Bachelor's degree programs are coming to Middle Georgia State University's Dublin Campus.
 
Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA's president, announced the programs - Health Services Administration and Interdisciplinary Studies - during a recent reception celebrating the Dublin Campus's 30th  anniversary.
 
"Students have met with success at our Dublin location for three decades," Blake said, "and we can be sure that in the next 30 years the demand for higher education will be even more critical to individual and collective growth and development. These programs will enhance our presence in Dublin and Laurens County and support the community's economic progress."
 
The Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration will roll out during the 2016-2017 academic year. As has always been the case, students based on the Dublin Campus can complete the  core curriculum through face-to-face courses with faculty members. Then, through a combination of  face-to-face, online and digital videoconferencing courses, they will be able to complete junior-  and senior-level courses in the HSA program, which is designed to prepare managers and leaders for healthcare organizations.
 
"At a time when healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in Georgia and across the country, this offering will open doors for Laurens County residents," Blake said.
 
MGA plans to introduce the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies to the Dublin Campus in fall 2017. The degree offers rigorous but flexible curricula that allow students to design their own programs of study and pursue an education that builds on their unique interests,  backgrounds and career goals. Students complete at least 15 hours of coursework in a single disciplinary concentration.
 
To determine a concentration that would best serve Dublin area economic needs, Dr. Greg George, director of the University's Center for Economic Analysis, will consult with local business and civic leaders. George will partner with MGA colleagues and Georgia Southern University faculty to conduct the analysis. Laurens County, about an hour southeast of Macon, is the site of a major VA hospital and a regional hub for distribution centers.