In 1886, a group of visionary educators and business leaders saw the need for an educational institution that was dedicated to preparing graduates to meet workforce needs. Together they founded what is now American National University (ANU). Today, we look forward to the next century of growth in our “Evolution 2086” vision: expanding on new programs, venues, and methods of instruction – while maintaining our core values of providing quality degrees that meet the demands and needs of the continually evolving workforce. As a part of this vision, American National University is excited to announce several new programs designed to prepare students for in-demand jobs in the fields of business, health science, and information technology through new and innovative learning formats that fit the working student.
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Health Science
RN to BSN Online Program
The Institute of Medicine recommends that 80% of the nursing workforce should have their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree by 2020.1 To meet this goal, they are urging current nurses to achieve higher levels of education and training through programs that promote seamless academic progression.2 To answer the growing need for a higher educated nursing workforce, American National University developed the online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. Rather than wasting time and money, the ANU RN to BSN program allows licensed RNs who already have an associate’s degree to graduate with their bachelor’s degree in as little as 18 months.
For Bethel Robinette, RN, a graduate of the nursing associate’s degree program at the ANU Pikeville Campus, the RN to BSN program is the perfect step towards her ultimate goal of being a nurse practitioner. “I felt like all my instructors and all the content that I had in the two years I was in the [nursing associate’s degree] program really set me up for success,” she said of her past experience at American National University. She’s looking forward to a similar experience in the RN to BSN program. Delivered completely online, it gives her the flexibility she needs as a mom and a full-time worker to accomplish her degree. “It’s a tough road,” she said, urging other nurses to consider going back to school, “but it’s something you’ll never regret.”
Medical and Health Services Management
Brittany Hensley, a registered medical assistant (RMA) and graduate of the medical assisting program at the Richmond, Kentucky Campus, is working as a clinical services technician for UK HealthCare. She loves working in her field and is looking forward to advancing in her career. “I just want to keep moving up,” she said. Brittany decided to take the next step toward her career goal and enrolled in the online medical and health services management bachelor’s degree program. “I’m very straightforward and confident in my job and with the management [bachelor’s degree] I think I could get a management position,” Brittany explained.
[img]The need for medical and health services management is predicted to grow 23% (much faster than average) in the next ten years.3 As the health care system continues to expand, more skilled professionals who understand both the clinical and administrative sides of health care are required in order to lead the field in caring for patients and advancing medicine. To help meet the demand for these workers, American National University developed the medical and health services management bachelor’s degree program.
Designed to move skilled health professionals (such as medical assistants, nurses, pharmacy technicians, and others) into management, this degree takes into account previous education and work experience. With an associate’s degree in an allied health science field and certification or a year of experience, students can enter in the medical and health services management bachelor’s program at the junior level and earn a four-year degree in just two years. Delivered either completely online or in a blended on-campus/online format, the degree gives flexibility for workers to choose a learning style that best fits their needs and schedule.
Business
MBA Specializations and MBA-IT
From the beginning, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at American National University has been distinct in its customization to each MBA student’s goals and advancement in leadership. “Any conversation that I have with a potential MBA candidate always starts with: ‘What do you want the degree to do for you?’” shared Dr. Annette Chamberlin, vice president of academic affairs for business and management programs at ANU. “Once we establish that criteria – that’s how we customize projects and papers – so that we know that it will add just the right opportunities that the student is looking for.”
This fall, ANU has added another layer of customization to the program by building in four specializations in the fields of international business, accounting management, organizational management, and healthcare management. In addition to these specializations, a separate MBA degree was designed to prepare students for upper level management in the growing field of information technology. “I’m excited that we’re going to be able to offer greater value to our MBA students in terms of students being able to focus on a narrow niche of their expertise for their specialization,” said Annette.
Business Administration – Management Bachelor’s Degree
Training in project management gives you a foundational understanding of managing time, resources, and personnel that is fundamental to effective leadership of a business, department, or team. One of the only project-management focused baccalaureate degrees in the United States, American National University’s business administration – management bachelor’s degree program is designed to give students an added edge in their management career. Through classes structured around project management objectives and a capstone course in project management, the program helps to prepare students for the globally recognized Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).®
“This is where you have theory meeting a practical profession,” said ANU business instructor Clay Hodges, a quality assurance manager with over 30 years of business management experience. “The way the business structure is today, you actually have to have a project management background because there are no businesses anymore that don’t need it. Everyone needs it.” Students with this degree have greater opportunity to advance in their careers, participate in six sigma teams, and manage new verticals and ventures within their company/organization.
Information Technology
Network Support Associate’s Degree
In the field of information technology, certifications are not just an added benefit, they are a necessary component of validating your skill set to a future employer. “It’s not just that you have been to school,” said Dr. Dominic Boamah, vice president of academic affairs for information technology, “Certification is the stamp that you’ve actually done it, you can do it, and you are here to do it.” This link between certifications and advancement in the information technology field was the main factor in the design of the network support associate’s degree at American National University.
In the network support associate’s degree program, students gain the skills they need for entry level positions in IT departments by taking courses that are built around preparing for key certifications. “We have different options,” explained Dominic about the structure of the degree, “depending on your interests – depending on your capabilities and what you want to do, you can take the certification that will help you.” While earning their network support associate’s degree, students will be eligible to sit for the following IT certifications: CompTIA A+, Net+, Security+, and Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA). “The whole idea in our approach,” stated Dominic, “was to make sure that students get out and they are ready to go.” With information technology as a vital part of every business sector, the growing need for trained network specialists is predicted to increase much faster than average over the next ten years. “The industry is calling for people with the right skill set and right expertise,” said Dominic, “and we are responding to that call by developing these kind of curricula for students.”
1 http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/impact-of-education
2 http://campaignforaction.org/eight-page-IOMRept-summary
3 http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm
