Students with a two-year nursing degree from Sowela Technical Community College can now transfer their credits toward a bachelor’s degree at Northwestern State University, under a program known as “two plus two.”

The two institutions formalized the agreement at Sowela Aug. 29.

Paula Hellums, Sowela’s vice chancellor for academic affairs, said their main goal is to provide qualified workers to meet industry needs in Southwest Louisiana. But many students want more than a two-year degree, she said.

“These partnerships are student-focused and are developed to assist students in meeting their educational goals in a timely manner,” Hellums said. “Additionally, these agreements serve to remove barriers for students and potentially increase the likelihood of them continuing their educational journey.”

Sowela also has two plus two agreements with NSU’s criminal justice degree, along with the culinary arts degree at Nicholls State University.

Sowela and McNeese State University have similar agreements between the graphics arts, nursing, criminal justice and psychology programs.

A reverse transfer agreement allows former Sowela students enrolled at McNeese to transfer their credits back to the community college, Hellums said.