INA, Ill. (Feb. 9, 2016) - Rend Lake College psychology graduates have a new transfer option starting this spring, thanks to a partnership between RLC and Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale.
This evening, the RLC Board of Trustees approved an articulation agreement for students who complete an Associate of Arts degree in psychology to transfer seamlessly into SIU Carbondale’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in psychology.
To meet the requirements of the agreement, students must earn a minimum of 64 credit hours at RLC with a GPA (grade point average) at or higher than a 2.0. Of these 64 credit hours, several specific courses must be completed and passed, including public speaking, rhetoric and composition, college mathematics, introduction to psychology, introduction to sociology, cultural anthropology, and elementary Spanish. Transfer students will then be required to complete 56 credit hours at the 300 and 400 level at SIU Carbondale to earn a BA.
Henry Leeck, Dean of Liberal Arts, said this agreement is the first of its kind for SIU Carbondale and the Liberal Arts division; one he hopes will assist RLC grads with continuing their higher education in Southern Illinois.
“Articulation agreements are a wonderful collaboration between two institutions,†said Leeck. “Students interested in the field of psychology will be required to continue their education beyond an associate’s degree, and this new option to reach that goal right down the road is a unique opportunity. I hope our graduates take the chance to consider all of their options to find the right path for them moving forward.â€
RLC students can also take advantage of a similar agreement with Missouri Baptist University (MBU) wherein students interested in psychology, sociology, or social work can complete their associate degree program before completing the remaining credit hours from MBU on the RLC campus.
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 173,900 psychologists working across the country, with the creation of 32,500 new jobs in the next eight years. A master’s or doctorate degree is required for many in the field and the median pay in 2014 was $70,700.
RLC is currently enrolling for the Summer 2016 semester. Students can begin making appointments for Fall 2016 advisement on Tuesday, March 1. To learn about registering for the RLC programs, visit the Academic Advisement Center in the Administration Building or call 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266.
To learn more about these agreements, contact ReAnne Palmer at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1223 or palmerr@rlc.edu.
