Students Can Now Access UAB Classes at Jeff State

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) have launched a new initiative that will allow students with associate’s degrees to take UAB classes on two JSCC campuses toward bachelor’s degrees in business management and early childhood education.

June 26, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) have launched a new initiative that will allow students with associate's degrees to take UAB classes on two JSCC campuses toward bachelor's degrees in business management and early childhood education. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) approved the initiative at its June 26 meeting.

Under the initiative, community college graduates can take UAB classes on the JSCC-Jefferson and JSCC-Shelby campuses beginning this fall, which provides community college students with new learning opportunities and allows both institutions to share resources, UAB and JSCC officials said.

Additionally, enrolled students will have access to UAB Career Services, which connects students with Birmingham internship opportunities. Access to UAB student advising services, discounts on admission to UAB athletic events and membership in the university's state-of-the-art recreation center are among the other services available to JSCC alumni who take part in this initiative.



Degree in Business Management

JSCC students with an associate degree and a 2.0 grade point average or higher will be eligible to take classes at JSCC-Shelby toward a UAB business management bachelor's degree. The classes will be offered through a combination of face-to-face instruction and distance learning.

"This is a great opportunity to provide easy and instant access to a high-quality bachelor's degree program to students who would not otherwise have considered extending their business education beyond their community college associate's degree," said David Klock, Ph.D., dean of the UAB School of Business.

The UAB School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which ensures that UAB-enrolled Jefferson State graduates will be accessing world-class courses that have been internationally recognized for excellence in business education.

Interested parties should contact Lauren Johnson, coordinator for undergraduate recruitment in the UAB School of Business, at 205-934-2453 or ldjohnson@uab.edu.



Degree in Early Childhood Education

Also beginning this fall, individuals with an associate's degree in child development and a 2.0 grade point average or higher will be eligible to take classes at the JSCC-Jefferson campus toward a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from UAB.

Recent federal and state initiatives have resulted in an increased need for baccalaureate-educated teachers who can meet the educational needs of preschool aged children. However, many preschool teachers and workers do not have a bachelor's degree, said Michael J. Froning, Ed.D., dean of the UAB School of Education.

"We're excited about the potential for this partnership between UAB and Jefferson State to make a major impact on the quality of preschools within our region and state," Froning said.

The courses will be offered through face-to-face instruction as well as online, said UAB Assistant Professor Linda Kay Emfinger, Ph.D., who directs the initiative for the School of Education. Students who complete UAB's early childhood education degree program will qualify for careers in preschool, Head Start or nursery school education, state-funded pre-K education, after-school programs, early childhood program administration and more.

The UAB School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE), a major accrediting body for colleges and universities that prepare teachers and other professionals to work in P-12 schools. UAB's early childhood education program is offered through the School's Department of Curriculum and Instruction. For more information, visit the School of Education Web site at www.uab.edu/education/home.

About UAB

Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center and the state of Alabama's largest employer. Click here to learn more about applying to UAB.