Streamlined Degree Completion Partnership with
Heidelberg University
Structured Pathways for Counseling, Criminal Justice, Teacher Education and Nursing Careers
Heidelberg University (HU) and Tiffin University (TU) have formalized five new academic partnership agreements designed to expand student opportunity, streamline degree completion and meet critical workforce needs in communities here at home and across the region. This partnership offers:
- The ability to transfer credits efficiently between programs and transition seamlessly into advanced degrees.
- Clearly defined dual-enrollment and “bridge” pathways that allow students to begin graduate-level coursework earlier
“These agreements create clear and intentional pathways that help students move more efficiently from undergraduate study into graduate and professional preparation. By aligning programs, expanding access and strengthening academic continuity, we are making it easier for students to stay focused on their goals and enter high-demand careers prepared to lead and serve.”
“These partnerships reflect what is possible when two institutions in the same community intentionally align their strengths in service to students. By creating structured academic pathways across multiple disciplines, we are expanding opportunity, reducing barriers to graduate education and strengthening the talent pipeline to our community and the region.”
Academic Pathways
Counseling Pathway – TU to Heidelberg Master’s Program
Heidelberg University offers early applicant benefits for the Master of Arts in Counseling program to Tiffin students pursuing their bachelor’s degree within the School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences. HU will reserve three seats for TU students for priority consideration into the program.
Students may apply up to two TU open elective courses (up to 6 credit hours) towards dual enrollment in HU’s program:
- COU503 Human Growth and Development – 3 credit hours (summer)
- COU518 Career Planning and Vocational Guidance – 3 credit hours (summer)
- COU502 Introduction to Professional Counseling Identity – 1 credit hour (fall)
- COU504 Theories on Counseling – 3 credit hours (fall)
- COU654 Human Sexuality – 1 credit hour (fall)
- COU512 Clinical Mental Health Agency & Counseling – 2 credit hours (spring)
- COU611 Trauma & Crisis – 3 credit hours (spring)
- COU637 Substance Use & Abuse – 3 credit hours (spring)
Admissions Requirements:
- Must be in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree in any of the programs in the School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences at TU
- Have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours in the social sciences
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.9 or higher at the time of application
- Submit a personal goal statement outlining professional aspirations and alignment with the counseling profession
- Provide two professional or academic letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s qualifications
- Complete a background check upon conditional admission to the MAC program
Criminal Justice Bridge – Heidelberg to TU Graduate Study
Heidelberg University criminology and psychology students have the opportunity to begin pursuing their Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree during their undergraduate program through dual enrollment credit.
Students may apply up to two HU open elective courses (up to 6 credit hours) towards dual enrollment in TU’s program:
- JUS510 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice – 3 credit hours
- JUS525 Legal and Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice – 3 credit hours
Admissions Requirements:
- Must be in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree in criminology or psychology in the School of Behavioral Sciences at HU
- Maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Must have completed at least 75 credit hours toward their degree at HU to be eligible for dual enrollment
Teacher Education Collaboration
Tiffin University students interested in becoming teachers will have the opportunity to enroll in Heidelberg’s Educator Preparation Program through a dual enrollment agreement. The parallel agreement supports first-time, full-time TU students entering education licensure programs.
Each licensure pathway includes field experiences and clinical hours built into 7 out of 8 semesters of the program.
Students’ specialty courses will be taught at TU, while the licensure requirements and teaching credentials will be completed at HU.
Bachelor of Arts in Teacher Education – High School (Grades 7-12)
- Student’s will earn their Bachelor of Arts in History with licensure in Integrated Social Studies, grades 7-12
- This program will allow students to complete the necessary coursework for a degree in integrated social studies at TU, and meet the adolescent and young adult licensing requirements and teaching credentials for integrated social studies at HU
Bachelor of Arts in History OR Science – Middle Childhood Education (Grades 4-9)
- Students have the option to pursue their Bachelor of Arts in Science or Bachelor or Arts in History depending on their desired specialty through the Middle Childhood program
- Middle Childhood students have the opportunity to add a secondary area of study to their degrees as well, which can either be math, science or history depending on their initial selection
Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education (Grades K-5)
- Students will earn their Bachelor or Arts in Primary Education with licensure to teach grades K-5
Intervention Specialist Add-on
These three licensure pathways allow students to also add an Intervention Specialist Add-on to their licensure through Heidelberg. Students who choose to include this add-on will earn a separate Special Education licensure for K-12 in addition to their main licensure.
This add-on allows students more fluidity and job opportunities in their career post-grad.
3+2 Pathway from BA in Education Studies – Educational Paraprofessional to Master of Arts in Education
Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies – Educational Paraprofessional
Heidelberg and Tiffin collaboratively designed a pathway for students seeking to work in staff support in an educational or childcare environment. Through this pathway, students will receive their core education at TU, and their specific education content at HU.
Master of Arts in Education with Special Education Licensure (Online)
The collaborative paraprofessional program between HU & TU provides the prerequisite material for students to pursue their Master of Arts in Education with a Special Education: Mild and/or Intense Intervention licensure with The University of Saint Francis.
This 3+2 pathway allows students to begin taking masters-level courses online while completing their bachelor’s degree through the Tiffin & Heidelberg partnership. This allows students to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years.
- Year 1-3: Undergraduate courses at Tiffin & Heidelberg
- Year 4: Completing the undergraduate TU & HU partnership program while simultaneously taking online master’s courses through Saint Francis
- Year 5: Completing the master’s program online as a Saint Francis student
Nursing Pathways – RN-to-BSN and MSN Preparation
Registered Nursing (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Preparation
The Tiffin University and Heidelberg University nursing pathways partnership allows students pursuing their Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences and Associate of Applied Science in Nursing through the TU/TSCC partnership to begin taking classes at HU toward their Bachelor of Science in Nursing while completing the pre-licensure portion of the program. Once students become licensed Registered Nurses, they will complete their BSN requirements at Heidelberg.
The partnership between TU & HU includes an additional nursing pathway designed to help registered nurses complete the necessary prerequisites to pursue their Master of Science in Nursing degree with Tiffin.
Pre-licensure courses
Heidelberg allows TU students to take 12 BSN credit hours before completing their AASN and BAHS at TU/TSCC.
The following courses can be taken at HU while students complete the TU/TSCC program, earning up to 12 credits of BSN coursework pre-licensure:
- NUR420 Healthcare Informatics, Technology, and AI for Nurses – 3 credit hours
- NUR410 Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing – 3 credit hours
- NUR400 Theoretical Foundation of Nursing – 3 credit hours
- NUR450 Interprofessional Roles in Global Health – 3 credit hours
Post-licensure courses
Upon completing the BAHS from TU and the AASN from TSCC, passing the NCLEX-RN exam, and successfully meeting admissions requirements for the program, students in the TU & HU nursing partnership pathway will complete the remainder of their BSN coursework at HU through the following courses:
- NUR430 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Application – 4 credit hours
- NUR440 Community and Population Health Nursing* – 4 credit hours
- NUR460 Healthcare Policy and Advocacy – 3 credit hours
- NUR470 Leading and Managing in Healthcare Teams* – 4 credit hours
*Denotes clinical courses
Registered Nurse (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing Prerequisite Requirements
Students interested in pursuing their MSN at TU that hold a bachelor’s in something other than nursing, who also hold an associate degree in nursing and are licensed registered nurses, can take two prerequisite courses at HU as non-degree seeking students.
These two courses + six months of prior work experience = eligible to apply for TU’s MSN
- NUR430 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Application – 4 credit hours
- NUR470 Leading and Managing in Healthcare Teams* – 4 credit hours
*Denotes clinical courses
“By forging streamlined pathways into teacher education and nursing, we are not only addressing current workforce needs but also pioneering the evolution of education to create sustainable, impactful careers in education and healthcare.”
“Students benefit from clearer academic pathways, stronger career alignment, earlier access to advanced coursework and reduced duplication of effort across programs.”
