MTSU Becomes First Public University in Tennessee to Advance New 90-Credit Bachelor’s Degree
Middle Tennessee State University is leading a new effort in Tennessee to offer a shorter, workforce-focused bachelor's degree aimed at preparing students for careers protecting children and supporting vulnerable youth.
MTSU recently became the first public university in Tennessee to receive permission from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) to move forward with a proposal for a Focused Baccalaureate Degree in Youth Protection and Prevention Services.
The proposed 90-credit-hour degree would provide students with a more direct pathway into careers serving children and families, particularly in communities experiencing shortages of qualified professionals.
“This milestone places MTSU at the forefront of Tennessee’s new effort to create shorter, workforce-focused bachelor’s degree pathways,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. “This particular degree in Youth Protection and Prevention Services responds to a documented workforce need in Tennessee.”
The university will now begin the formal proposal process. If approved, the program would help address critical staffing shortages in child protective services and related fields across the state.
The proposal follows a Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury audit of the Department of Children's Services that identified concerns involving child safety, investigations, housing, healthcare and facility oversight.
The audit also revealed significant workforce challenges within Child Protective Services, including a 23.3% employee turnover rate and a 20.3% vacancy rate. Persistent staffing shortages have contributed to increased caseloads, potentially affecting the timeliness and thoroughness of child protection investigations.
“Our audit identified significant staffing challenges within Tennessee’s Child Protective Services program, and I am encouraged to see MTSU exploring innovative ways to help address this need,” Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower said.
Peter Grandjean, dean of MTSU's College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, said the proposed degree is designed to connect education directly with employment opportunities while giving students greater flexibility in completing their education.
“This fulfills a huge need,” Grandjean said. “We are not only shaping the state with this degree pathway, but we are shaping the nation.”
The interdisciplinary program would combine coursework in social work, criminal justice, psychology and public health. Students would have opportunities to earn employer-recognized microcredentials and certificates while working toward their bachelor's degree.
A central component of the program would be mandatory participation in Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST), a nationally recognized, evidence-informed curriculum that prepares professionals to prevent, identify, investigate and respond to child maltreatment.
MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes said the new degree pathway creates opportunities to reach additional student populations while strengthening partnerships with employers and organizations throughout Tennessee.
“We have a great opportunity to serve new student populations with Focused Baccalaureate Degrees in Tennessee,” Byrnes said. “I’m excited to see our faculty in conversations with workforce partners, interested nonprofits, and state agencies to move forward with degree proposals.”
Another important feature of the proposed program is its flexibility for students who may need to temporarily pause their education. Because students would earn certificates and credentials throughout the program, they could use those qualifications to pursue employment while continuing to work toward completing their bachelor's degree.
Additional coursework would allow students to develop specialized expertise in social services, juvenile justice and public health.
Grandjean emphasized that the program is being developed as an entirely new degree rather than simply reducing the number of credit hours required for an existing bachelor's program.
“This is a brand-new, unique program. It is not a reduction in credit hours from an existing program,” Grandjean said.
Grandjean credited MTSU Department of Social Work professors Vickie Harden and Carmelita Dotson with developing the program's framework and establishing relationships with state agencies and industry partners.
“We are so excited to offer this innovative program that aligns with a career path so important to our children and families in Tennessee,” Harden said.
Mumpower praised the university's efforts, noting that focused bachelor's degrees could provide students with meaningful career opportunities while helping Tennessee meet workforce demands.
“I commend MTSU for taking this important step toward developing a program that could make a real difference for Tennessee's children and families,” Mumpower said.
University leaders say the Youth Protection and Prevention Services proposal could be the first of several shorter, career-focused bachelor's degree programs developed at MTSU.
“We will continue to pursue other focused bachelor’s degrees that could have similar impacts for our state’s economy,” McPhee said.
