Adult Education Opportunities at Cedar Crest and Muhlenberg Colleges In an ideal world, moving from high school to college is a smooth and natural progression. But for many people, life has a nasty habit of throwing things in their way: lack of funding, illness, family responsibilities and other day-to-day situations can throw education plans off-track. Resuming your quest for more knowledge as an adult may seem daunting, but we’re lucky to have two nearby colleges that offer programs tailored to the needs of older students. Let’s take a quick look. Muhlenberg College offers full four-year degrees, certificates and other non-credit programs. “We focus on mid-career professionals,” says Shane Baglini, marketing director for the school of continuing studies. “Those people are looking to take the next step in advancing their careers.” “Muhlenberg’s accelerated degree program enables adult learners to complete degrees in 24 months or less, in fields such as human resources, healthcare management and business administration,” Baglini said. Traditional undergraduate degrees are available for numerous other fields, such as psychology, accounting, and chemistry. Classes for them are generally held during evening and weekend hours. And if you already have a degree – but want to change career directions – Muhlenberg’s certification program might meet your needs. “For example, you might have a degree in accounting, but decide you really want to teach. You can take college-level classes in your new field, although without earning actual college credit, and receive a certificate that documents your accomplishment,” Baglini said. Adult learners will often find a different type of teacher there. Classes are often led by people who still work in that field, giving older students the benefit of their real-world experience.
There’s a different structure for adult-education tuition, Baglini adds. “You might earn credit for real-world learning, or take advantage of scholarships. Many employers offer business-related tuition reimbursement. And in some instances, you can pay per-course, rather than a flat fee for a semester,” he said. “Your tuition also gives you access to Muhlenberg’s career center and other services.” And don’t sell yourself short. Admission qualifications vary by program, “Don’t presume you can’t get in. Many people see Muhlenberg as a very selective school, and presume they won’t qualify. But that’s not necessarily true. There are many variables that can assist you, and you might be surprised to learn how accessible a Muhlenberg education can be,” he said. For more information about adult education opportunities at Muhlenberg College, visit Muhlenberg.edu/gce. Cedar Crest College offers 20 bachelor degree programs for adult learners, according to Dr. Erika Davis, vice president of enrollment and marketing. “These include nursing, education, social work, psychology, accounting and business,” she said. Most of these classes are available during evening hours, along with online and weekend formats. Undergraduate certificate programs include healthcare management, human resources management, crime and community mapping, child welfare and gerontology. Graduate certification fields include CPA; human resource management; management information systems; strategic leadership and analytics; early childhood education; English as a second language; reading specialist; special education; sports performance and many others. Davis added that Cedar Crest offers the only M.S. in crime science in the country. “Our students to get actual
PHOTO COURTESY OF MUHLENBERG COLLEGE
ADULT EDUCATION
field experience,” she said, and the school’s center for police innovation and community engagement works closely with the Allentown Police Department. If you’ve already made headway toward a degree, you can transfer up to 68 credits from a community college, and up to 90 from a fouryear school. “We take a high-touch approach,” Davis said, “and we can meet with you while you’re still enrolled at a community college and help guide you through the transition – making sure you receive maximum credit.
We want to help you build a pathway to success.” Cedar Crest offers tuition assistance, such as merit scholarships and grants, but also collaborates with local companies for tuition reimbursement and similar programs. Get more information about adult learning at Cedar Crest College by visiting https://www. cedarcrest.edu/sage/. And please note: this article is not exhaustive, and is meant for general-information purposes. For answers about your particular situation, contact the schools. n
HOME OF THE THE LOCAL FREEZE Whipped Cream
Chocolate Coffee Sugar
Vanilla Ice Cream
Bananas
Nutella
Jay's Local www.jayslocal.com
Cold Brew
2301 W. Liberty Street Allentown, PA 18104
610-351-3100 contact@jayslocal.com
SUMMER 2022
WEST END LIVING 3
