Students at Copiah-Lincoln Community College can now earn bachelors degrees in education at Mississippi University for Women without leaving Wesson.

An articulation agreement between Mississippi University for Women and Co-Lin, signed on the Wesson campus Wednesday, is the first of its kind in the state, said MUW President Jim Borsig. The 2+2 degree program will give students the flexibility to earn a bachelor of science in elementary education in their home community rather than Columbus.

Through a special partnership between The W and Co-Lin, students earning the associate of arts in elementary education at Co-Lin may transfer at least 62 credits to The W for their bachelor of science degree in elementary education with a K-3 or K-6 specialty.

While at Co-Lin, students enrolled at The W may complete introductory, methods and competency courses in education online through MUW which will be taught by the Columbus university’s professors.

Students may complete three residency courses at Co-Lin, beginning in their first semester of their junior year, which will be supervised by a W instructor. They will complete either the Praxis CORE or National ACT exams at Co-Lin prior to admission to the senior year experience and complete the teacher internship in their final semester at Co-Lin, supervised by a W instructor.

“We are very excited to be expanding our partnership with MUW to support our students seeking degrees in education This is another example of institutions working together to provide important educational opportunities for the students and communities we serve,” said Co-Lin President Ronnie Nettles.

He said Borsig’s leadership is appreciated at Co-Lin.

“He recognized very early in his presidency that working with community colleges, and Co-Lin specifically, was beneficial to both institutions and our state,” Nettle said.

Borsig said MUW is pleased to be a formal partner with Co-Lin.

“The first of its kind in the state, this 2+2 degree will allow associate of arts in elementary education graduates to obtain a bachelor of science in elementary education with much more convenience and flexibility,” he said.

The W has been working closely with Co-Lin over the past few months to establish the 2+2 program.

To learn more about The W’s Department of Education, contact Twila Alpe, W professor of education, at tlalpe@muw.edu or call 662-329-7191. For more information about Co-Lin, contact the Office of Enrollment Services at 601-643-8490.