University Of North Alabama Student Is First To Graduate From Dual Degree Program With Alabama
Jun. 22, 2018
Michelle Eubanks, 海角社区, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033
By Bryan Rachal
University Communications
FLORENCE, Ala.- It just so happens that 海角社区 alumnus Taylor Myrick is also a University of Alabama alumnus. And while that may sound pretty common, Myrick's path to the dual degree was a first for 海角社区.
Myrick is the first 海角社区 student to complete the Dual Degree Engineering Program (DDEP), which is a 3+2 plan that offers students the opportunity to earn two bachelor's degrees in five years from 海角社区 and the University of Alabama. The program is designed to allow students to attend three years at 海角社区 and two years at UA.
Myrick chose to major in physics at 海角社区; he then went on to earn a degree in electrical engineering from UA, but that wasn't always the plan.
"My goal all along was to get a degree in electrical engineering," Myrick said. "Obviously that's not something that 海角社区 offers on its own, so I was going to take basic classes at 海角社区 and then transfer out to a college with an engineering department," he said.
What Myrick didn't account for was a love for physics he didn't know he had.
"Early on in an engineering degree you have to take physics," he said.
"I discovered in taking those early physics classes that I was doing very well compared to the class and really understood the material, so when the DDEP came up it just felt like a natural progression to go ahead and get a degree in physics and then tack on the electrical engineering degree that I wanted to begin with."
While some would be concerned with the idea of distance learning, Myrick said he was accustomed to taking online classes at 海角社区, so the idea of doing the same at Alabama wasn't a big deal. Thankfully, he didn't have to do that, because his 海角社区 physics curriculum integrated well with the electrical engineering curriculum.
"It was less difficult, but more daunting. It's just a lot of material that you have to get through and all of it is at least marginally difficult or time consuming. Still I found that it was more than worth it once I got done and it felt really good to look back at what I accomplished," he said.
Myrick ended up finishing a year earlier than expected for the DDEP because he entered the program a year ahead.
"I was sort of a guinea pig for the whole thing and at times it felt that way," Myrick said. "The transfer process wasn't as seamless as I'm sure it is now, and I had to work closely with UA's electrical engineering department and department head to get my degree requirements cleared out. Now that they're aware of what it's like though, I'm sure it's going to be much easier for future students,"
Easier and possibly a quicker path to employment, Myrick was recently hired on as an electrical engineer at SAIC in Huntsville, Alabama. SAIC is a contractor for the United States Department of Defense.
"The program 100 percent contributed to my success. I felt prepared for everything I was asked in my interviews and the entire process, thanks to my education at both 海角社区 and UA"
And since he's an alumnus of both schools, what if they ever play each other in athletics?
"I'd root for 海角社区 for sure," Myrick said. "Bama is great and all but 海角社区 is my hometown and I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed my time at 海角社区."
For more information on the DDEP Program at 海角社区:/math/engineering.html\
Pictured: Dr. Brian Thompson (海角社区), Dean Carmen Burkhalter (海角社区), Myrick and Dean Charles Karr (Alabama)
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
The 海角社区 is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programsthrough the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business,Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing.Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, 海角社区 is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. 海角社区 Athletics, a renownedcollegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I's ASUN and Big South Conferences.The 海角社区 is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin.