November 7, 2011

Students at Medicine Hat College now have more choices when it comes to obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Medicine Hat.

Officials from Mount Royal University were on campus Monday to sign an official partnership agreement, giving students at MHC the option of earning a bachelor of business administration degree through their institution.

Students with a MHC business administration diploma with a major in accounting, management, marketing or financial services can carry on with studies for a third and fourth year to complete the MRU degree in Management. Classes will be taught based on the MRU curriculum but will use MHC resources and faculty.

“This is a great addition to our offerings at MHC,” said Dr. Linda Schwartz, vice president of academic at MHC. “Our students have a great opportunity to stay at our institution with the faculty they know and benefit from the recognition a bachelor’s degree provides.”

Several students are already enrolled in the program this fall, and Schwartz expects the program to continue flourishing.

“Business students are eager to stay in Medicine Hat and receive a degree such as this. For many students, Medicine Hat is their home and it provides many economic advantages for them to stay here for school,” she said. “We expect that the program will become a popular choice.”

Schwartz added that the community will also benefit from the MRU degree offering.

“These students will be more likely to stay in our community after graduation,” she said. “Our region will prosper from having more local graduates contribute directly to the growth of our economy and mitigate the potential outflow of knowledge that occurs when students have to leave to complete their education.” 

Students wishing to obtain a degree on the MHC campus now have a dozen choices, including several collaborative degrees with universities in the province.