For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College recently announced an agreement with Volunteer State Community College that gives Welch students the opportunity to earn a Vol State associate’s degree in the fields of Accounting, Communications, Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Journalism, and Marketing, according to Dr. Greg Ketteman, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Welch.
“It’s exciting that Welch students can now graduate with a four-year Welch bachelor’s degree in areas like Biblical Studies, Business, English, Math Education, or Psychology and, at the same time, complete another academic credential in Accounting, Communications, Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Journalism, or Marketing—all with no additional time for the four-year degree!” Ketteman said.
Students can complete the associate’s degree as an embedded component of a Welch College undergraduate degree in no more time than it would take to complete a regular four-year degree. “Students will take 15 to 19 credit hours at Vol State during their four-year bachelor’s program at Welch,” Ketteman said. “All other credit required for the degree will be earned through Welch courses already in their program of studies at Welch.”
Mitchell Moody, a 2023 Welch College graduate, first navigated this co-enrollment pathway at Volunteer State while he completed his bachelor’s degree at Welch. Moody said, “I was able to earn additional credit hours at Vol State while completing my bachelor’s degree at Welch. This helped make it possible for me to enter a graduate program in Mathematical Sciences at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Additionally, I’m able to work in a Missile Defense Agency while being active in various ministries at my local church.”
The Welch-Volunteer State agreement was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents in March and is effective immediately. Prospective students who want to earn one of the degrees while they are earning their Welch bachelor’s degree should notify Mr. Daniel Webster at gotowelch@welch.edu. Current Welch students should notify their advisor.
Surveys of recent Welch graduates show that 95% are actively involved in local church ministry after graduation and 49% of them are actively involved in teaching ministries. A growing number of current and prospective students are interested in additional professional credentials as they plan for future bi-vocational ministry.
Ketteman said, “We pray that this new agreement illuminates a pathway that will support Welch graduates during lifetimes of ministry for Christ, His world, and His Church for many years to come.”