News doctoral programs on tap for ECU

East Carolina University will launch one new doctoral program next fall and has three others in the pipeline.

A Ph.D. in technical and professional discourse was approved Friday (Nov. 14) by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors meeting in Chapel Hill. The program will operate in the Department of English and will enroll its first students in the fall semester of 2004. The board also gave ECU permission to plan a new doctoral program in physical therapy.

In addition, the Graduate Council of the University of North Carolina system has recommended approval of ECU’s request to establish new Ph.D. programs in medical family therapy and in rehabilitation counseling and administration. The Board of Governors is expected to take final action on those requests at its January meeting.

Molly Corbett Broad, president of the UNC system, said, “This is great news for ECU and the entire University of North Carolina. It confirms that the recent transition in administration has in no way slowed down ECU’s academic growth and advancement or its efforts to respond to the demonstrated needs of the region.”

Bill Shelton, interim chancellor at ECU, said, “The board’s action acknowledges the great work of our faculty and administrators in identifying and responding to the needs of the region and the state. These new programs will greatly expand the range of our doctoral programs, and we look forward to welcoming the first students.”

Bruce Southard, chair of the English department, said the new Ph.D. program will begin with nine students and will grow to about 30 students.