Imperative V

Initiate outstanding new academic programs in selected areas

To challenge students with exceptional academic potential, Baylor created an Honors College. The College will house an expanded Baylor Honors Program, provide a home for an enhanced University Scholars Program, serve as a location for the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core Program and facilitate the administration of other exceptional academic programs and services. We will also establish a comprehensive School of Communication that will encompass the University's Journalism, Speech Communication and Telecommunication Programs. We will enhance Baylor's reputation and the currency of Christian ideas on campus by increasing the quality, size and visibility of selected graduate programs. While our undergraduate programs should be comprehensive, at the graduate level we must focus on niches that fit our mission and afford the greatest opportunities for national success, including ethics in the professions and the intersection of religion with law, economic development, politics, literature and the arts. Accordingly, by 2012, Baylor will feature at least ten doctoral programs in the social sciences and humanities, including a new Ph.D. in philosophy and three others from areas such as history, classics, social work, economics and political science. Further, Baylor will enhance its long-standing tradition of professional education in law, business, nursing, engineering, music, theology and education through selective program development and growth. The number of total Ph.D. programs will thus grow from 14 to at least 20, the number of graduate students will increase by 25 percent, and the number of doctoral students will increase by at least 30 percent.

Original Goals to Achieve Imperative V

Create a Great Texts Program and an Honors College, and add writing- and speaking-intensive courses
Create a College of Communications and a Health Sciences Center
Expand the number of core courses, as well as the standards for prerequisites and sequential learning within majors
Emphasize interdisciplinary study
Increase PhD programs from 14 to at least 20, and grow Master's programs in areas consistent with Baylor's mission
Increase the number of graduate students by 25 percent and doctoral students by 30 percent
Develop niche doctoral programs