Metropolitan State University
Encyclopedia
Metropolitan State University is a four-year public university
located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota
, United States
. It is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.
was the university's first president. The university initially followed a non-traditional course: Students could design their own degree
plans, instructors wrote 'narrative evaluations' instead of using traditional letter grades, and much of the teaching was done by 'community faculty' who had advanced degrees as well as extensive practical work experience in their respective fields. Although Metro State adopted a more traditional format in the 1990s, it has still retained a college named 'First College' which allows students to design individualized and/or interdisciplinary degree plans. First College students are allowed to select their own majors (they are typically referred to as 'focuses'). The individualized degrees are a popular alternative for students who are not interested in seeking traditional 'structured' degrees.
When Metro State began, it was a college for working adults. It was strictly an upper-division college, so students could only complete their junior and senior years there. The university didn't begin admitting freshmen and sophomores or calculating grade point averages until fall quarter 1994. Prior to the fall of 1998, Metro State operated on the quarter system. MSU currently operates on the semester system. During the 2009-2010 school year, Metropolitan State enrolled 10,000 students. This accomplishment elevates Metro State to the top 12% of colleges ranked by size in the U.S.A.
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MSU offers ten structured master's degree programs and an interdisciplinary master of arts degree in liberal studies. The university also offers seven graduate certificate programs. In 2007, Metro State began offering an applied doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. Metro State's B.A. and M.S. programs in technical communication are among the largest programs of their kind in the country.
Metro State launched the first applied doctorate of business administration program in the history of the MnSCU system during fall semester 2010. Although a number of schools in the region -- such as the University of MN -- offer Ph.D.s in business administration, only 4 colleges in the entire Upper Midwest offer Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degrees. Metropolitan State University is the only public school in the Upper Midwest that offers DBA degrees. The three private schools that offer DBA degrees are Argosy University (Eagan, MN), St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA) and Capella University (a completely online school based in Minneapolis, MN). Metro State's B.S. in accounting program is the largest in MN and it's widely recognized as one of the best accounting programs in MN.
Metropolitan State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
and the Council on Social Work Education
.
Each student attending Metropolitan State University pays a .43 cent per credit fee to fund the Minnesota State University Student Association
, a student-lead non-profit that advocates on behalf of all Minnesota state university students. In 1995, Metro State won a highly-coveted national (Theodore) Hesburgh Award for innovative and outstanding faculty development. Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony. In 2002, the Minnesota legislature approved funding for the construction of a library at the St. Paul campus; the building opened during spring semester 2004. The new library and learning center also houses a branch of the Saint Paul Public Library. This is the only university/public library partnership in the state of Minnesota and one of only a few nationwide.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.
History
Metro State was founded in 1971. The school admitted 50 students in 1972. David E. SweetDavid E. Sweet
David E. Sweet, , academic, was the founding president of innovative Metropolitan State University and later president of Rhode Island College, where he spearheaded the Leadership Rhode Island program.-Early life and education:...
was the university's first president. The university initially followed a non-traditional course: Students could design their own degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
plans, instructors wrote 'narrative evaluations' instead of using traditional letter grades, and much of the teaching was done by 'community faculty' who had advanced degrees as well as extensive practical work experience in their respective fields. Although Metro State adopted a more traditional format in the 1990s, it has still retained a college named 'First College' which allows students to design individualized and/or interdisciplinary degree plans. First College students are allowed to select their own majors (they are typically referred to as 'focuses'). The individualized degrees are a popular alternative for students who are not interested in seeking traditional 'structured' degrees.
When Metro State began, it was a college for working adults. It was strictly an upper-division college, so students could only complete their junior and senior years there. The university didn't begin admitting freshmen and sophomores or calculating grade point averages until fall quarter 1994. Prior to the fall of 1998, Metro State operated on the quarter system. MSU currently operates on the semester system. During the 2009-2010 school year, Metropolitan State enrolled 10,000 students. This accomplishment elevates Metro State to the top 12% of colleges ranked by size in the U.S.A.
Academic profile
Metro State offers 58 'structured' undergraduate degrees, a self-designed B.A. degree in liberal arts and individualized B.A. degrees through its five colleges and one school: The College of Arts and Sciences, The College of Management, The College of Professional Studies, The College of Nursing and Health Sciences, The School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and First College.left
MSU offers ten structured master's degree programs and an interdisciplinary master of arts degree in liberal studies. The university also offers seven graduate certificate programs. In 2007, Metro State began offering an applied doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree. Metro State's B.A. and M.S. programs in technical communication are among the largest programs of their kind in the country.
Metro State launched the first applied doctorate of business administration program in the history of the MnSCU system during fall semester 2010. Although a number of schools in the region -- such as the University of MN -- offer Ph.D.s in business administration, only 4 colleges in the entire Upper Midwest offer Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degrees. Metropolitan State University is the only public school in the Upper Midwest that offers DBA degrees. The three private schools that offer DBA degrees are Argosy University (Eagan, MN), St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA) and Capella University (a completely online school based in Minneapolis, MN). Metro State's B.S. in accounting program is the largest in MN and it's widely recognized as one of the best accounting programs in MN.
Metropolitan State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
and the Council on Social Work Education
Council on Social Work Education
The Council on Social Work Education is the national association for social work education in the United States of America.The CSWE sets and maintains standards of courses and accreditation of bachelor's degree's and Master's degree programs in social work.The CSWE specifies foundation social work...
.
Student accommodations
Metropolitan State University accommodates the needs of working adults by scheduling many of its classes in the evening and on weekends. The number of daytime course offerings have been increasing in recent years because of the growing demands of students. It is possible for recent graduates of Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools to attend Metro State tuition free.Each student attending Metropolitan State University pays a .43 cent per credit fee to fund the Minnesota State University Student Association
Minnesota State University Student Association
The Minnesota State University Student Association is an independent, non-profit organization funded and operated by students. MSUSA serves nearly 70,000 students attending Minnesota's seven state universities: Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Metropolitan State...
, a student-lead non-profit that advocates on behalf of all Minnesota state university students. In 1995, Metro State won a highly-coveted national (Theodore) Hesburgh Award for innovative and outstanding faculty development. Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony. In 2002, the Minnesota legislature approved funding for the construction of a library at the St. Paul campus; the building opened during spring semester 2004. The new library and learning center also houses a branch of the Saint Paul Public Library. This is the only university/public library partnership in the state of Minnesota and one of only a few nationwide.
Notable alumni
MSU's first graduating class consisted of 12 people on 2/1/73. As of May 3, 2011, Metro State has 31,175 alumni. Notable alumni includes:- Minnesota state Senator Sandy Pappas
- Minnesota state Senator Ken KelashKen KelashKenneth "Ken" Kelash is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 63, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. A Democrat, he was first elected to the Senate in a special election held on November 4, 2008...
- Former Minnesota state Senator Leo FoleyLeo FoleyLeo T. Foley is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate who represented District 47, which includes portions of Anoka and Hennepin counties in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. A Democrat, he was first elected to the Senate in 1996, and was re-elected in 2000,...
- Former MN state Representative Char SamuelsonChar SamuelsonChar Samuelson is a former Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving from 2003-2007. She was elected from Minnesota 50B, which during her tenure in office served New Brighton, Arden Hills, and Shoreview...
- Screenwriter Martin Musatov
- Former Minnesota Viking & NFL Hall of Famer Carl EllerCarl EllerCarl Eller is a former professional American football player in the National Football League who played from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended the University of Minnesota...
- Former Chair of the Metropolitan Council Peter Bell
- Samuel Sam-SumanaSamuel Sam-SumanaAlhaji Sahr Samuel Sam-Sumana is a Sierra Leonean politician, and the current Vice President of Sierra Leone...
, the honorable chief and vice president of the Republic of Sierra Leone. - American news anchor on WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Don Shelby