Graceland, Grand View universities announce partnership for accelerated degrees path

Two Iowa private universities are collaborating to provide students interested in making their career in athletic training with a more streamlined educational path.

Graceland University in Lamoni announced in a news release it has partnered with Grand View University in Des Moines to offer two pathways from Graceland’s undergraduate allied health major program to a master’s degree in athletic training from Grand View.

Students who transfer directly to Grand View after graduating from Graceland will receive a 10% tuition discount, the release stated, and the Des Moines institution will reserve two seats annually in its master’s program for the partnership.

While Graceland students can choose to finish their bachelor’s program entirely before going to Grand View through the partnership’s new “4+2” pathway, there is also an accelerated “3+2” option. Students would complete three years at Graceland then transfer to Grand View to complete their first year of the master’s program, after which the credits would go back to Graceland to complete bachelor’s degree requirements.

Only one more year would remain of the master’s program after this point, allowing students to cut down on costs of education and enter their careers faster. Graceland University announced a similar partnership in late August with Logan University in Missouri, involving Graceland’s allied health degree and the Missouri institution’s doctor of chiropractic degree.

“This partnership gives our students a clear path from their undergraduate studies at Graceland into a master’s degree in athletic training,” said Melanie Mason, coordinator of the Graceland Health and Movement Science department, in the release. “The opportunity to earn both degrees in five years, along with reserved spots in the program and a tuition discount, makes this an especially valuable option for students who know they want to pursue a career in athletic training.”