Texas Business reports: STEPHENVILLE, Texas—The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently approved Tarleton State University’s request to offer additional bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at its outreach campuses located in Fort Worth and Waco.

MacGregor M. Stephenson, assistant commissioner of the THECB, notified Tarleton on Dec. 21, 2011, that the university’s request met the criteria for approval of additional degree programs.

“We are extremely pleased to have these programs officially added to our inventory of programs approved for delivery at our Southwest Metroplex Center in Fort Worth and the McLennan Community College-University Center in Waco,” said Karen Murray, Tarleton’s provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, in a prepared statement. “This level of approval provides a mechanism for a long-term commitment for delivery of these programs. A larger inventory of programs provides Tarleton students taking classes at these locations with more choices and enables them to choose programs that match their specific career interests.”

Degrees approved for the Southwest Metroplex Center include: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sciences (B.A.A.S.) with major in criminal justice administration; B.A.A.S. with major in manufacturing and industrial management; B.A.A.S. with major in information technology; Bachelor of Applied Technology with major in health professions technology; Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) with major in accounting; Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with major in accounting, B.B.A. with major in computer information systems; B.B.A. with major in management; B.S. with major in family and consumer sciences; Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) with major in social work; Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) with major in criminal justice; and Master of Science with major in medical laboratory sciences.

Among the degree programs approved at the McLennan Community College-University Center are: B.B.A. with major in accounting; B.B.A. with major in computer information systems; B.B.A. with major in management; B.S. with major in agricultural services and development; B.S. with major in interdisciplinary studies; B.S. with major in family and consumer sciences; B.S.W. with major in social work; Master of Education with major in curriculum and instruction; and M.C.J. with major in criminal justice.

The Texas A&M University System board of regents approved Tarleton’s request to offer additional degree programs at the two campuses during its July 2011 meeting.

The additional 11 degree programs offered to students in Fort Worth brings the total to 37 available programs, while the nine new programs of study at the MCC-University Center brings the total to 29 degrees available in Waco.

Students enrolling at the outreach campuses may choose courses and entire programs offered via a variety of delivery modes, including face-to-face, blended or online. Some programs are offered in a wholly online format, some blended and some face-to-face, while others are offered in a cohort model.

“Tarleton’s off-campus outreach initiatives reflect the university’s goal to extend our reach to communities and students,” said Kimberly Rynearson, assistant vice president for outreach and off-campus programs in a statement. “The degree programs Tarleton offers at its outreach sites are a response to requests from students, our community college partners, and demand in the labor market, as well as from findings from our ongoing program needs analysis.”