Enrollment in East Texas A&M University's competency-based education (CBE) programs is booming, increasing nearly 14% over last year as more working adults seek flexible pathways to degrees and career advancement. The growth comes as the university continues to expand its CBE offerings and partnerships to meet workforce needs across Texas.

But what exactly is competency-based education? Unlike traditional programs built around spending a prescribed amount of time in class, CBE allows students to progress by demonstrating mastery of defined skills and knowledge. East Texas A&M's programs are designed primarily for working adults and are offered online in year-round, seven-week terms, with opportunities for students to build on previous college credit and experience.

“So many of our students are balancing full-time jobs, families and responsibilities that don't pause for a semester calendar,” said Dr. April Sanders, dean of the College of Innovation and Design. “For them, flexibility isn't a convenience; it's often the difference between finishing a degree and never starting one.”

Sanders continued, “Competency-based education meets students where they are, letting them build on what they already know and move forward as soon as they've shown mastery. The 14% growth in our programs shows that when we design around the realities of students' lives, they respond.”

Recent developments illustrate that approach. Alumna Tiffany Norman returned to college after a 13-year detour and completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Public Administration, City Planning through CBE while balancing work and family. A new partnership with Weatherford College provides another pathway for students to advance into East Texas A&M's competency-based Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. The university is also participating in a multi-year national study with the American Institutes for Research examining CBE student outcomes and ways institutions can improve their programs.

East Texas A&M is also expanding CBE to address critical workforce needs. New Bachelor of Science programs in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education allow paraprofessionals, educational aides and other working adults to earn a bachelor's degree and pursue teacher certification without leaving the workforce.

Those programs join CBE pathways in fields including criminal justice, health services administration, human resources development, organizational leadership, public administration, public safety, safety and health, instructional design and general studies.

With enrollment climbing and new opportunities continuing to emerge, East Texas A&M is making CBE an increasingly accessible option for working Texans ready to finish a degree and advance their careers.