Arcadia University and Montgomery County Community College are launching a new program-to-program agreement that provides a seamless, affordable pathway for students to earn their associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in the high-demand field of public health.

Under the agreement, students who complete their Associate in Science degree in Public Health at MCCC will be assured junior status in the Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health at Arcadia University. Full-time students will be able to complete their bachelor’s degree in four regular semesters at Arcadia and start their careers. Arcadia will accept a maximum of 75 credits from MCCC, providing substantial tuition savings for students.

“Students will greatly benefit from this agreement because it streamlines the transfer process, enabling them to continue their education and achieve their goals,” said Gloria Oikelome, MCCC Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The pathway maps out the courses they need to take during their educational journey through completion.”

“We at Arcadia University are always looking to expand access to our College of Health Sciences programs to address the talent shortage in healthcare,” said Dr. Jeff Rutenbeck, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Arcadia University. “Arcadia and Montgomery County Community College have partnered on a variety of programs and initiatives, and we are looking forward to working with MCCC in providing students with an affordable and accessible pathway for their public health degree.”

Arcadia’s bachelor’s degree program in Public Health equips students with the tools necessary to study, research, and practice ways to improve health outcomes for communities and populations. Students will explore public health from different perspectives in the core disciplines of public health, including epidemiology/biostatistics, social and behavioral sciences, health care management and policy, and environmental health.

Professionals in the public health field promote and protect the health of the people and communities where they live and work. Careers encompass a wide array of jobs, including health system administrators, medical and health service managers, health education specialists, regional planners and public health program directors, to name a few. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for careers in health care and the public health field is anticipated to grow much faster than average.