Both "Distinctive Doctorate" and "21st Century Students" are intended to be double entendres. Our students are 21st century graduate students. And, in turn, they will be teaching 21st century undergraduate students. Both groups --- graduates and undergraduates --- are different; and colleges of the 21st century are different than those of the past century.

More students are attending college. These students typically are not in the 18 to 22 year old traditional college student age range. Often they work while going to school. Commonly they are parents. Frequently they live off campus. Many students attend institutions spawned in the last 30 years.

According to the National Science Foundation, 41% of science, mathematics, engineering and technology courses are taught in two-year institutions [National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources (1996). Shaping the Future: New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. Washington, DC: author.].

College teaching is different. Technology has altered how courses are taught on campus and it opens new avenues for people to pursue college work as courses and programs are available on the Internet.

Because students and colleges are different, Ball State has developed distinctive doctorates to enable their students to meet their professional goals in a new millennium.

Click "next" for more about Ball State's distinctive doctorates