In an effort to offer even more opportunities to ensure student success, Wittenberg University has joined with Miami University to allow highly qualified Wittenberg students to pursue both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a new combined program over five years.

“Institutions of higher learning constantly need to look for ways to meet the needs of students,” said Wittenberg Interim Provost and Professor of Psychology Mary Jo Zembar. “Wittenberg is fortunate to have a partner institution like Miami University that values the skills Wittenberg students bring with them to a graduate program.”

Thanks to the partnership, Wittenberg students who have completed 64 semester hours of coursework and have a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade may now be given priority consideration for admission to one of Miami’s 20 combined programs. Students who are accepted to Miami University under this agreement will be admitted in their fourth year at Wittenberg, and may enroll in undergraduate or graduate-level coursework at Miami University as specified by the requirements of their chosen master’s program.

Wittenberg’s department of history is the first campus program to identify the graduate courses that would allow its students to complete their B.A. in history at Wittenberg before heading to Miami to complete their M.A. in the same discipline.

"Part of what made this agreement possible was the close relationship that members of our department have with faculty at Miami,” said Darlene Brooks Hedstrom, professor of history and department chair. “Together, our collegiality enhances our joint mission to deliver excellent teaching and training in history."

Wittenberg history students can pursue one of two M.A. tracks at Miami either in professional history (those seeking employment in the public sector) or academic history (for those wishing to pursue a Ph.D.), Brooks Hedstrom explained. 

“As a Ph.D. of Miami (2001), I know the commitment of Miami's faculty to work with our students and to guide them to successful professional careers and strong placement in Ph.D. programs,” she added. “A cooperation between our two departments only deepens Wittenberg's ability to direct students to satisfying careers and excellent training for future professions.”

A nationally ranked university for the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wittenberg University has repeatedly been ranked throughout the years by the Princeton Review for the quality of its teaching and faculty, including 11th in the nation for “Best Classroom Experience” and 15th in the category “Professors Get High Marks” in the 2011 edition of Princeton’s annual Best Colleges guide. Most recently, Wittenberg earned the No. 4 spot in the category of “Most Accessible Professors.” Additionally, Wittenberg currently has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any other four-year institution in the state, and has been recognized nationally for excellence in service and athletics.

Established in 1809, Miami University, located 35 miles north of Cincinnati in Oxford, Ohio, is a nationally recognized Ohio public university with a focus on undergraduate teaching.  The university currently offers undergraduate degrees in more than 100 areas of study, as well as more than 50 masters degrees and 12 doctoral degrees.