By Hope Sandusky/editor-in-chief
NW student Bailey Carothers is pursuing a degree in business. He is taking a variety of classes relating to his major.
“I have taken classes like microeconomics and financial accounting,” he said. “These are the classes that I feel best pertain to what I am trying to do.”
What Carothers doesn’t realize is that TCC offers specific programs designed to take the place of lower-division classes needed at four-year universities.
TCC’s field of study programs are designed to correspond directly with the lower-division classes needed for a particular bachelor’s degree.
The college offers seven fields of study programs. They include business, computer science, engineering, journalism and mass communication, music, radio, TV and broadcast journalism and general speech and communication.
“Our advisors speak of these programs during advising sessions with students when making recommendations on what courses to take for the Associate of Arts degree,” NW counseling and advising assistant director Lilia Covio-Calzada said.
These study programs allow students to get both core classes and elective classes that correspond with their majors out of the way before transferring to a university.
NE music associate professor Philippe Baugh says the field of study program is an easy way for students to know what classes will get them to the exact place they want to be.
“With the music field of study, students take the classes that deal directly with music, such as music theory and ensemble,” he said. “It guides you to what exactly you need to be successful in the degree you are earning.”
The fields of study can also be used toward other bachelor’s degrees that may not directly correspond with the program but are within the same field.
Covio-Calzada recommends students meet with advisors to discuss the fields of study and other types of programs that TCC offers.
“Like any other program, there are a fair number of students who are not aware of the fields of study program,” she said. “I would recommend all students make an appointment with their advisor to discuss these and other academic programs.”
Students are also encouraged to meet with academic advisors to find out which fields of study programs transfer to which specific universities.
