Students who want to major in Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and Networking Technology, or Graphic Design at MC should be in AAS programs, right?
It depends on the student’s goal – entry-level employment or transfer? If transfer is the goal, which specific transfer school(s)?
Example
- two students last week asked how to plan for a transfer to UM College Park
or UMBC and study Cybersecurity. They are enrolled in MC AAS
Associate of Applied Science degrees, one in Cybersecurity / the other in
Cloud Computing.
MC defines AAS Associate of Applied Science degrees as
those “recognizing mastery of vocational-technical occupational skills and
intended for those seeking immediate employment opportunities.”
Note that the Catalog
Program Descriptions for most AAS degrees begin by stating that the degree is
intended for entry-level employment.
- Cloud Computing and Networking Technology AAS:
“This curriculum provides students a
broad coverage and technical understanding of computer technology,
networking and security as well as the communication skills and professionalism required of all entry-level
IT professionals.”
Cybersecurity AAS: “This AAS degree
prepares students for entry-level positions in cybersecurity. The program emphasizes computer security
and information assurance concepts augmented with current industry standard
techniques.” “Our degree
program has transfer agreements with many four-year institutions,
including Bowie State University, Capitol Technology
University, University of Maryland Global Campus, University of
Maryland Global Campus at The Universities at Shady Grove, Harrisburg
University of Science and Technology, and more. See all transfer agreements. “
- Graphic Design AAS: “The graphic design
degree prepares the student for employment in the field of graphic
communication. Some students choose to continue their studies and have been
successful transferring to four-year institutions with resulting
portfolio.”
Some AAS degrees DO have transfer options; however, the
options may not include all traditional full-time, daytime Maryland
universities like UM, UMBC, Morgan, Salisbury, Towson, etc. AAS
degrees have fewer General Education Program courses (20 credits compared to 30
credits in an AA, AS or AAT degree) and more courses (40 credits) in skills
classes in the Program Requirements. Many “traditional” four-year
colleges and universities look for more General Education Program courses in
the first and second year and accept fewer Program courses. Some schools do accept full
AAS degrees, most notably in fully online bachelor’s degrees offered by
UMGC.
The MC Transfer
Agreements page shows specific the transfer agreements that exist for our AAS
degrees: https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/transfer/agreements-and-information/by-major-or-area-of-study.html#list
The critical question for all students interested in any AAS
major is, “Are you thinking about transferring after
MC to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree, and if yes, what are some schools
that interest you?” As a matter of fact, this is a great question to ask every
student in every major, every time you meet!
If the answer is yes, and students are
interested in Maryland state schools or traditional four-year universities, it
is important to show them how to look at the requirements for a
Cybersecurity major (or Graphic Design, or other AAS specialty area) at their
future transfer school/s. It could be as simple as searching for
“Cybersecurity major” or “Graphic Design major” on a school’s main page.
Both UM
and UMBC, for example, will not accept any NWIT courses. GDES courses may
also have limited transferability to many MD state schools. You can still
use ARTSYS to check on specific course transferability to MD schools: https://artsys.usmd.edu/
This is a link to the UM Transfer Credit Center showing how all MC courses are accepted: https://app.transfercredit.umd.edu/display-inst-courses.html?instCode=52431A If a GDES course is accepted as an L1 = Lower Level Elective, that is not the same as showing acceptance as an ARTT course equivalent needed for the UM Art Major- Graphic Design concentration.
Here is a way to provide transfer information for some popular MC AAS degrees -
Student
is interested in Cybersecurity or Cloud Computing as a major at UM or other
four-year schools – send
a link to the MC Cybersecurity Transfer
Advising Page https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/_documents/counseling-and-advising/transfer-resources/cybersecuritytransferadvising06262024.pdf
to see where this degree is accepted and review requirements of many other
schools where an AA degree may allow students to take courses needed for
transfer.
Graphic Design – provide the link to the MC Graphic Design Transfer Advising Page https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/_documents/counseling-and-advising/transfer-resources/graphicdesignmctransfersdvisingpage030822.pdf
à UM, UMBC, Towson, Salisbury – Graphic Design @ Shady Grove and most other traditional four-year schools want general ARTT courses in the freshman & sophomore years prior to transfer. Graphic Design at four-year schools is typically an upper-level concentration after transfer within an Art degree. Yes, there are specialized Art schools that may accept the Graphic Design AFA, but it is important to ask students about the specific schools they have in mind if the goal is to transfer. Salisbury University’s Graphic Design BFA degree offered at Shady Grove recommends completion of the MC Art AA degree rather than the Graphic Design AFA.
[Thank you, Anne, for this helpful information! If I may add a few items to the Graphic Design transfer options:
- AA in Art 618 - For most 4-year universities, the AA in Art 618 is the best for students intending to pursue graphic design. Please note:
- Salisbury University at Shady Grove and MC have Articulation Agreement: AA in Art 618 to BFA in Graphic Design;
- UMD College Park prefer students complete AA in Art 618 without taking any graphic design courses prior to applying with portfolio.
This same program also works well for Towson’s graphic design programs, as well as most national universities with graphic design programs – primarily, as Anne shared, because of their general education requirements, as well as a preference that all graphic design courses are completed at their institutions. We have a 4-year pathway agreement with both UMD College Park and Towson Univ for the AA in Art 618 program.
- AFA in Graphic Design 902 - Art Schools (Independent Colleges of Art and Design – AICAD) work well with the AFA in Graphic Design 902. These are schools such as MICA in Baltimore, the Corcoran, which is part of GWU, RISD, SAIC, etc. The link above may be informative to students interested in art schools. Of course, these institutions are quite pricey. However, many of our students receive merit scholarships (portfolio based) that help lessen the cost burden. For example, we currently have a student at MICA on scholarship, whereby her contribution is about $10,000 per year (less than UMD College Park).
- AAS programs – not recommended for transfer to university programs. Art Schools are more generous in accepting credits, and will find a way to work with the students if portfolio is strong.
MC is accredited by NASAD (National Accreditation of Schools of Art & Design). As part of this accreditation, we are required to be clear with students regarding purposes of programs (transfer or career and technical education). We have defined our AA and AFA programs as transfer programs and our AAS programs as career and technical education programs (in our program descriptions of the latter, we acknowledge that students are able to transfer some of their credits based on portfolio reviews).
Of course, directing all students interested in pursuing Graphic Design (or any visual arts disciplines) to the following would be most helpful:
- Tendai Johnson, Chair Art Department RV & GT: Tendai.johnson@montgomerycollege.edu
- Norberto Gomez, Chair Visual & Performing Arts TPSS: Norberto.Gomez@montgomerycollege.edu
- Katie Hubley, Chair Media Arts & Technologies RV: Katherine.Hubley@montgomerycollege.edu
Tendai Johnson (he, him, his)
Chair – Department of Art
Rockville and Germantown Campuses
Montgomery College
Office: 240-567-7649
Cell: 240-997-7001
Rockville Art Department Website
Germantown Art Department Website
Instagram: @MCArt_Germantown @MCArt_Rockville #MCArtRemote]
All of these Transfer Advising pages can be found on the MC Transfer Resources for Counselors Page: https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/counseling-and-advising/transferresourcesforcounselors.html
What if
an MC / MCPS Dual Enrollment or Early College student is graduating with an AAS
degree and wants to apply to UM? Technically, those students must apply to schools like UM
or UMBC under Freshman Admissions Requirements in the first half of their high
school senior year because the State of Maryland defines a “transfer student as
someone who has completed 12 or more credits AFTER graduation from high
school”, so those students should contact UM Pretransfer Advising to
develop a transfer plan. Provide a Starfish Referrals to UM Pretransfer,
or send the student the UM Pretransfer Advising Link specifically for MC
students: go.umd.edu/MC2UMD If the desired major is Cybersecurity at UM or at
other traditional schools, the student may need to take additional classes at
MC to meet transfer requirements.
Anne
Schleicher, Part-Time Counselor
Montgomery College Online Advising Services
