Texas Tech will offer a 3-year degree in Family Medicine starting fall 2011. The degree’s main goal is to make it easier and more affordable for students to become Family doctors. The degree first launched in 1970’s, but was terminated when students found the degree difficult to complete in 3- years, with no breaks. Basically the students were completing a 4-year degree in 3-years. This new family medicine 3-year degree program will allow the students to have a summer and winter break counterpart to their peers. Advocates for the degree say the majority of the fourth year is taking elective classes and not directed towards medicine. Texas is in need of health care professions, especial doctors, like many other states. Since President Obama signed the health-care bill there will be millions more demanding health care.
I thought this was an appealing article to write my blog on because this was a topic bought up in class on Saturday. A couple Colorado Universities have mentioned offering 3-year degrees to their students. I am not sure if this is because of the economy or a marketing method to get student to attend their school. The idea of the 3-year degree seems ideal, but is it realistic? The fourth year of electives should also be important; most students attend a 4-year college to learn other topics besides their main topic (degree). In the working world students are not going to be dealing with nothing else but their degree, they are going to encounter several different issues and it is important to have same knowledge on some of these topics. Without taking elective courses will student know many of the different jobs or current issues in the world?
It is understandable why students in the 1970, found a 3-year degree difficult. At this time the degree was no cheaper because the students still had to pay for school in the summer and during winter breaks. Yes, a degree in 3-years sounds amazing, but are we willing to let the students miss a year’s worth of education. Does this fourth year really impact the student’s education?
When I was talking to one of my groups this weekend we thought it would be an idea to offer a 3-year degree, however our model was similar to the model in the 1970’s. Are students different now than in the 1970’s? Can students in the twenty- first century complete a degree in 3- year with no breaks? Are these breaks from school imperative? These are a few questions I have been asking myself and have not found an answer. I am not sure if there necessarily is an answer to all of the questions, but the questions need to be asked before UNC offers a 3-year degree program.
http://chronicle.com/article/Texas-Tech-Announces-3-Year/64830/
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Naomi, This article is describing a medical program that removes one year, the 4th year. This to me is far different than shaving time off of an undergraduate degree.
ReplyDeleteThe last year of medical year is non-classroom based. Students do what is called externships. Externships are month-long visits, where studuents are either assigned or 'elect' to visit different residency programs. It can be an excellent opportunity to gain some hands on experience, as well as discover which programs might be a good fit because at the end of the year students place with a residency program where they will spend the next 3+ years as doctors in training.
UMKC takes a different route to cutting time off a student's path to medical practicioner. At UMKC students can do a 6 year program that combines undergraduate and med school training in a year-round format, effectively allowing bright minds to begin residency 2 years earlier.
-Adam
The idea of a three year degree sounds great if the students are willing to do continuous work with no breaks. You brought up the question as to whether students need the break that a four year degree brings and if they will miss out on experiences that will affect their social and professional life in that education program. What I feel is that there are no breaks in real life in the work place. People dont get winter break, spring break etc off. So if you were to llok at school as a full time job doing it full on in three years is no differnt then working at a job for three years. Will they miss out on certain aspects of college? Yes. But they will be better off for it ahead of their class in the work market and younger too. Students in the 21 century are a need it now type. I believe if they ahd the opportunity to get a degree faster they would take that opportunity.
ReplyDeleteBut...I am just a little concerned about the cramming that students must do with the shortened timeline. This isn't like going for a Ph.D. where if you are willing to break your back reading and writing for 3 years why not be granted the degree? I don't want to hear from my doctor "Oh yeah, the advanced stuff about cancer was covered as an elective that I didn't have time to take". I am all for making higher degrees more accessible, but doctors? Makes me nervous.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear insititutions proclaiming "Get your degree in 3-years" I always snicker. Can't students to that now? If summer terms are taken you can obtain your degree in 3-years. I obtained 2 bachelor degrees in two totally different areas in 4 years. I attended school full-time, worked part-time and enrolled in summer terms. If the committment is high, it can be done. A lot depends on the attitude of the student and what they want to gain from college. Pushing 4 years into 3 years does not leave much time for social and campus activities; however, if a student is academically driven than those activities probably have minimal importance. Life in general does not include "breaks" so why is that stressed in academics?
ReplyDeleteI personally think that the proclaimation of getting a degree in three years is a marketing plan in which the institution is attempting to gain enrollment and an "edge" over competing institutions.
The question comes to me is that how much is enough to obtain a degree. How long have higher edu institutions been offering 4 year degrees? The answer might be more than a century. Just look at the past few decades, many courses that are currently taught in college might be identical from the courses that were taught several decades ago. Time might be an issue, but I really think we should concern more about the curriculum issues.
ReplyDeleteI think there are two different discussions going on in the comment section based on this post from Naomi...
ReplyDelete(1) A 3 year medical degree... I am with Laura and I would be scared to have my doctor only be in school for three years. I feel like they would definitely be missing out on some pretty important things, if the average medical degree takes much more time than that. Especially if the degree is for "family medicine." Sorry, but I wouldn't trust my son in the hands of a doctor who had only gone to school for three years.
(2) The other discussion sounds like it is talking about a 3 year bachelors type degree. Which in that case, I would be completely in support of. I know several students who have done this. It is hard work, but for some it works for them. In doing this though, many students miss out on the "college experience" however, someone might define that. Whether it be getting involved in a school club, working on campus, experimenting with social norming, etc... some don't want that experience. For many in this generation, just want to get it done, get the piece of paper, and be on their way into the job market. As student affairs professionals, we are always trying to create the co-curricular experience for students, but at the end of the day not everyone wants it. We need to meet students where they are at and provide services to them that meet their needs.