A NEW THREE YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM COULD SOON BE IMPLEMENTED AT ONTARIO COLLEGES.

THE DEGREE COMBINES A HIGHER LEVEL OF ACADEMICS WITH HANDS ON LEARNING.

NEWSWATCH'S MAEGEN KULCHAR EXPLAINS.

For the past four years Melissa Rose has been enrolled in the Behaviourial Psychology Program at St Lawrence College.

A post secondary institution she chose because of it's hands on learning.

Melissa Rose:

"so not only do you get to learn these theories but you actually get to go out into the community and practice them and put them into real settings."

Her four year program is one of three the college offers, that allows her to graduate with a degree rather than a diploma.

A higher level of education that many other students could soon receive if a new three year degree program at Ontario's College's is implemented.

The idea was brought up at a meeting involving Premier Kathleen Wynne and the presidents of 24 of Ontario's Colleges--- their goal....to strengthen post secondary education in the Province.

Glenn Vollebregt:

"I think its great! It's about fairness, it's about equity it's about access"

Vollebregt says students who learn at the degree level should be recognized for it.

He says a number of programs at the college could be eligible for a degree, such as Bio-technology, computer technology and Business programs-- but nothing has been decided yet.

Glenn Vollebregt:

"There still needs to be considerable work done within the system- the system needs to take a look at what three year diplomas make sense to be degrees."

Maegen Kulchar:

"Three year degree programs are currently offered at Universities, but those programs aren't designed for people seeking applied education. This new program would offer both-- bachelor level learning as well as hands on experience. a combination that could help students find meaningful work after they graduate."

Something Rose has been successful at getting.

Melissa Rose:

"I got hired on actually at my placement, so that experience went really well"

She supports the idea of a three year degree, saying it's an opportunity to get a placement with degree style learning.

Maegen Kulchar CKWS NEwswatch Kingston.