UST will offer seven more programs next academic year, including psychology, journalism and nursing, due to “insistent demand” from applicants, the Office for Admissions announced last Dec. 23.
The following programs will now be open to enrollees for Academic Year 2016-2017: BS Biology, BS Biochemistry, BS Psychology, AB Journalism, AB Legal Management, AB Economics and BS Nursing. Applicants were allowed to change their priority or alternative programs by submitting a letter of request, personally or by courier, until Jan. 15.
This brings to 20 the total number of programs to be offered next academic year, the start of the transition to the K to 12 basic education scheme that has forced colleges and universities nationwide to shut down or cut their degree offerings. UST expects freshmen enrollment to go down drastically next year as high school students will spend two more years in secondary education, or Grades 11 and 12, instead of going to college.
The University earlier decided to cut its program offerings to 13 from 53 next school year: Accountancy, Architecture, Business Administration major in Financial Management, Business Administration major in Marketing Management, Communication Arts, Computer Science, Information Technology, Medical Technology, Music, Music major in Music Education, Pharmacy, Physical Education major in Sports and Wellness, and Political Science.
Admissions Director Marie Ann Vargas previously said it was possible to open more programs if there were enough applicants. “If marami ang mga interested applicants [in programs not offered], we can forward [them to] that particular college and let [the college] know that we have this number of interested applicants,” Vargas told the Varsitarian in an earlier interview.
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Clarita Carillo also said in a previous interview that all colleges had been asked to analyze application and enrollment patterns for each program from among “K to 12-ready schools.”
UST will continue to offer all master’s and doctorate programs at the Graduate School. The following post-graduate programs will also be offered: Doctor of Medicine, Master in Clinical Audiology, Master in Pain Management and Bachelor of Laws.
In addition, UST Senior High School will open next year for Grades 11 and 12, with the following academic strands: the liberal arts, education and social sciences strand; the accountancy and business management strand; the music and arts strand; and the science, technology, engineering and mathematics strand. Jerome P. Villanueva
