Midlands Technical College Grads To Be Accepted At Springfield College
August 7, 2003Springfield, Mass. Aug. 7, 2003 -- Midlands Technical College (MTC) graduates with associate’s degrees of public service in human services will be accepted automatically by the Charleston Campus of the Springfield College School of Human Services (SHS) with full credit for equivalent courses toward their bachelor’s degrees.
Springfield College, founded in 1885 in Springfield, Mass., was licensed earlier this year by the South Carolina Commission of Higher Education to offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in human services in South Carolina. The master’s degree program is the only one of its kind in the state. The new campus at 7410 Northside Drive, Suite 200, North Charleston is one of 10 Springfield College campuses around the country dedicated to educating human services professionals. Classes will begin this September with additional semesters beginning in January and May 2004.
The new agreement between the two colleges will enable MTC graduates to complete their bachelor's degrees in as little as four semesters at Springfield College. To qualify, MTC graduates must have completed at least two years of community service. They will be eligible to transfer up to 72 credits for successfully completed MTC courses that are equivalent to SHS courses.
According to Robert J. Willey, dean of the Springfield College School of Human Services, “Midlands Technical College graduates who aspire to careers in human services have consistently demonstrated solid academic preparation and track records for dedication to their communities. We welcome the experience that they will bring to our learning environment and look forward in guiding their preparation to become leaders in their field.”
Mary M. Rawls, director of Human Services at MTC said, “This new partnership will enable Midlands Technical College and the Springfield College School of Human Services to combine our areas of expertise to prepare students for the wider range of more rewarding careers open to candidates with higher education.”
The Springfield College School of Human Services’ program is designed for working adults with classes two weekends a month for bachelor’s degree candidates and one weekend a month at the master’s level. The curriculum at the Charleston campus reflects the school’s focus on building the leadership skills of human services professionals while they are serving their communities.
Qualified MTC graduates will enter the Charleston campus of the Springfield College School of Human Services as third-year students. The SHS offers a process for students to claim up to six academic credits for work experience that is equivalent to college-level learning. Many students enter the program with years of experience in human services work. The school follows standards of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in awarding course credit for prior learning.
A hallmark of the Springfield College School of Human Services education is that students identify a community need and design and implement a program to address it. Such projects are usually done in partnership with community organizations. According to Willey, there are opportunities for cooperative projects in Columbia with agencies such as the Delancey Street Foundation, Aspen Youth Alternatives, Central Carolina Community Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse SC Children Unlimited, Family Connection of SC and Habitat for Humanity.
The SHS will offer concentrations in criminal justice and early childhood development for undergraduates, as well as concentrations in organizational management and leadership and community counseling psychology for graduate students. The bachelor’s degree requires 120 credits, including at least 48 credits earned at Springfield College.
In early 2004, the Springfield College School of Human Services will begin offering an executive master’s degree program to allow human services executives from throughout the United States to study together in a cohort towards their master’s degrees in human services.
Willey said that Springfield College chose the North Charleston site for its newest campus, adjacent to Interstate 26, for its statewide accessibility and high quality facilities. The college’s space in the building, with a central solarium, includes four classrooms, a video conferencing center, a fully equipped computer laboratory, and an academic success center for tutoring, library support and other services. There is ample free parking.
In addition to its main campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Springfield College maintains School of Human Services campuses in Tampa, Florida; San Diego and Inglewood, California; Wilmington, Delaware; Boston, Massachusetts; Manchester, New Hampshire; St. Johnsbury, Vermont; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
At its main campus, Springfield College offers bachelor’s degree programs in 50 majors, master’s degree programs in 14 concentrations and a doctoral program in physical education. There are more than 5,000 students at its main and remote campuses, and 34,000 alumni in 60 nations. Academics and student life are characterized by the college’s humanics philosophy that emphasizes educating the whole person, consisting of spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to other people.
Springfield College was founded in 1885 to train YMCA directors and, since then, has broadened its programs and developed an international reputation as a pioneer in physical education, the allied health sciences, and human and social services. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Information on the Springfield College School of Human Services is available in Charleston by calling (843) 569-7003.
