Meridian Community College: MCC, MSU-Meridian Combine Resources To Offer New BAS Emphasis In Trades Supervision

Press release from Meridian Community College:

May 21, 2021

A new bachelor of applied science (BAS) degree emphasis for students who earned their associate of applied science
(AAS) degree in areas like 3D CAD, Precision Machinery and Electrical Technology will
be available through Mississippi State-Meridian this fall. 

Mississippi State introduced the BAS degree in 2019 to offer students who have earned
an AAS degree the opportunity to apply technical education credits earned from a community
college or the military to a bachelor’s degree. 

MCC is the only community college in Mississippi to have this partnership in connection
with the trades supervision emphasis with MSU.  

Offered at MCC-Riley Workforce Development Center, the degree program is designed
to provide graduates in the east Mississippi/west Alabama region the leadership skills
they need to be successful and will cover such topics as safety, estimating, materials
and methods and project management. 

The curriculum was developed by George Ford, professor and director of Building Construction
Science in MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design at the university’s Starkville
campus, along with other CAAD faculty. 

“A technical, hands-on person with the communication skills this degree provides is
the type of employee companies seek, especially construction and commercial service
companies,” Ford said. “It is customized for community college graduates to further
their careers by eliminating glass ceilings in companies that require a bachelor’s
degree – and is a true 2 + 2 path to graduation and success.” 

“We are very grateful to MCC for allowing us to use space on their campus,” said Terry
Dale Cruse, associate vice president and head of the MSU-Meridian campus. “This offer
not only enables us to save initial start-up costs and streamline the rollout to begin
offering classes this fall, but it also is one more example of the excellent working
relationship our institutions have enjoyed throughout the years.” 

“I look forward to watching this program take off,” said MCC President Tom Huebner.
“I believe the marketplace will embrace this opportunity in a big way. I’m also thrilled
that once again, MCC and MSU-Meridian can use our resources and work together to create
something unique and beneficial for our community.”  

The BAS program features an individualized curriculum, and students may choose up
to three specific emphasis areas to complete the degree program requirements and meet
their career objectives. Additional emphasis areas available at MSU-Meridian include
communication/broadcast, criminology, history, psychology, event and hospitality services,
healthcare services, general business, kinesiology/clinical exercise physiology and
special education.             

 For more information,  click here. 

This press release was produced by Meridian Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.