The Go-To For Professional Success

A Graduate Degree is a solid investment that can take a career to the next level.

Radford University serves those aspiring to open new doors for professional advancement or to stand out from the competition in today’s job marketplace. Its rich menu of programs can sharpen professional skills and broaden knowledge.

Master’s degrees are a popular way to enable career change or career advancement. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of master’s and doctoral degrees conferred is expected to continue increasing through 2022-23. A graduate degree has the potential to significantly increase earnings. On average, employers will pay 21 percent more to those who hold a master’s degree than to those with a bachelor’s degree, according to 2015 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Several of Radford University’s largest graduate degree programs — in fields of education, healthcare and social service and business — are among those fields in which the master’s degree can pay the greatest financial dividends.

“A hallmark of the Radford graduate school experience is the focus on advanced professional training and applied research as preparation for professional success,” said Acting Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR) Laura Jacobsen.

Graduate study is a central part of the Radford campus fabric.

The CGSR coordinates Radford University’s rich menu of graduate offerings:

• Twenty-two master’s programs in 17 disciplines

• Three doctoral programs

• Eleven post-baccalaureate certificates

• One post-master’s certificate

According to Jacobsen, additional program options are being developed. These include innovative options using online and hybrid delivery formats, thereby providing flexible learning paths.

Those looking to enhance their credentials at Radford University will find a highly supportive environment. A core strength of Radford University’s graduate school experience is the engaged faculty who embrace teaching and provide significant, close professional direction.

The cohort of Radford University graduate students receives solid support. Nearly half of all full-time Radford University graduate students have some form of assistantship or fellowship. Additionally, more than 70 Radford University graduate students in the 2016-2017 academic year received professional development awards supporting their travel to present at professional conferences.

“The facilities for many of our programs are designed for innovation. They are creative, high-tech platforms for 21st-century teaching and learning that forge connections to advanced professional careers,” Jacobsen said. “Our program facilities are now as modern and strong as the faculty who teach and as the programs themselves.”

There are inherent values of a postgraduate degree. Some are careerrelated, according to Jacobsen, such as improved earning potential and broadened job opportunities. Jacobsen added that other personal benefits such as challenging one’s self, building new professional relationships, sharpening leadership skills and having freedom to deeply explore personal interests, make graduate study and a master’s degree a solid investment with a lifelong return.

“At Radford University, we are invested in each graduate student’s success,” Jacobsen said. ■