Increasing focus on post-grad education at Fresno State

By Chhun Sun
The Collegian

For the past couple years the graduate program at Fresno State has carried a renewed sense of focus.

It is part of an effort to offer a quality graduate education in the Valley, said Dianne Dickerson, interim dean of graduate studies.

“There’s a need in our valley to produce graduate education to our students,” she said. “We have a number of quality programs and many of our students are satisfied and proud of the graduate education they’ve received here and proud of our graduate programs.”

The Division of Graduate Studies held a Grad Expo on campus about two weeks ago where more than 400 prospective graduate students spoke to graduate faculty and current graduate students to get an idea of what they want to do.

Attendance has doubled since the last time the biannual event took place, Dickerson said.

Post-baccalaureate student Crystal Cano, who is taking one counseling class this semester, went to the expo and said the experience gave her a glimpse of what to expect from the graduate program — more specially, the counseling program.

“Most students think a bachelor’s degree isn’t enough,” Cano said. “A lot of jobs ask for a master’s degree.
“My field requires one.”

The university now offers 43 master’s degree programs, a joint doctorate degree program, certificates of advanced study and the credential programs for students to pick and choose from.

This fall about 3,000 students of the nearly 20,000 enrolled at Fresno State are participating in graduate studies.

“I think that there’s always been a focus on the grad program,” Dickerson said. “It’s a way to move up our classification.”

Last week the history department announced it now offers an option for its graduate students to improve the way San Joaquin Valley teachers instruct American history by better educating them. Other additions to the graduate program this year include a master’s degree in biotechnology, teaching and a sports psychology option in the master’s program in kinesiology.

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