Georgia Highlands/Kennesaw State will offer joint early childhood education degree in Paulding County
“2+2” allows students to obtain associate and bachelor’s degrees at instructional…
Georgia
(Aug 11, 2010) —
KENNESAW, Ga. (August 11, 2010) — Beginning fall 2010, Paulding County area students seeking a degree in early childhood
education will be able to complete all required general education and major classes
at the Georgia Highlands College/Kennesaw State University Paulding Instructional
Site in Dallas.
Under the proposal approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
(USG) at its August meeting, students at the Paulding County site can take the classes
required to earn an associate degree from Georgia Highlands and complete the KSU classes
required to earn a bachelor’s degree and gain certification to become pre-k through
grade 5 teachers.
“2+2” is designed as a four-year program, with students spending two years to complete
GHC requirements and two years to complete KSU courses. It is an expansion of the
partnership formed two years ago when Kennesaw State and Georgia Highlands joined
to establish an instructional site in the former Bagby courthouse building donated
in 2008 by Paulding County.
“The “2+2” initiative is a giant step toward the vision we all had for the Paulding
site,” said Daniel S. Papp, KSU president. “Our goal was to expand higher education
and ultimately to make a four-year college education accessible to students in the
rapidly growing but underserved Paulding community. At the same time, we’re continuing
the Bagwell College of Education’s tradition of graduating well-trained teachers to
meet the needs of the region and the state.”
GHC President Randy Pierce added: “The “2+2” program is a strong collaboration that
brings a popular degree to the Paulding area. It allows students to transition seamlessly
between a two- and four-year USG institution while remaining close to home and work. The
academic teams of KSU and GHC have worked hard to develop a program that delivers
the highest quality outcome, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
Students currently enrolled in early childhood education at Kennesaw State may begin
taking any of the seven education courses being offered at the Paulding site this
fall. Georgia Highlands’ students currently enrolled at the Paulding site may apply
for admission to KSU and to the teacher education program prior to their last semester
at GHC. Upon acceptance to both, they may begin taking their major courses at the
site. Graduates will earn an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education from
GHC and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from KSU.
“Bagwell has enjoyed a productive relationship with the Paulding community, working
with the school district to help develop educationalleaders,” said Arlinda Eaton,
dean of the Bagwell College of Education. “This partnership presents another opportunity
to make an impact. The reputations of both institutions will assure a quality curriculum
that will be delivered seamlessly at the site.”
KSU also offers classes in business, history and criminal justice at the Paulding
Instructional Site. To view a list of all KSU classes offered for fall 2010, visit
http://www.kennesaw.edu/paulding/.
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Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering more
than 70 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business
and nursing and a new Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the
35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential
institution with a growing student population of more than 22,300 from 142 countries.
Georgia Highlands College is an associate degree-granting institution of the University
System of Georgia, serving nearly 6,000 students at six sites in Rome, Cartersville,
Marietta, Douglasville and Paulding County.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status, and one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
