OU and Washtenaw Community College team up to provide new education degree pathways for students

Looking to offer a smooth transition for students between Washtenaw Community College and Oakland University, the schools have announced new transfer articulation agreements within the field of education.

“The agreement brings together the best of what each institution offers and provides a pathway for students earning an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education at Washtenaw to move on to Oakland in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education,” said Oakland University’s School of Education and Human Services Dean Jon Margerum-Leys. “Similarly, students earning an Associate of Applied Science in Elementary Education at Washtenaw will be able to come to Oakland and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.” 

This new agreement ensures that there will be clear communication, collaboration and transferrable credits between the two institutions.

For example, after completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies and the Michigan Transfer Agreement at Washtenaw Community College, students will only have 57 credits to complete at Oakland University to earn their Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

Likewise, after completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Elementary Education and the Michigan Transfer Agreement at Washtenaw Community College, students will only have 57 credits to complete at Oakland University to earn their Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

The goal for both schools is to produce more, much-needed, educators that support our local and state communities with well-prepared teachers. These new agreements will help address the local and state teacher shortages in early childhood, early intervention and early childhood special education needs, as well as fulfill the need for more elementary teachers. Both academic institutions will offer significant classroom and experiential learning and provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply the state-required Core Teaching Practices.

For many transfer students, time-to-degree is extremely important. A robust articulation agreement is the shortest route to completing a degree. In addition to saving time, it also saves students money. Students only pay for courses they need and they don’t have to worry about whether their courses will transfer. If students know they want to earn a four-year degree, the entire plan can be laid out so they know the endpoint when they sign up for their first course at the start of their community college experience.

The new agreements are set to run through November of 2029.

Learn more about Washtenaw Community College
Learn more about Oakland University