New master's, bachelor's programs coming to Indiana University in 2025
Indiana University has several new degrees and programs coming to the Bloomington campus in 2025.
From a one-year master’s degree in legal studies aimed at addressing Indiana’s lawyer shortage to a bachelor’s in music business at the Jacobs School, here are some of the programs that are coming to Bloomington’s campus next year.
A Master of Legal Studies degree from the Maurer School of Law
Beginning in fall 2025, the IU Maurer School of Law will offer a Master of Legal Studies (MLS), a 30-credit-hour, one-year program designed for people who want to have a professional understanding of law, but not to be a lawyer.
According to a story from the Indiana Lawyer, the Maurer School will become the 67th accredited law school in the country to offer an MLS program. The Purdue Global Law School also offers an online MLS program.
Maurer School Dean Christina Ochoa said the program may help address the lawyer shortage in Indiana by allowing more people to get jobs that require professional legal competence.
A Master of Public Policy degree from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
In September, IU’s trustees approved a new Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs beginning in fall 2025. The MPP is a 48-credit-hour program focused on the evaluation and design of public policy. The O’Neill website says the MPP is tailored for those who are seeking a degree in policy analysis, policy research, government relations, management and administration.
The O’Neill School offers the No. 2-ranked Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program in the country. MPAs and MPPs often work in similar fields like policy and government, but MPAs often have a greater focus on leadership and administration.
A teacher apprenticeship program for undergraduate education students
In November, the U.S. Department of Labor approved IU as a sponsor for the Registered Apprenticeship Program, aimed at addressing the teacher shortage in Indiana and the U.S.
The program allows students seeking a bachelor’s degree in education to receive on-the-job training and apprenticeship for elementary, special and secondary education, earning a teaching license by the time they graduate. Throughout their undergraduate education, students in the apprenticeship program will work in schools and take IU classes that teach inclusive instructional strategies, receiving progressively increasing wages as they do.
New teachers generally must complete a two-year mentorship program to receive a teaching license in Indiana.
The apprenticeship program will begin with a small group in spring 2025 and will be expanded in the summer and fall semesters.
A Master of Design Leadership at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design
In September, IU’s trustees approved a new Master of Design Leadership degree at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design. The approximately 30-credit-hour, one-year program focuses on leadership skills, ethics, design processes and problem solving in the design field.
According to an Indiana Commission of Higher Education (ICHE) November agenda, the program is the first of its kind in Indiana.
A Bachelor of Science in Music Business at the Jacobs School of Music
Beginning in fall 2025, the IU Jacobs School of Music, in partnership with the Kelley School of Business, will offer a Bachelor of Science in Music Business.
The Music Business program prepares students for how music is made and managed, music property rights and royalties, music marketing, finances and more.
Others programs coming to IU in 2025
IU is expected to offer several other programs in 2025, pending approval from the ICHE.
A Master of Science in Geographic Information Science (GIS) program in the College of Arts and Sciences
A Master of Science in nutrition program in the School of Public Health
A Bachelor of Science in sexual and reproductive health program in the School of Public Health
A Master of Science in economics and data science program in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: New master's and bachelor's programs coming to IU Bloomington in 2025