Roane State Community College

August 28, 2025

Roane State and Tennessee Technological University have signed an articulation agreement, creating a clear path to transfer for students pursuing degrees with a concentration in project management.

This new pathway is a 2+2 program, meaning students can complete a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech without the need to relocate. Between online classes and in-person courses that will be offered at Roane State’s Oak Ridge Campus, students can finish out the full four-year program entirely with Roane State.

“Project management is a critical skill for employers in our area, with high-paying careers only expected to grow as industries expand in East Tennessee,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said. “The new agreement with Tennessee Tech underscores our shared goals to adequately prepare graduates for these in-demand careers. We are grateful for this partnership as well as our continued collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory in this field.”

Roane State established an academic emphasis in project management and project controls in 2024 with a curriculum developed in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The emphasis has helped match employer needs and connect students with internship and apprenticeship opportunities. ORNL provided a member of its staff, Gregory Capps, to lead the effort at Roane State. Additionally, the courses were structured so that students could earn a Project Management Institute (PMI) Certification while enrolled for their associate degree.

“Project management is a growing field,” said Capps, who also directed ORNL’s Project Management Office for more than a decade. “This program’s expansion further benefits not only those of us associated with the Department of Energy, but it also supports the region’s need for project management professionals to meet workforce demand.”

The articulation agreement signed by President Whaley and Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham this week outlines the first two years of study at Roane State with students receiving a general transfer associate degree concentrating on project management.

After graduating Roane State, students will be seamlessly transferred to Tennessee Tech and complete two more years of study for a Bachelor of Science in Emerging and Integrative Studies, also with the project management concentration. All required courses can be completed as a mix of online and in-person classes in Oak Ridge.

“Tennessee Tech values our partnership with Roane State, and we look forward to making it even simpler for students to earn a Tech degree using the strong foundation they receive at Roane State, all without having to leave home,” Tech President Phil Oldham said. “By working together, we are creating new pathways for students in East Tennessee to earn a four-year degree from a nationally ranked institution in a highly sought-after field of study, all while expanding the college-to-career pipeline for regional anchors of our economy like Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This articulation agreement is a win-win for students and employers alike.”

The new project management program of study is expected to be available for students starting in the spring of 2026. Additional information about project management-focused studies at Roane State is available online at roanestate.edu/projectmanagement.