Businesses in South Carolina are clamoring for more engineers, and the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College have teamed up to help meet that demand. The two institutions have created a 2+2 program that provides a clear map for the courses students need to take at Trident Tech in order to have all their credits transfer to the College of Charleston so they graduate in four years with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering.
From Left: Dean Sebastian van Delden, CofC President Andrew Hsu, Trident Tech President Mary Thornley, Tim Fulford, dean of the Division of Engineering and Construction at Trident, Catharine Almquist, vice president for education at Trident, and Provost Suzanne Austin.
“We are excited to increase the pool of career-ready graduates in the Lowcountry,” says Sebastian van Delden, dean of the School of Sciences and Mathematics. “The MOU establishes sequencing maps for Trident Tech students so they know exactly what courses to take for their two-year associate degree so they can come to the College of Charleston and graduate with a systems engineering degree after two more years.”
“Many of our students want to continue their studies and earn a four-year engineering degree,” says Tim Fulford, dean of the Division of Engineering and Construction at Trident Tech. “This 2+2 pathway is an excellent opportunity for Trident Technical College students to earn a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and enter the highly in demand advanced manufacturing job market.”
The 2+2 systems engineering program, which went into effect last month, will serve as the road map for future 2+2 collaborations between Trident Tech and the College of Charleston. These programs will allow for businesses coming to South Carolina to hire locally and will strengthen the state’s position as a prime location for business and industry.
“More and more businesses are coming to South Carolina, particularly the Lowcountry, and they have diverse needs when it comes to employees,” says Suzanne Austin, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “By collaborating with Trident Tech, we can ensure students are on the right path to transfer to the College and succeed. And this will help support our growing economy.”
