By Sabrina MacDonald [1]
BELLEVILLE – Loyalist College and York University have signed an agreement that offers some Loyalist media students a chance to get a university degree in as little as two years.
Students who complete an advanced diploma in journalism, animation or film and television production at Loyalist or individuals who have a degree in a related technology field are eligible to enter York University’s consecutive bachelor of education in technological education program.
Kathleen Bazkur, the dean of media, arts and design and continuing education at Loyalist, said York approached the college because it was impressed by the three programs.
The agreement allows the Loyalist grads to continue their education and become high-school teachers in technology-related subjects [2].
“In terms of learning, I think we should respect that not all students want to do consecutive learning” such as moving from college to a university program, Bazkur said. “But for those students who do, I think this is wonderful opportunity.”
Some students may want to continue even farther with their education, she said. “If the student wants to, they could take the bachelor of education and perhaps apply it to a master’s degree. It’s all about pathways.”
Chloë Brushwood-Rose, York’s associate dean for academic programs for the faculty of education, said the university has been involved with eight such pathway agreements this past year.
Brushwood-Rose’s goal is to increase college students’ access to university education, she said.
“Students should be able to move around in the post-secondary system between institutions. There is a huge demand for technological-education teachers, and we especially want to see college graduates know they have this option.”
Bazkur said she hopes to have more such agreements with other programs and institutions over the next number of years.
She hopes students will consider the new option at York, she said, adding that Loyalist College will do its best to let everyone know about it.
More information about the transfer to York University can be found here [3] on the the Loyalist College website.