Already partnering with more than 60 colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad, Miami Dade College recently opened more opportunities for its graduates to pursue their bachelor’s and master’s degrees through seamless transfers to other top schools.
“In many cases, these opportunities are incentivized through application fee waivers, merit-based scholarships, personalized support, etc.,” said Dr. Philip Giarraffa, MDC’s director of Articulation and Academic Pathways. “Students often associate cost when thinking about transfer institutions. Articulation agreements are a great way to alleviate costs and truly make a student’s dream a reality.”
The newest agreements include several that pave the way for graduates of MDC’s School of Engineering and Technology (EnTec) to elevate their skills in high-tech, in-demand specialties at the University of Miami (UM), Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Nova Southeastern University (NSU).
“These timely new agreements allow our graduates to upgrade their education and economic mobility locally in a seamless pathway, growing the talent pool for South Florida’s ecosystem,” said Antonio Delgado, MDC’s vice president of Innovation and Technology Partnerships.
At UM, for example, MDC graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics can earn their master’s in Data Science in just one year with a special tuition discount. NSU also offers a tuition discount for MDC alumni with a bachelor’s in Cybersecurity to earn their master’s in Cybersecurity Management. At FAU, MDC graduates with a Data Analytics bachelor’s can pursue a master’s in Artificial Intelligence. And graduates from MDC with a bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology can earn their master’s in Computer Engineering at FAU in just one year.
“This agreement will open the door to achieve my goal of earning a master’s in artificial intelligence,” said Ismael Lopez, who transferred to FAU after graduating from MDC with a bachelor’s in Data Analytics. “It will also allow more Latinos like myself to be represented in this field, and help reduce biases in algorithms, especially those that can prevent minority access to economic growth.”
MDC’s transfer agreements reach throughout South Florida, the United States, and into Ecuador and Spain, exposing students to diverse fields of study, Giarraffa said. He cited NSU’s physician assistant program, the many disciplines at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Florida Memorial University’s aviation program, Barry University’s social work program, and, in Madrid, Universidad Nebrija’s fashion program.
Others include Tuskegee University, Emerson College and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Since joining MDC in September 2019, Giarraffa has executed 27 new agreements, with more in the pipeline. “MDC is always looking to partner with some of the best institutions in the nation, as well as internationally, to provide our students with impactful opportunities that not only allow them to pursue their career aspirations, but also change their lives,” he said.
– MB