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60/60 Program Leads to Lourdes College B.A. For Owens Community College A.A.S. Health Science Students Copy link to clipboard

Posted on July 19th, 2006

Lourdes College and Owens Community College are setting a new precedent within higher education by announcing a collaboration that would allow students accepted into one of four health science programs at Owens to also earn a baccalaureate degree at Lourdes while waiting for a clinical seat.

The program, known as 60/60, allows students pursuing Associate of Applied Science degrees in health information technology, occupational therapy assistant, radiography, or the surgical program at Owens to build on the credit hours they will earn to pursue a Bachelor of Arts – interdisciplinary studies degree at Lourdes College.

“Owens Community College is honored to partner with Lourdes College and open new doors for students by providing greater access to higher education,” said Christa Adams, Ph.D., president of Owens Community College. “We welcome this collaborative initiative with open arms and embrace the alignment of our educational philosophies.”

President Adams added, “This partnership represents a pioneering model between two- and four-year academic institutions and serves the health care community by creating a seamless pathway for students to achieve their educational goals.”

“With the 60/60 Program, Owens and Lourdes are working together to help students make the most of their investment of time, as well as money,” adds Dr. Robert C. Helmer, president of Lourdes College. “The health science students enrolling in this program will benefit from the solid technical education for which Owens is well-known, and from the values-based liberal arts education available at Lourdes, without having to finish one degree before beginning another.”

The Bachelor of Arts – interdisciplinary studies at Lourdes offers concentrations in allied health, business studies, fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. With the help of their academic advisor, students pursuing the interdisciplinary studies select classes from at least two different departments totaling 30 semester hours and complete a capstone project to earn the baccalaureate degree.

Students entering the new 60/60 Program, which begins Fall 2006, will be required to earn a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework from each institution to simultaneously obtain an associate degree from Owens, and a baccalaureate degree from Lourdes. Students may begin their academic coursework at either institution. However, the student must be accepted into one of the four health science programs at Owens in order to meet Lourdes admissions criteria for this unique program. While waiting for their clinical seats, students may begin pursuing coursework at Lourdes toward their baccalaureate degree.

An admissions representative from Lourdes will be based at the Owens Toledo-area Campus to assist students through the registration process.

In addition to the new joint venture, Lourdes College and Owens Community College also have a long-standing collaboration enabling students in the Owens registered nursing program to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Lourdes through an articulation agreement.

Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students, making it the number one choice for new college students. Owens is committed to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers baccalaureate transfer degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 150 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university.

Located in Sylvania, Ohio, and rooted in the Franciscan tradition, Lourdes College offers baccalaureate degree programs in Arts and Sciences, Nursing, and Professional Studies including business, education, leadership studies, and social work. Lourdes also offers graduate degrees in Education and Organizational Leadership. Lourdes is a private college offering a distinctive educational experience at an affordable price, giving our graduates a lifetime of opportunities.