The beginnings of a graduate program, like other moves away from the single-purpose-teacher-preparation mission, was slow to take off at NISTC. Some discussion on the topic began in the Adams administration, but failed to generate action. World War II further delayed the initiative. Finally, in 1949, President Leslie Holmes appointed a steering committee to “set up the mechanics of getting a graduate program started.”
The State Teachers College Board, under which NISTC was still governed, had the following requirements: First, Northern needed a bigger library collection in each field in which graduate work was to be offered. Second, at least half of all faculty had to have doctoral degrees. Third, all courses had to be taught on campus; and fourth, the first graduate degree was to be a masters in education.
Having been assured that all those requirements had been or soon would be met, the board finally approved the M.S.Ed on January 22, 1951, and graduate courses were offered the next term by the departments of biological sciences, education, English, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, and speech.
The following year, 28 Masters of Science in Education degrees and certificates of advanced study were awarded. Today, NIU students can earn masters degrees in 73 different disciplines, and more than 4,000 students are enrolled in graduate programs.
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