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Belmont Abbey College

The Catholic College of the South

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Belmont Abbey College Announces a New Graduate Degree in Communications

Belmont Abbey College Announces a New Graduate Degree in Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (January 23, 2024) – Today Belmont Abbey College announces a new Master of Arts in Communications degree. With this new in-demand Graduate program, Belmont Abbey is committed to developing a pipeline of qualified Communications professionals to join the professional world. The new values-based MA in Communications program aligns with the college’s mission to “provide students with an education that will enable them to lead successful lives and be a blessing to themselves and others.”

The college will welcome its inaugural MA in Communications cohort in the Fall of 2024. Dr. David Williams, Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Belmont Abbey College, speaks to the timeliness of this program launch. “Over the past 15 years, we have seen the Communications field grow by more than 35,000 job roles. This is in large part due to the versatility of the discipline, and the fact that Communications is a necessary skill in so many industries. We’re introducing this Master’s degree in Communications now because we believe that Belmont Abbey offers a unique lens with which to study Communications that will enable graduates to thrive as leaders in the workforce.” The new program embodies the Benedictine Hallmarks of community, hospitality, and stability by having students engage in active listening and communication with each other, nurture learning and actively seek truth, and build lasting relationships through open communication practices.

Dr. Erin Jensen, Program Director of the MA in Communications at Belmont Abbey College, says that this degree is designed intentionally for students to apply their learnings outside the classroom. “Communications is something that we all actively engage in daily, whether we realize it or not. We want to enable our students to effectively communicate in their professional and personal lives, and this starts with learning how to appropriately apply theory to real life. To achieve this, we developed a holistic program of communication studies that is rooted in ethics.”, Jensen said. The program incorporates specialized fields such as mass and digital communication with courses like Social Media Communication, User/Audience Research, and Visual and Digital Communication Studies. The MA in Communications is well-suited for both individuals with a Communications background looking to move up and those who are new to a variety of professional fields.  

Developed for working professionals, the MA in Communications is affordable, asynchronous, and 100% online. Unlike existing programs in the marketplace, courses are divided into 8-week sessions, allowing students to complete the degree within 12 months. Earning an MA in Communications is a critical step forward for professionals seeking a career in the field. Graduates with an MA in Communications are highly sought after by employers for their proficiency in organizational communications, research, and writing. These individuals qualify for critical job roles such as Marketing Communication Managers, Market Research Analysts, Fundraising Managers, Editors, Administrators, and more. For more information about this program, click here. 

Belmont Abbey College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 semester while the Master of Arts in Communications awaits final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Apply here. 

Press Inquiry Contact: Julia Long, Director of Enrollment Marketing, julialong@bac.edu or 423-827-8727

Download the press release.

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Belmont Abbey College Sponsors Lecture on “Unborn Children and Equal Protection”

Belmont Abbey College Sponsors Lecture on “Unborn Children and Equal Protection”

Professor Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, delivered a lecture entitled “Unborn Children and Equal Protection” at the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by Belmont Abbey College, Professor George’s lecture focused on the legal arguments presented in the “Brief of Amici Curiae Scholars of Jurisprudence John M. Finnis and Robert P. George in Support of Petitioners” submitted to the Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.

Read his entire lecture here. Download the press release.

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Belmont Abbey College Establishes New Nursing Advisory Board

Belmont Abbey College Establishes New Nursing Advisory Board

Belmont, N.C. (December 12, 2023) – Belmont Abbey College announces the establishment of a Nursing Advisory Board, focusing on collaborating with local community members to offer guidance and support for the college’s nursing program amidst the evolving healthcare landscape. Rooted in the Benedictine hallmarks and Catholic intellectual tradition, this initiative seeks to enhance the educational experience for nursing students and foster strong connections with healthcare professionals and organizations in the region.

The newly established Nursing Advisory Board will serve as a vital resource for Belmont Abbey College’s nursing program, offering valuable insights and expertise in matters of program effectiveness, advocacy, and promotion. Comprising a diverse group of healthcare professionals, the board will provide strategic guidance on program development, clinical partnerships, and emerging trends in the field of nursing. Board members include Dr. Trish Goble, Senior Director of Patient Care Services at CaroMont Health, Mr. Patrick Leonard, Abbey alum and nurse at Fairview Southdale Hospital, and Dr. Michael Vaccaro, Novant Health Greater Charlotte Market Chief Nursing Officer, along with twenty-two other university, professional, and healthcare consultants in the region. The inaugural meeting of the advisory board took place today, marking a significant milestone for Belmont Abbey College Nursing. 

The advisory board actively supports and advises Belmont Abbey’s nursing education programs as one of its primary objectives. By aligning their efforts with the program’s mission and goals, the board members will help achieve the objectives of the nursing program and serve the nursing discipline, as well as the regional and local healthcare community. Their guidance will ensure that Belmont Abbey Nursing continues to provide exceptional education and training to aspiring nurses. “We are thrilled to launch the Nursing Advisory Board and collaborate with esteemed professionals from our local community,” said Dr. Lee-Ann Kenny, Interim Chair and Director of Nursing. “Their wealth of knowledge and experience will greatly benefit our nursing program, enabling us to continue producing highly skilled and compassionate nurses who are well-prepared to meet the ever-changing healthcare needs of our society.”

Belmont Abbey College’s nursing program commits to excellence in nursing education. With a holistic approach that integrates medical discipline with a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences and Catholic healthcare ethics, the program equips students with the skills and competencies necessary to excel in the healthcare industry. The Nursing Advisory Board will play a crucial role in ensuring the program remains at the forefront of nursing education.

To learn more about Belmont Abbey College’s nursing programs, please visit https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/academics/healthcare-education

Press Inquiry Contact: Rolando Rivas, Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications, rolandorivas@bac.edu or 704.461.6561 

Download the press release.

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New Graduate Degree in Classical and Liberal Education

Belmont Abbey College Announces a New Graduate Degree in Classical and Liberal Education

Belmont, N.C. (December 5, 2023) – Today Belmont Abbey College announces the launch of a Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education. Through this degree, Belmont Abbey and its partner institutions will provide strong formation in classical pedagogy, the Great Books, the liberal arts, and the Christian and Catholic intellectual tradition. Intended for individuals with a passion for classical education, this degree program will enlighten classical educators on the formation of their students in the moral, intellectual, and theological virtues. In turn, these qualified educators will address the growing demand for classical liberal arts education coming from K-12 students and their parents.The college will welcome its first cohort for this new program in the Fall of 2024.

The new program aligns with Belmont Abbey’s mission to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences, so that God may be glorified in all things. Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Dean of the Honors College and Interim Provost, speaks to the need for this program. “At Belmont Abbey College, we believe in the development of the whole person—mind, body, and soul. During the undergraduate years, we help instill a foundation of critical thinking in our students so that they can go forth and lead virtuous lives. At the graduate level, individuals come to us with career and industry experience and a desire to lead. The new Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education takes this idea of educating the whole person and edifies educators on how to implement this approach so they can form future generations”, said Wysocki. Developed with administrators, educators, and non-profit leaders in mind, the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education follows an online, synchronous format with 30 credit hours required for graduation. This program is designed intentionally with a pathway for students to earn up to 12 graduate credits for prior learning through their completion of teaching apprenticeships at the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE) and the Center for Independent Research on Classical Education (CiRCE).

The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE), a robust supporter of Catholic educators, offers an attractive alternative to state teacher licensure. ICLE’s credential program prepares educators to infuse a deeply Catholic philosophy and practice of education into their teaching. “This new program at Belmont Abbey is a welcome opportunity for Catholic educators who seek to understand the Church’s long-standing tradition of education and apply that in their classrooms,” said Dr. Alyssan Barnes, Director of ICLE’s Credential Program. “It’s an excellent next step for many of our CEFC (Classic Educator Formation and Credential) graduates; our program introduces them to the great treasures of the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the M.A. in Classical and Liberal Education at Belmont Abbey will further deepen their intellectual formation.” The 18-month CEFC program contributes nine credit hours towards the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education and is delivered through in-person workshops and distance learning. The application period for ICLE’s credential program opens December 15, 2023. Click here to get more information on the program.

The CiRCE (Center for Independent Research on Classical Education) Institute provides inspiration, information, and insight to classical educators throughout the U.S. and Canada. The three-year Teaching Apprenticeship Program from the CiRCE Institute equips educators to understand the nature and principles of classical education and shows how to apply those principles in any classroom. “By partnering with Belmont Abbey College, we at The CiRCE Institute look forward to our Apprenticeship graduates being able to further develop the arts of truth perception with a trusted faculty. We are working toward the same end, toward the purpose of Christian classical education, which is the cultivation of human excellence”, says Andrea Lipinski, Vice-President of the CiRCE Institute. Students can pursue CiRCE’s Teaching Apprenticeship Program, accruing 12 credit hours, and pair it with the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education at Belmont Abbey. CiRCE is currently accepting registrations for the Teaching Apprenticeship Program. Register here.

Belmont Abbey College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 semester while the Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education is awaiting final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Get program information and apply here.

Press Inquiry Contact: Julia Long, Director of Enrollment Marketing, julialong@bac.edu or 423-827-8727 

Download the press release.

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