NEWS

Feb. 23, 2001

RSU and TCC Team Up To Offer New Baccalaureate Program

Rogers State University and Tulsa Community College have announced a partnership allowing students with an associate in applied science degree from TCC to seamlessly earn a bachelor's degree from RSU.

Now students can earn an associate in applied science degree at TCC and transfer to RSU to earn the new bachelor of technology (B.T.) degree in applied technology -- one of four new bachelor's degrees offered by RSU.

"This is an opportunity for students who earn the associate in applied science degree to apply those credits toward a bachelor's degree," said RSU President Joe Wiley. "Many students who have earned the associate of applied science degree may have found their career advancement limited without a bachelor's degree. This is a way to help them move forward in their careers."

TCC offers the associate of applied science degree in 52 areas, including aviation, child development, computer information systems, electronics, international language studies, manufacturing engineering, marketing, telecommunications, veterinary technology, and 14 medical fields.

"As an example of how lifetime learning will become the norm for people during the 21st Century, many students at Tulsa Community College have chosen to complete degrees in new technical fields such as information technology and telecommunications," said Dr. Dean VanTrease, TCC President and Chief Executive Officer. "Rogers State University has taken a bold step to develop a bachelor of technology degree for those TCC students with degrees in technical fields. The seamless nature of the transfer of credits between the two institutions will save these graduates and lifetime learners both time and money."
RSU's bachelor of technology in applied technology is designed to provide a solid educational foundation in the arts and sciences for students who have received an associate of applied science degree. The degree combines technical and managerial training to enhance professional career opportunities, Wiley said.

To qualify for the program, students must complete the required general education and technical courses at TCC to gain admission to the bachelor of technology program at RSU. Then students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of courses at RSU for a total of 120 semester hours to earn the bachelor's degree.

TCC students must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average on all coursework to enter the program.

Students may apply now for admission to both TCC and RSU programs in the upcoming fall semester.

RSU is a regional four-year university serving more than 2,500 students on its main campus in Claremore and on its branch campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor. RSU offers four bachelor's degrees and a wide variety of two-year associate's degrees. RSU is a national pioneer in distance education and was the first public university in Oklahoma to offer bachelor's and associate's degrees entirely via the Internet. RSU also is the only university in Oklahoma to operate a full-power public television station.

TCC, the largest two-year college in Oklahoma, offers classes at its four Tulsa County
campuses and through an extensive distance learning program. Ranked 26th out of more than 1,100 community colleges nationally in the number of associate degrees awarded in all disciplines, TCC serves approximately 30,000 students per semester in credit and continuing education classes.

For more information, call RSU at (918) 343-7546 or TCC at (918) 595-7000.