By Charles Ratliff
Arizona Daily Wildcat
They are being referred to as "The New Majority." They work full-time jobs and have family obligations.
They are returning adult students, and their numbers are growing at universities across the country.
The Evening and Weekend Campus, a division of Extended University, has set up two back-to-school workshops for adults who wish to complete the University of Arizona admissions process and to fulfill requirements necessary for a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies through the College of Arts and Sciences.
"The Evening and Weekend Campus is focused on offering classes that will meet requirements for degree majors," said Anita McDonald, associate director for Summer Session and Evening and Weekend Campus.
"The degree is the same degree as any daytime student would earn," said Judy Seger, academic adviser for the program. "The Evening and Weekend Campus student has to fulfill the same requirements. They must conform as any other student."
Seger said the program attempts to identify the adult students' needs and match them on a path best suited for their career goals through the interdisciplinary studies degree. Or, students can work on a specified degree path through the College of Business, she said.
McDonald said the length of time to complete a bachelor's degree for an Evening and Weekend Campus student varies depending on how many credits the student is taking and whether the student enrolls in Summer Session, as well as both fall and spring semesters.
"If they come having completed an associate's degree, it could take anywhere from two to six years," McDonald said. She said the average student in the program takes six credit hours per semester.
Seger said that after students complete their general education requirements, they can choose three areas of study from seven categories, depending on their interests and where their career paths lie.
She said two of the three areas must be in one college, such as the College of Arts and Sciences, while the third can be in an area of their choice. The student must complete eight classes in each area. Those can be chosen from four lower division classes, but four must be upper division classes.
Seger said that before students begin the course of study in each area, they must be approved by the respective advisers.
She said that without the departments' advisement, the students wouldn't be able to accomplish such a diversified course load.
The workshops will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. and Sunday, Nov. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Extended University, 1955 E. Sixth St.