New economics degree offered by USU in China
A new degree of economics is at hand for students at three Chinese universities which are partners with USU. USU has partnered with these schools to offer both associate and bachelor’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies, but after hearing students’ requests, USU is proposing a change to offer a degree in economics.
The students are interested in business, which has been the focus of the interdisciplinary degree, but have expressed interest in an economics degree, said Chris Fawson, member of the International Cooperative Education and Initiatives and economics professor.
This is one of the reasons the International Cooperative Education and Initiatives is working on this change, said Li Li, director of the program. The universities in the partnership are Northeast Dianli University in Jilin City, Beijing, Institute of Technology and the Institute for Advanced Learning in Hong Kong, China. The program began in 2000 with NEDU. Professor Dwight Israelsen said the college has been laying the groundwork of changes such as this for the past few years. If passed, the interdisciplinary degree would no longer be offered except for those students in the program who want to complete it, Israelsen said.
“The interdisciplinary degree would be phased out and the economics degree would be implemented in,” Fawson said. Changing the degree would also move it from being directed by the Provost’s Office to the College of Business and the economics department. This is still in the process of changing as part of the degree change, but Fawson said it only needs the approval of the Board of Regents. Israelsen said the change to departments is something Provost Raymond Coward and the Provost’s Office has been working on, trying to move the degrees to an academic home. “We want the degree housed in-department because that’s where the commitment to excellence is,” Fawson said.
The economics degree requirements will be the same as they are at the Logan campus, Israelsen said, as are entrance requirements to the program. The professors as USU create the curriculum, syllabuses and lesson plans and then have course instructors who deliver the material at the Chinese universities, Fawson said. All classes are taught in English, and if USU students in China aren’t able to meet the requirements, they can take intensive English classes. Communication between the two professors or the sister universities is daily with e-mail, phone calls or Web-camera conversations, Fawson said.
“We have a very strong and outstanding partner-working relationship,” Li said of USU in Logan and those in China.
Retired professors have been sent to China to teach specific classes, and some current USU professors spend intensive weeks at each university Li said. The USU professors and students in China have also come to spend time at the Logan campus allowing them a new experience Li said.
There are more than 200 new students this semester at the three universities, Li said, and between the three universities, there are 816 total students this semester.
The engineering department is also looking at offering degrees to USU students in China, said Li, who is working with the group. While the Chinese Ministry of Education has strict rules about foreign degrees, Li said USU has maintained a good relationship, which allows them to bring programs in faster.
USU students also benefit from having campuses in China, Israelsen said. A group of 40 students is going to visit China this summer and experience not only the universities, but also the culture, he said. It also opens up opportunities from them in working with larger, international corporations housed in China, he said.
The International Cooperative Education and Initiatives members said they hope the proposal to change to an economic degree and move the directing back into the department will pass before the end of this school year.
-alison.baugh@aggiemail.usu.edu