Presbyterian College, Midlands Technical College enter partnership to allow students to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from PC

The presidents of Presbyterian College and Midlands Technical College signed an agreement Wednesday that will allow qualified graduates of the Columbia-area school to transfer to PC and earn their four-year degrees in psychology.

According to the Princeton Review, psychology is the seventh most popular college major in the United States. Psychology majors focus on the biology of the human brain and features of the human mind, such as learning, intelligence, motivation, cognition, emotions, and personality. Careers in psychology include therapy and counseling, teaching, child development, law, and criminal justice.

The agreement is focused on those earning associate degrees with concentrations in applied psychology, biological psychology, or forensic psychology. Qualified MTC graduates can transfer credits to PC and earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in two years. Under the agreement, qualified transfer students are also eligible for PC scholarships worth a minimum of $10,000 a year. Students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa could receive an additional $2,000 scholarship.

Gathered at the Sept. 24 agreement signing ceremony at Midlands Technical College are (left to right) Dr. Holly Beard, department chair of MTC’s School of Social and Behavioral Science; Dr. Devin Henson, MTC vice provost; Dr. Barrie Kirk, MTC provost; Dr. Gregory Little, MTC president; Dr. Anita Gustafson, PC president; Dr. Erin McAdams, PC interim provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Brandon Vinson, PC vice president for enrollment management; Eileen Price, MTC psychology program director; Chad Mortensen, MTC psychology instructor; Drew Casper ’03, MTC psychology instructor; Dr. Alicia Askew ’92, PC dean of academic programs, and Dr. Drew Blandel ’13, PC assistant professor of psychology.

“This is an exciting opportunity for both schools to help our respective students achieve their life goals and career aspirations in psychology,” said PC president Dr. Anita Gustafson. “We believe the caliber of students who graduate from Midlands Tech will thrive at PC and make both their alma maters proud in the future.”

Dr. Erin McAdams, PC’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Midlands Tech graduates who transfer into the psychology program at PC can look forward to studying in an enriching liberal arts environment with dedicated and talented faculty.

“Psychology remains a popular choice of major nationally and here at PC, and I am confident that Midlands Tech graduates will enjoy their interactions with our gifted psychology professors both in and out of the classroom,” she said. “Our program not only offers a rigorous academic curriculum, but several hands-on opportunities to conduct research, participate in internships, and apply theory in real-world settings.”

Midlands Tech president Dr. Gregory Little echoed PC leadership and stressed how this new agreement is squarely aligned with the college’s workforce development mission.

“This is about opening doors for people interested in careers such as therapy and counseling, teaching, child development, law, and criminal justice,” said Dr. Little. “Completing two years at MTC before transferring to PC can save families thousands of dollars without sacrificing the quality and rigor of learning.”

About Presbyterian College

Inspired by the motto, “While We Live, We Serve,” Presbyterian College celebrates an enduring culture of academic rigor, honor, and service.

PC is a nationally-ranked liberal arts college that provides students of all faiths, identities, and backgrounds with a transformative education to equip them for impactful careers and empower them to serve as powerful forces for positive change. PC’s distinctive approach uses innovative service as a tool of self-discovery, an amplifier of problem-solving skills, and a catalyst of curiosity epitomized by the newly-developed Center for Inquiry, Research, and Scholarship (CIRAS).

PC was founded in 1880 by the Rev. William Plumer Jacobs in the historic city of Clinton in the foothills of South Carolina. The college offers a wide variety of undergraduate majors and has established three graduate programs in occupational therapy, physician assistant, and pharmacy that firmly place the college as a hub for science in higher education. PC student-athletes — the Blue Hose — participate in 19 sports at the Division I level.

For more information about Presbyterian College, go to www.presby.edu.

About Midlands Technical College

Midlands Technical College is a six-campus, two-year comprehensive community college serving Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties in South Carolina. The college provides higher education opportunities that stimulate the local economy by generating a world-class workforce and enhancing the social vitality of the community.

For more information about Midlands Tech, go to www.midlandstech.edu.