Nashville State Community College, MTSU Expand Transfer Opportunities for Associate Degree Graduates

Leaders from Middle Tennessee State University and Nashville State Community College signed two agreements Tuesday, Jan. 28, that create seamless pathways in cybersecurity management and aerospace for associate degree graduates from the college to pursue a Bachelor of Science at the university.

The two articulation agreements signed by Nashville State President Shanna L. Jackson and MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee at the MTSU campus stipulate:

• Nashville State graduates with an associate in aerospace technology can transfer to pursue a bachelor’s in aerospace, technology concentration.
• Nashville State graduates with an associate in computer information technology, cyber defense concentration can transfer to MTSU to pursue a bachelor’s in cybersecurity management.

“Nashville State is a natural and affordable bridge for students who are seeking a four-year degree,” said Jackson. “MTSU has been a great partner in expanding and improving transfer pathways for our graduates to continue their educational and career goals. I want to thank Dr. McPhee and his team for their continued collaboration and forward-thinking.”

McPhee noted that these newest agreements provide Nashville State graduates an opportunity to enter two of MTSU’s most prominent programs: its highly respected aerospace program with eight decades of training new generations of aviation experts; and the new cybersecurity management degree launched last summer to train professionals in an exploding career field.

“These new degree paths represent another example of the collaborative spirit between our institutions to provide ready-to-work graduates for our state and region in technical fields that are in high demand,” McPhee said. “I applaud Dr. Jackson and her team for constantly exploring ways to add value to their graduates’ degrees, and MTSU is thrilled to partner in that effort.”

The agreement focused on cyber defense and cybersecurity management was made possible through a five-year New Skills Ready grant funded by JP Morgan Chase and administered through the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, which helped facilitate the collaboration between the two educational institutions.

MTSU and Nashville State have three existing agreements:

• Guaranteed Transfer Scholarship Program, as part of the True Blue Pathway, which provides $3,000 per year for two years (up to four semesters) to college graduates.
• Nashville State Associate of Applied Science, or A.A.S., graduates in certain concentrations can transfer credits toward a bachelor’s in Professional Studies at MTSU with a focus on Organizational Leadership in Information Technology.
• Nashville State A.A.S. graduates in Architectural, Civil, and Construction Engineering Technology with the Civil and Construction concentration can transfer to MTSU for a bachelor’s in Construction Management with the Commercial Construction Management concentration.

Dr. Shawn Wild, dean of Nashville State’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, also known as STEM, expressed gratitude to MTSU and excitement about the new transfer pathways.

“MTSU has consistently worked with us to create seamless educational opportunities for our graduates,” Wild said. “I’m proud of Nashville State’s commitment to connecting students, employers, and communities through personalized, high-quality, innovative education.”

Greg Van Patten, dean of the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences where the aerospace program is housed, said his college is excited to offer this new pathway to Nashville State students who are interested in aviation.

“While Nashville State is one of our college’s top transfer institutions, and the Aerospace bachelor’s program is the largest at MTSU, we have not previously seen many students from NSCC go into Aerospace,” Van Patten said. “I hope this articulation agreement will make it easier for those students interested in aviation careers to transition seamlessly to MTSU.”

Joyce Heames, dean of MTSU’s Jones College of Business, said the agreement underscores her college’s and the university’s mission to provide an affordable, accessible and high-quality education in the Midstate.

“At MTSU’s Jones College, we are committed to staying at the forefront of education and industry needs, ensuring our programs align with evolving market demands,” Heames said. “Through this partnership with Nashville State, we're empowering students to continue developing the critical competencies needed to enter the workforce as cybersecurity management professionals.”

About MTSU

 
Founded in 1911 as one of three state normal schools for teacher training, Middle Tennessee State University is one of the oldest and largest undergraduate universities in the state of Tennessee. With a fall enrollment averaging more than 20,000 students for the past five years, MTSU remains committed to providing individualized service in an exciting and nurturing atmosphere where student success is the top priority. MTSU features eight undergraduate colleges and the College of Graduate Studies, and more than 350 majors and concentrations combined, including accounting, aerospace, concrete industry management, music and recording industry. Offering a wide variety of nationally recognized programs at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels, MTSU takes pride in educating the best and the brightest students from Tennessee and around the world. For more information, call 615-898-2300, visit http://mtsu.edu/ or www.mtsunews.com. Follow MTSU on X/Twitter @MTSUNews and like us on Facebook.

About Nashville State

Nashville State has more than 8o program offerings with flexible online options, where students can earn an associate degree or career-ready credential, or transfer credits to a four-year institution. The college has several campuses, along with classes taught online and virtually: Clarksville campus (Clarksville), Dickson campus (Dickson), Humphreys County campus (Waverly), North Davidson campus (Madison), Southeast campus (Antioch), and White Bridge campus (West Nashville). The East Davidson campus (Donelson) in partnership with the American Job Center and Workforce Essential is a local workforce hub where area residents receive workforce training, skill certifications, educational support, and job-search resources. For more information about the college, visit https://nscc.edu/index.php. Follow Nashville State on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @nashvillestate.