Morningside College started a new online program in January that gives non-traditional students the opportunity to return to college and earn a bachelor’s degree in organizational management in 18 months or less. Students can apply as many as 94 previous college credits, leaving only 30 credits left to complete the bachelor’s degree.

Morningside College started a new online program in January that gives non-traditional students the opportunity to return to college and earn a bachelor’s degree in organizational management in 18 months or less.

Students can apply as many as 94 previous college credits, leaving only 30 credits left to complete the bachelor’s degree.

“A bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Morningside College can open the door to career advancement, preparing you for management and leadership positions in business, education, government and nonprofit industries,” said Dr. Michelle Laughlin, associate dean for online learning at Morningside.

Courses are offered in back-to-back eight-week sessions. There is no set class time; students complete the coursework at whatever time of day works best for them.

Craig Jorgensen of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, graduated from high school 20 years ago. He earned an associate’s degree in ag business, got a job, got married and had children. For the past 13 years, he has worked for Tyson Fresh Meats, where he is a national account sales representative.

Jorgensen always wanted to go back to school to complete his bachelor’s degree. He recently decided that it was time.

“It was just something that I felt I needed to do for myself,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s something that I can show my kids no matter what, you can accomplish what you put your mind to.”

Jorgensen emailed a couple of schools inquiring about their online degree programs but never got the feeling they had a solid program in place like he wanted. Then he sent an email to Morningside.

“I sent an email off at 9 o’clock in the morning, and they got back to me around 1 o’clock in the afternoon,” he said. “I’ve really noticed that with getting set up in the program and even with my professors now. When they say, ‘Shoot me an email, and we’ll get back to you,’ they really do.”

Jorgensen said accessibility is important in an online program and for someone like him, who hasn’t been in school for about 15 years. He said he emails professors regularly to make sure he understands instructions before beginning projects.

Jorgensen also said the courses at Morningside seem to have more real-life applications than the courses at other schools.

“This class that I’m in right now, I read through the course description that they have online, and it’s like, ‘I deal with that every day,’” he said.

Berth Kayembe Lundula moved to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo about 10 years ago. First she took classes to learn English – her fifth language – and then she completed an associate’s degree in marketing management.

After that, Lundula moved to Le Mars, Iowa, with her husband and four children. She got a job in production at Wells Enterprises, and then she found the online bachelor’s degree program at Morningside.

“Actually, that was my dream,” she said. “After associate’s, I wanted to get a bachelor’s. I’m even planning to get a master’s.”

Lundula said a bachelor’s degree will help her professionally. She also said it will help her in her work at home, as the wife of the pastor at The United Methodist Church of Le Mars, and as chair of Compassion Educational Pursuits, a nonprofit organization that helps Congolese children with school expenses.

So far, Lundula has found the program to be very manageable, even with all of her other responsibilities.

“Oh my goodness. I’m getting good grades!” she said. “It’s very good. I even sent an email to tell Michelle that this is a well-organized program. I’m sure all of the classes will be that way. From the first class, I feel like I can make it.”

Students must have at least 50 hours of college credit and at least two years of work or volunteer experience to be eligible for the program. Students can take as many as three four-credit courses per session, depending on what works best for their schedule.

Enrollment is ongoing. New sessions start on March 15, June 5 and Aug. 22. More information is available at www.morningside.edu/onlineprograms or by contacting Laughlin at laughlinm@morningside.edu.

“Our program will help you gain a broad range of communication and leadership skills that are most important in preparing you to achieve long-term career success,” Laughlin said. “Our accelerated online program is designed with flexibility to meet your busy schedule. Apply today and let us help you finish what you started!”