Brock University has made more room for graduate students to meet a growing demand for its graduate programs.
The graduate student population has increased by 125 students to 1,544 for 2009-10 – exceeding targets set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. This increase translates into a nine-per-cent jump in the graduate student enrolment over 2008-09.
Marilyn Rose
The numbers demonstrate the growing reputational strength of the University’s master’s and doctoral programs, said Marilyn Rose, dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies.
“The competition for graduate students was intense this year,” she said. “For us to go beyond our enrolment projection is a strong indicator that our graduate experience is in high demand.”
The marked growth in the number of graduate students enrolled on a full-time basis as a measure of the maturity of graduate education at Brock, she said. Brock offers 33 master’s and six doctoral programs. The newest program, a master’s in Criticial Sociology, was launched in September. The University’s academic plan, Brock 2014, calls for several objectives in the graduate sector, including an increase in the proportion of graduate students to 10 per cent of the full-time equivalent (FTE) student population by 2014.
“As we grow, we are committed to ensuring students continue to receive the kind of personal learning experience they have come to expect from Brock,” Rose said. “That means engaging students as partners in our research and scholarship. It also means creating opportunities for our students to apply their knowledge through internships and other experiential learning programs.”
Brock’s growth of its graduate sector, Rose said, will have an impact on Niagara as businesses and industries look to tap into a pool of highly educated people.
“Niagara is transforming its economy – graduates from our master’s and doctoral programs will have the knowledge, skills and innovative spirit to lead new economic initiatives.”
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Graduate student enrolment 2009-2010
Total enrolment: 1,544
Students enrolled full time: 931
Students enrolled part time: 613
Students enrolled in master’s programs: 1,437
Students enrolled in doctoral programs: 107
