BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College signed an agreement with Pennsylvania State University on Wednesday establishing 12 new transfer programs that will allow students with associate degrees to obtain bachelor's degrees.

The program will ensure the transfer of BC3 graduates to bachelor's degree programs at any of the 14 PSU Commonwealth Campuses, said Nick Neupauer, BC3 president.

“I am always excited when we provide our wonderful students with new opportunities. However, I can say this particular agreement with several of the commonwealth campuses of Penn State has personal meaning,” he said. “I attended Penn State Beaver from 1985 to 1987 before transferring to University Park. That experience was a key reason why I even thought of advanced degrees and a career in education.

“Furthermore, some of my closest friends date back to my days at Penn State Beaver.”

Students who earn an associate degree from BC3 can apply to any PSU Commonwealth Campus and transfer all of the credits toward similar bachelor's degree programs at the Penn State location of their choice. Transfer application fees will be waived for BC3 students who meet PSU admissions requirements.

The transfer programs and Penn State programs included in the agreement are: Chemistry, A.S. to Earth Science, B.S.; Criminology, A.A. to Administration of Justice, B.S.; Business Administration, A.S. to Business, B.S.; Communications, A.A. to Communications, B.A.; Computer Science, A.S. to Information, Sciences, and Technology, B.S.; English, A.A. to English, B.A.; General Studies, A.A. to Human Development and Family Studies, B.S.; General Studies, A.A. to Letters, Arts, and Sciences, B.A.; General Studies, A.A. to Organizational Leadership, B.S.; Nursing, R.N., A.A.S. to Nursing, R.N., B.S.; and Psychology, A.A. to both Psychology, B.A. and Psychology, B.S.