Two years at Georgia Highlands College plus two years at the University of West Georgia will now offer new possibilities for students pursuing degrees in the field of mass communications.

Under a new agreement between UWG and GHC, students who complete an associate degree in communications at GHC then have the opportunity to seamlessly transfer to UWG and complete a bachelor’s degree in mass communications major with a concentration in public relations.

UWG President Dr. Kyle Marrero recently met with GHC President Dr. Don Green and other officials from both institutions to sign the agreement.

Students can complete the first two years at GHC’s Douglasville site, either taking their classes onsite or online. For the following two years, they will take their classes at the UWG main campus in Carrollton, with select courses being offered at the Douglasville site.

“Enhancing our partnership with Georgia Highlands is critical for students by expanding four-year programming in Douglas County,” said Dr. David Jenks, associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of criminology at UWG. “It is especially critical for those students who wish to continue their education in a place where they are already engaged.”

Core classes in the first half of the degree at GHC will provide students with an introduction to college-level history, science and mathematics, with a focus on written and verbal communication. In the second half of classes taken at UWG, they will be taught how to strategically manage communication for businesses and organizations.

UWG’s curriculum will prepare students for success as public relations professionals. They can develop portfolios and have the opportunity for networking through bluestone, UWG’s student-managed public relations firm.

“Experiential learning is a critical part of the program,” said Dr. Camilla Gant, chief administrative officer and executive director of academic affairs, Douglasville. “Students practice public relations theory learned in the classroom by executing grassroots public relations plans for local non-profit clients in the capstone course, Public Relations Campaigns, as well as for bluestone, the student-managed public relations firm.”

According to Gant, many clients are identified through a partnership with the Community Foundation of West Georgia. Students help them develop their public relations strategy in regard to objectives, target audiences, campaign messages, media strategy, crisis management, event management and assessment.
Interning opportunities are also available with public relations partners in nearby Atlanta, a top-10 media outlet.

“The College of Social Sciences is happy to have signed our very first articulation agreement with our colleagues at Georgia Highlands College,” said Dr. N. Jane McCandless, dean of UWG’s College of Social Sciences. “All articulation agreements are created with one group in mind – our students. Articulation agreements such as this allow our students the freedom to blaze new trails as they continue their educational pursuits.”