On Oct. 29, the RELLIS Academic Alliance and Stephen F. Austin State University officials announced an upcoming degree offering available on the RELLIS campus in the fall of 2021.
SFA will join the alliance and begin offering completer courses for its Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies early childhood through grade six concentration. The program, designed to develop future teachers' knowledge and skills with field-based courses that provide real-world experience working with children, was chosen to help fill the significant shortage in certified teachers across the state.
“We are proud to partner with Stephen F. Austin State University to offer an established quality education program to our students at RELLIS,” says Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp. “I have no doubt this program will be an asset to the Academic Alliance and future students.”
With its focus on early childhood and reading education preparation, as well as extensive field experiences, the BSIS with the EC-6 concentration has a strong reputation for developing future teachers. Additionally, it is the most frequently awarded degree at SFA, which provides the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school.
“As a regional university, SFA has a historically strong reputation for helping to fill the employment needs of the area by providing access to high quality educational opportunities,” says Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education. “Bringing our showcase degree, the BSIS, to the RELLIS Academic Alliance provides access for Bryan-area students to a well-established and respected educator preparation program. We hope this partnership will help address the shortage of certified teachers for the state’s public schools.”
Additionally, students seeking to enroll in the BSIS completer program may apply for SFA’s Community College Transfer scholarship. This funding opportunity offers students with at least 45 transferable hours from a community college $1,000 per year if the student’s GPA is 3.0 to 3.49 or $2,000 per year if the student’s GPA is above 3.50.
With the addition of the education program, the RELLIS Academic Alliance offers 26 unique academic options from 10 Texas A&M System regional universities and Stephen F. Austin State University. Program options include degrees in a variety of fields, including technology and engineering, business and industry, natural and human sciences, and public service.
For more information about the RELLIS Academic Alliance, visit RELLIS.tamus.edu/AcademicAlliance.edu.
