The graduate school at Northwestern State University is a combination of online and in-person classes. This creates a flexible work schedule for students, allowing them to meet all their academic needs while balancing their personal lives. The graduate program also provides students with opportunities in a supportive setting while encouraging them to push beyond their comfort zones.
While most undergraduate students have no idea what to expect from a graduate program, having professors and staff who value personal relationships with their students can help them feel better supported.
Jalivia Johnson, a clinical psychology second-year graduate student, discussed what makes the NSU graduate school different from any other. “This program is very hands-on and personable. Somewhere else, you may not be able to get as much one-on-one feedback as you would here. Nine times out of 10, you will be able to get immediate help with what you need because it is a very close-knit environment,” Johnson said.
While the graduate program may be small, it does not lack opportunities or connections for students. Adam Smith, a second-year graduate student in clinical psychology, discussed his experiences as a graduate student.
“The connections that I have had since I’ve been here have helped me showcase a little bit more of myself whenever I want to go on to the next level. I have gotten to meet different teachers who are well respected in the community, and if I needed anything, like a letter of recommendation, they would be right there for me,” Smith said.
Ella Dupuie, a senior English major and first-semester graduate student, detailed the opportunities provided to students in Scholars’ to pursue graduate studies.
“When I started touring NSU and the Scholars’ College, they told us about the five-year bachelor’s to master’s degree program and, to me, that just couldn’t be beat. I was already thinking of coming into the Scholars’ program and committing to that level of academic rigor. This is the perfect opportunity to get a higher education in pretty much the same amount of time that it takes the average college student to get their bachelor’s,” Dupuie said.
The professors in the graduate program always do their best not to avoid complacency and seek out new ways to improve the program. Ereck Jarvis, an associate professor of English and coordinator of the English graduate program, has been a professor at NSU for almost a decade and has seen the program’s evolution.
“I think we have consistently worked to make graduate education at NSU accessible and affordable, while still maintaining high standards for graduate students,” Jarvis said.
“Most recently, we have a new dean, Mary Edith Stacy, who is really doing a lot of work in terms of envisioning the future of the graduate school. We also want to develop a new application process that’s more practical for undergraduates,” Jarvis said.
The graduate program at Northwestern State University continues to grow and improve to meet students’ needs. Whether through personal relationships with students, opportunities for advancement or continued program development, the NSU graduate school fosters a community where students can be supported and succeed in higher education.
