ISSUED: 30 April 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd University Board of Governors set the tuition for Shepherd’s first-ever doctoral program, the doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) degree, at its April 30 meeting.
The board approved the tuition rate of $649 per credit hour with no differential between in-state and out-of-state rates. Courses which have a clinical component will have an additional $200 fee.
Shepherd’s D.N.P. program, which was approved by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in March, has permission to recruit students for the fall semester 2015, pending final approval from the Higher Learning Commission, Shepherd’s accrediting body. The initial cohort will be 15 students, rising to 20 students in subsequent years. The D.N.P. program will be delivered at Shepherd’s Martinsburg Center.
In other business, the board approved the addition of a health emphasis to the Regents bachelor of arts degree (R.B.A.), a flexible degree program for adult students. The health emphasis consists of six courses selected from the areas of health, recreation, psychology, family and consumer sciences, criminal justice, and political science.
Also approved was a minor in art history, which requires 18 credits in art history, contemporary art, and art criticism.
The board approved the deletion of two concentrations in the business administration major—hospitality management and human resources. The changes, which come after a recent comprehensive review of the business administration curriculum, reflect the changing needs of business graduates.
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