New Partnership with The Citadel
Piedmont Technical College and The Citadel recently signed an articulation agreement that will promote transfer opportunities for students who would like to begin their studies at PTC, and then transfer to The Citadel Evening Undergraduate Studies program.
This partnership will offer students more options as they prepare for careers. Because PTC is an open-admissions institution, the agreement will provide a seamless transition for those who would like to begin their collegiate career closer to home before pursuing a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice or business administration at The Citadel.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for our students that we were able to create a bridge between Piedmont Technical College and The Citadel,” said Dr. Ray Brooks, president of PTC. “It creates a pathway for students to complete their associate degree with us and earn a four-year degree from such an outstanding and well-recognized institution.”
The agreement will give students who earn an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Applied Science with a major in Criminal Justice or Business the opportunity to enroll at The Citadel’s Evening Undergraduate Studies and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Criminal Justice.
“Students will still receive the same high quality education with the same instructors as the Corps of Cadets, but in a more traditional university setting like Clemson or USC,” said Dr. Robert McNamara, associate dean of Evening Undergraduate Studies. “The delivery system is just different in that the courses are offered in the evening.”
The agreement allows students to feel they have a goal to achieve, Brooks said.
“Some people might not consider moving to Charleston on the front end of a four-year experience,” Brooks said. “But if they see it from the perspective that they only have two years, that makes it much more achievable.”
While students are at Piedmont Technical College, they will work closely with a 2+2 advisor to plan a schedule so that it fits their needs and meets the course requirements at The Citadel. Students are required to complete 65 hours of general education and criminal justice courses at PTC and 55 credit hours of upper division courses at The Citadel for the criminal justice program or 87 hours of general education and business courses at PTC with 39 hours at The Citadel to complete the business administration program.
“This partnership is important to us because we want to make sure the students have as many opportunities as they can to complete a degree,” McNamara said. “There all kinds of opportunities a partnership like this presents.”
Piedmont Technical College has significantly expanded the number of transfer partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the state over the last several years. The college has signed new agreements with many institutions, and is actively working toward adding more. Agreements have been reached with the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Lander University, the College of Charleston, Anderson University, Columbia College, Newberry College and more.
Photo Caption: Piedmont Technical College and The Citadel recently signed an articulation agreement that will create a transfer path for students who wish to begin their education in business management or criminal justice at PTC and finish at The Citadel. Attending the signing ceremony were, front from left, Dr. Robert McNamara, associate dean of Evening Undergraduate Studies at The Citadel; and Dr. Ray Brooks, president of Piedmont Technical College. Back, Susan Timmons, vice president for educational affairs at PTC; and Sissy Copeland, dean of business, information technologies and public service at PTC.