Pellissippi State signs agreement with Nashville art college

Officials of Pellissippi State and Watkins College of Art & Design in Nashville have signed an agreement by which Pellissippi State students can transfer more easily into Watkins’ bachelor’s degree courses.

Pellissippi State students earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in Media Technologies with a concentration in Communication Graphics Technology will be able to enter the Watkins Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in graphic design as juniors, without loss of credit.

“While the primary purpose of our program is to prepare students for the workplace after they finish at Pellissippi State, it is wonderful to know that those students who wish to continue their education in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree will have an opportunity to do so at such a prestigious institution as Watkins. This opportunity adds value to the student’s A.A.S. degree,” said David Gilbert, coordinator of Communication Graphics Technology.

“This will allow our students to earn an associate’s degree in a familiar environment,” said Todd Duren, CGT instructor. “Then they have the ‘going away to college’ experience during their last two years. The security of a community college and the prestige of a four-year art school is a great combination.”

The agreement is in effect for the 2005-06 academic year.

“The quality of work coming out of Pellissippi State’s Media Technologies program is outstanding, and I am very excited to open the door to further education for these graduates,” said Leslie Haines, chair of the Department of Graphic Design at Watkins.

“They have the talent and skill level we look for when accepting students into our highly competitive, award-winning graphic design program.”

Founded as Watkins Institute in 1885, Watkins College of Art & Design and the Watkins Film School offer Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in film, graphic design, interior design, fine arts and photography, as well as a postgraduate certificate in film.

The college is nationally accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and its B.F.A. degree in interior design is accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

For past issues, visit the Inside Pellissippi Archive.