MoWest launches 7-week graduate courses to expedite degree completion  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- Missouri Western State University will be making some changes to its graduate programs to help students finish their degrees faster. 

One of the biggest updates is the move to a seven-week course format.

Instead of the traditional schedule, students will now have six different start dates throughout the year, making it easier to jump in when the timing is right for them and stay on track toward graduation. 

Five programs will be offered with the new seven-week calendar beginning March 9.

The five programs being offered are:

• Master of Education
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Nursing
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Applied Science in Sport and Fitness Management

All five of the courses will be completely online, with in-person field experiences or internships required for three of the programs.

Start dates for the rest of 2026 are May 11, June 29, Aug. 31 and Oct. 19.

Andy Otto, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, said the move to seven-week courses came from close collaboration between the enrollment and academic departments.  

“We needed to be competitive in the higher education market since a lot of the programs across the country are in that model, so we wanted to make sure we were on equal footing with them,” Otto said.  

Otto also said MoWest wanted to give students the flexibility to start when it works best for them, while feeling confident they’ll receive the same benefits as students in similar programs elsewhere. 

He added that both he and Provost Jay Johnson have previously worked at institutions where this seven-week format was the standard model.  

“So, knowing that we have faculty who are willing to explore this as an option. We jumped on that opportunity to go in and make some changes, and here we are,” Otto said.  

Starting in March, MoWest will offer seven-week courses in an online format. Students will also have six different start dates throughout the year to begin a graduate program. 

Johnson said the new structure could benefit students in several ways.  

“I really hope they are able to get out of this a little bit quicker at Missouri Western and two put a program together that helps them in their career right now instead of waiting for a few years,” Johnson said.  

Johnson noted that many students may not even realize this option exists yet. When he first arrived at the university, he discovered that while online courses were available, fully online programs were not.  

“We had online courses, not online programs. There’s a big difference because you can offer courses online, but you are not necessarily going to have them all stack up to be a program,” Johnson explained.  

Johnson acknowledged how MoWest needs to grow its enrollment, especially since many of its competitors have already adopted this model, giving them an advantage in the past. 

Now, he said, MoWest is officially in the mix. The goal isn’t just to keep up, but to do it better than the competition.