Building on a long-standing partnership of offering pathway programs to assist students in making the transition from diploma to degree, Trent University and Durham College (DC) have signed a new agreement that will fast-track students to a college diploma in Journalism and a university degree in Media Studies in only a four-year timeframe.

The new pathways program agreement, signed July 8, 2015 at Trent University Durham by Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent University president and vice-chancellor, and Don Lovisa, president of Durham College at Trent University Durham, will allow graduates of DC’s two-year Journalism Web and Print and Broadcast and Electronic Media programs to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies at Trent University in Peterborough or at Trent University Durham, where the Media Studies degree is being offered for the first time in fall 2015.

“Trent University is pleased to be solidifying another new pathway partnership with Durham College,” said Dr. Groarke. “It’s our goal to be Ontario’s most transfer credit friendly institution. This new agreement with Durham College makes it exceptionally simple for students to transfer from both journalism programs at Durham College to Trent’s Media Studies program, one of the many strong programs in our Humanities department.”

“This is another example of our progressive and long-standing partnership with Trent University,” added President Lovisa. “Developing new pathway programs for our students ensures they get the best of both a college and university education – technical, professional and theoretical training along the way to earning a diploma and degree. That means when they graduate they are better-positioned with employers and for finding professional success.”

This agreement marks the first partnership between Trent and Durham College’s School of Media, Art and Design. There are now more than 14 diploma-to-degree pathways in place between Durham College and Trent University, providing degree completion opportunities for graduates of the college’s business, general arts and science, computing, environmental, police foundations and pharmaceutical and food science technology programs. The two institutions are also currently working on two additional pathways from the School of Media, Art and Design at Durham College into Media Studies at Trent University, to be finalized in fall 2015.