On campus in Harford County

Photo of HEAT Center by Kanji Takeno

TU, Harford Community College to offer four-year degree programs

by Stuart Zang

Starting next fall, some TU elementary education/secondary education students will pursue their degree without leaving Harford County.

TU and Harford Community College (HCC) signed an agreement last October to collaborate in offering four-year college degrees, the first available on-site undergraduate degree programs in the Harford County region, says William Reuling, assistant to the provost at TU.

For the first phase, which began last fall, TU and HCC created 22 “2+2” programs in subjects ranging from athletic training to forensic chemistry, and additional programs are in the works. The 2+2 Program allows students to transfer easily from HCC to TU, carrying over major-related course credits earned for their associate degree.

For the second phase, introduced this spring, TU began offering selected upper-level courses in marine biology, computer science, mathematics and English that can be applied toward a TU bachelor’s degree. Students attend classes at HCC or at the nearby HEAT (Higher Education and Applied Technology) Center. Next fall TU will offer seven upper-level courses in various disciplines including biology, mathematics and computer science.

TU will begin offering phase three—the first on-site bachelor’s degree program in integrated elementary education and special education (EESE)—at the HEAT Center in the fall. This program will enable students to receive dual teacher certification in two areas of teaching. Additional four-year programs are expected to be developed later. The EESE program includes student teaching and observation in the Harford and Cecil county school systems, which Reuling hopes will encourage these students to stay on locally as new teachers.

TU will even expand into graduate-level education in fall 2008, when it plans to offer a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the HEAT Center.

TU’s partnership with HCC comes at an opportune time. The I-95 corridor north of Baltimore is experiencing substantial job and population growth and will likely see considerably more when the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process comes to fruition in 2010.

“BRAC will not only bring people with technical skills to the area, but their families as well," says Reuling. "There is a real need for a four-year public university in the Harford-Cecil County area, and BRAC will only add to that need. Right now the closest four-year public institution is outside Maryland—at the University of Delaware.”

“We’re providing a way for Harford County area students to earn a four-year degree at home. At the same time, it’s a way for TU to enroll additional students without further taxing our crowded classrooms, limited parking facilities and residence halls. Our partnership with HCC is a win-win for HCC, TU and students and educators at both institutions.”

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