, there is an excellent "esprit de coeur" being generated among our graduate business students as they extend classroom teamwork and projects into the co-curricular and networking spheres. An excellent example of this was the recent exercise by teams of our marketing students where they made detailed presentations to the "town fathers" of Caldwell Borough on ways to increase the downtown business activity of the town." One of the hallmarks of the MBA program is the flexibility it offers, with students being able to choose between evening, weekend and distance learning offerings.
Adult students pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Caldwell College can choose from 28 different exciting majors. Caldwell recently set up transfer agreements with Camden County Community College, Berkeley College in West Paterson and Burlington County College. "The greatest benefit of our continuing education program is the flexible way we offer instruction. It has to be that way for adults. They work. They have families. We want this to be academically challenging, but not schedule-challenging for them." DeLong said. He said Caldwell College "has been in this game of educating adult learners" for many years and that is one of the reasons the College opened the new Center. "We know how to do this right. We know how to provide excellence in teaching and to make the educational experience rewarding for adults. It's just a great place to be a student."
The Center for Graduate and Continuing Studies offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. For more information, please call the Center at (973) 618-3413 or visit www.caldwell.edu.