Ursinus, UScience sign new agreement
COLLEGEVILLE >> Ursinus College students that may want to pursue their graduate degrees at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, now have a direct pathway to achieving that goal.
Ursinus and USciences have signed an affiliation agreement between the two schools, which allows students to enter one of 12 graduate programs at USciences upon successful completion of their bachelor’s degree.
Mark Schneider, vice president of academic affairs and dean of Ursinus, said that partnerships like the one between Ursinus and USciences allow students to enjoy the benefits of a liberal education before transferring “seamlessly” to a master’s degree program.
“It demonstrates our shared commitment to make high-quality educational options available to our students,” he said.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ursinus students will be able to pursue master’s degrees in several USciences programs
including: pharmaceutical and healthcare business; biochemistry (thesis or non-thesis); cell biology and biotechnology (thesis or nonthesis); chemistry (thesis or nonthesis), bioinformatics, and occupational therapy. They can also pursue doctoral degrees in occupational therapy, pharmacy and physical therapy.
“Healthcare is a growing field and students today have such a wide range of opportunities in addition to becoming a physician or nurse. With growing interest in our health and exercise physiology program and in physical therapy and occupational therapy graduate study among our students, this agreement opens up exciting new possibilities for those pursuing careers in the sciences,” Schneider added.
The affiliation agreement with USciences is Ursinus’ fifth academic degree partnership, according to the college. It was signed during a ceremony on Monday, June 24, and is effective immediately. According to a Ursinus spokesman, students who graduate in 2020 will be eligible for acceptance to graduate degree programs at USciences for the fall 2020 semester.
“This partnership with Ursinus College builds on the strength of each institution to offer students a broad range of educational opportunities,” Paul Katz, USciences president, said in a press release. “We are delighted to provide access for qualified students to a wide range of majors at USciences and a pathway to gratifying career opportunities.”
To be eligible, students must successfully complete a four-year undergraduate degree at Ursinus, submit an application to USciences and meet prerequisites for consideration of admission to a USciences graduate or professional degree program.
According to Schneider, Ursinus continues to seek academic partnerships to allow its students to pursue advanced degrees.
“Developing these trusting relationships give our students reassurances of a good experience at a high quality program, and gives the graduate programs confidence in our well-prepared students,” Schneider said.
Ursinus also has partnerships with Columbia University and Case Western Reserve University (engineering); Saint Joseph’s University (MBA); and the Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (nursing).
For more information about Ursinus College visit ursinus.edu. For more information about the University of the Sciences visit usciences.edu.
“Developing these trusting relationships give our students reassurances of a good experience at a high quality program, and gives the graduate programs confidence in our well-prepared students.”
— Mark Schneider, vice president of academic affairs and dean, Ursinus