The Indiana University Board of Trustees has approved three new degrees, including a doctorate in the medical field and a master's in the accounting field.

During its meeting Oct. 1, the trustees supported three proposed degrees:

Regenerative medicine is a field that involves replacing or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to establish, restore or enhance normal function.

The Ph.D. program in regenerative medicine and technologies will be offered by the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering and the Department of Surgery at the IU School of Medicine. The program, open to practicing medical doctors, will provide an avenue for cutting-edge research that can be used in new ways to treat patients.

Before this approval, IU had no graduate-level programs for students seeking a degree in regenerative medicine and technologies. The labor market demand for such graduates is considered strong, with jobs in biotechnology companies, academic laboratories, and medical device manufacturing and logistics companies.

Changes in the accounting field and large employers' expressed needs have prompted the development of a new Master of Science in accounting curriculum that will prepare students for the emerging data-focused professional services workplace. With the proliferation of data and analytics techniques applications in the business world, integrated accounting, data and analytics competencies are required for the best job placements.

The new Master of Science in accounting with data and analytics degree will be offered by the Kelley School of Business. It will replace the current, traditional Master of Science in accounting degree as the residential offering on the Bloomington campus. The traditional Master of Science in accounting will continue to be offered through the Kelley School's online programs and will target "career switchers."

Students who seek the flexibility of an online format, have an interest in studying the foundations of sustainability and want to apply that knowledge to complex socio-environmental problems can find that opportunity in a new offering at IU Northwest, through the College of Arts and Sciences. The Bachelor of Arts in sustainability studies is a collaborative online degree, and was previously approved at IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU South Bend and IU Southeast.

Regional demand for energy and sustainability specialists and the demand for "green" jobs are expected to grow over the next 10 years. Graduates with the degree could find jobs such as an energy analyst, environmental health and safety specialist, or an occupational health and safety technician.

The degrees approved by IU's trustees still await final approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

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3 new degrees approved, including Ph.D. in regenerative medicine - IU Newsroom