Bruce C. Kusch, President“Character is an essential part of being a capable and trusted disciple of Jesus Christ. Character and a moral compass are essential parts of what makes our students highly sought-after employees,” says Bruce C. Kusch, president of Ensign College.
In a spiritually-nourishing environment, students’ faith grows alongside their technical skills experience. Graduates leave as spiritually-grounded professionals, prepared to be leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.
The college is recognized as the first institution in downtown Salt Lake City to offer a 90-credit bachelor’s degree with an innovative approach to higher education. The curriculum is informed by employers, and the faculty includes PhDs, master’s degree holders, and adjunct practitioners. Almost 75 percent of the student credit hours are taught by these part-time professionals, which makes education more affordable and scalable. This approach allows students to directly benefit from real-world expertise and current industry practices, ensuring that they have skills and hands-on experience that qualify them for excellent jobs upon graduation.
Training Students for a Dynamic Workplace
In his TEDx Talk, Kusch asks, “Why isn’t the world of college more like the world of work?” He integrates this philosophy into the Ensign College approach to curriculum development where courses are structured to provide students opportunities to prepare, act, and demonstrate. “We want to immerse our students in their learning from the first minute,” says Kusch. “Instructors use course outcomes as guides, but then invite students to be proactive and hold each other accountable as they decide how to achieve those outcomes.”
To further advocate the ideology of self-reliance, Ensign College believes that nurturing faith in God serves as a moral compass to help individuals build an independent character that defines their eternal identity. This spiritual foundation supports students in developing the resilience and integrity necessary for a meaningful life and creates work-life balance.
We aim to encourage students to take learning responsibility into their own hands, empowering them to develop the essential skills needed for a successful and thriving future.
Ensign College offers degree programs in diverse fields, from business management, accounting and finance, communication and marketing to information technology, medical assisting and interior design.
The college integrates advisory boards for each program to ensure curriculum development aligns with industry needs. These practicing professionals help design the college’s academic courses by sharing insights into job roles, challenges and work expectations. This ensures that students will be equipped with the practical knowledge they need to navigate their future careers.
Courses involve opportunities for students to take the lead in project-based learning. In the digital marketing and content creation programs this is done as students run a digital agency and produce a bi-weekly podcast hosted by the college president. Faculty members also actively collaborate with outside companies to create real-world projects that provide hands-on opportunities that meet academic requirements and provide students with experiences that prepare them for wonderful jobs and careers.
Through this proactive approach, students from every academic program, including medical assisting, accounting, software development, cybersecurity, and interior design, often receive excellent job offers before their graduation.
In a fast-paced and competitive world, Ensign College is leading the way in reshaping higher education with its applied curriculum that prepares students for in-demand jobs. Students are required to immerse themselves in their subject matter from day one and are invited to take ownership of their learning journey. This accountability strengthens their foundational knowledge, which in turn fosters the development of relevant skills, adaptability for a dynamic work environment, and a deep understanding of their divine roles as children of God.
