Mohawk College in Hamilton will offer 3-year degree programs for the first time

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Published April 12, 2022 at 11:13 am

Mohawk College in Hamilton will offer 3-year degree programs for the first time
Mohawk College in Hamilton will be offering three-year degree programs. Before the provincial announcement, colleges mostly only offered diploma programs. (Mohawk College photo)

Mohawk College in Hamilton will soon be offering three-year degree programs.

Prior to recent changes made by the provincial government, colleges mostly only offered diploma programs and were only authorized to award degrees to graduates in their career-focused four-year programs.

“Today’s announcement is great news for students, employers and our community,” said Ron J. McKerlie, President and CEO of Mohawk College. “We look forward to including more degree options to Mohawk College’s first-rate educational programs. This will provide students with greater career opportunities and will ensure even more regional employers will benefit by hiring Mohawk’s job-ready future-ready graduates.”

“This is a welcome improvement to post-secondary education in Ontario,” McKerlie added. “It will encourage more students to enroll in programs that lead to rewarding careers and will drive economic growth through a more highly qualified workforce.”

The minister of colleges and universities, Jill Dunlop announced on Monday (Apr. 11) that colleges can begin developing three-year degree programs alongside their diploma programs and can expand their range of career-focused four-year degree programs.

“Expanding the degree programs at colleges ensures more students will have access to high-quality, career-focused programs,” Minister Dunlop said. “More students will acquire the expertise and credentials to succeed in today’s job market.”

Proponents of the change say it ensures every student whose education fulfils Ontario’s degree-level requirements is awarded a degree upon graduation.

This expansion of the colleges’ degree programs also opens the door to more career options for graduates, especially those who are looking to advance into management positions.

“Degree holders enjoy more opportunities in our global manufacturing world,” said Guido Benvenuto, the vice president of engineering at Flex-N-Gate, a supplier to the global automotive sector. “This will make a significant difference in our sector.”

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