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Curriculum - A.S. Printing Technology / Curriculum - B.S. Printing Management

Admissions / Applications and Information / Financial Aid / Scholarships / Internships / Grants

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Associate of Science - The Associate of Science Degree in Printing Technology is designed to provide quality technical education to prepare technicians for the rapidly changing printing industry. The student will receive training in all of the basic skills required of the printing industry, and upon completion of the two year program should be qualified to enter the industry in a junior supervisory capacity directly responsible to the plant manager or supervisor.

NOTE: Students must enter the program with a Math ACT score of 19 or better, or successfully complete MATH 045 or its equivalent while in the AS program.

* Must be taken as a sequence for students entering Printing Management plus-two program.
** Student selects area of specialization from PRNT-251 Color or PRNT-255 Web Press.

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Bachelor of Science - The present Printing Management curriculum at WVU Tech is designed for those students who are interested in furthering their education and entering the management area of the printing industry. The program is structured to allow the student with the Associate Degree to complete his/her Baccalaureate degree with two years of study. To enter this program the student must have completed the requirements of the A.S. degree in printing technology at Tech or similar programs at other schools. Transfer students from other two year programs will be evaluated before entering the program. If deficiencies exist, the student may be required to complete certain course in the A.S. program.

* Must be the continuation of the lab science sequence begun in the A.S.- Printing Technology program.
** Humanities Electives must be taken in sequence.
*** Restricted Elective must be 300 or 400 level Management courses.

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As a course of study in the Community and Technical College at WVU Tech, Printing Technology is an open enrollment program for applicants who are residents of West Virginia. These students must graduate from an accredited high school or successfully complete the GED and must take the ACT and have test scores sent to the institute directly from the American College Testing Program.

Out-of-state residents must graduate from an accredited high school or successfully complete the GED, must rank in the upper three-fourths of their graduating class or attain a standard composite score of at least 17 on the ACT (SAT combined score of 830), and must have their scores sent to the institute directly from the American College Testing Program or Educational Testing Service. Scores are used for placement and counseling purposes, and no other test may be substituted.

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Applications are processed on a rolling decision basis. Students with a B average or better will be notified of the admission decision upon receipt of their sixth-semester high school transcript and ACT scores. All other students will be notified upon receipt of their seventh-semester or final transcript and ACT scores.

Applications for admission to WVU Tech can be obtained by contacting the Printing Department or by writing to:

Director of Admissions
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Montgomery, WV 25136
Telephone: 304-442-3167

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West Virginia Tech offers a wide range of financial aid resources, including privately and federally funded loans, Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, College Work-Study Program awards, privately funded scholarships for both academic and special talent, and West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program awards. The student's parents or guardians are required to submit a Financial Aid Form (FAF) to the College Scholarship Service for processing and eventual receipt of the need analysis report by Tech for determination of eligibility. Applications for financial aid, both from incoming freshmen and from enrolled students, should be submitted to West Virginia Tech's Office of Student Financial Aid by April 1 in order to receive consideration for the next academic year. Almost 65% of all Tech students receive some form of financial aid. In addition to Federal and State aid and grant programs such as Pell grants and college work study, the printing industry supports students who choose a graphic arts career. The printing industry supports career goals through the National Scholarship Trust Fund, local scholarships and internships.

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Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

The graphic communications industries are composed of many diverse elements, all of which concern themselves with printing, publishing, packaging, and allied activities. In addition, graphic communications includes such other activities as the manufacturing of printing presses, bindery and allied equipment, printing inks, paper, chemicals, photographic equipment, and many other supplies. Teaching is also included in graphic communications.

There is a great need in all segments of the industry for well-educated and well-trained professional managers, designers, scientists, engineers, technicians, teachers, accountants, and many other professionals. The purpose of the Trust Fund is to provide scholarships to qualified and interested students who want to prepare for careers in the growing and dynamic graphic communications industry. The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation offers approximately 100 scholarships to qualified students in the annual national competition. You should contact the Tech Printing Department for additional information.

Other Scholarships

Many companies, foundations, civic groups and other organizations offer scholarships to deserving students. For instance, the Printing Industries of New England offer scholarships to students from the New England states. For more information write:

New England Graphic Arts Scholarships
P. O. Box 16796MF
Boston, MA 02205 (before March 15)

Students should contact other regional printing and printing craftsmen associations for information about scholarships that might be available. Your public library has information on state and private sources of aid. Your financial need is usually considered, but other factors may also be taken into account.

Some additional scholarships and funding available to printing students at Tech include:

• The International Newspaper Group
• The Printing Industries Association of the South
• Several scholarships from individual friends of the printing programs at Tech

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Many students expand their learning by participating in summer internships, co-operative experiences, and part-time work in their field. The department encourages and assists students in locating such opportunities. Typically there are 20-25 students placed in summer internships, co-ops, and summer work experiences.

During recent years, students worked at:

• E.W. Scripps Newspapers (several locations)
• The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina
• Valassis Inserts in Durham, North Carolina and Livonia, Michigan
• USA Today in Arlington, Virginia
• The Central Intelligence Agency
• Edward Publishing in Storm Lake, Iowa
• Syscan Corp. of Charleston, WV
• The Lexington Herald in Lexington, KY
• The State of West Virginia Consolidated Printing
• Metro Web of Florence, KY
• The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington, WV
• Judd's Incorporated in Strasburg, Virginia
• The Wall Street Journal (several locations)
• Color Craft of Virginia
• The Color Center in Charleston, WV
• The Charleston Newspapers in Charleston, WV

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Pell Grants - A Pell Grant is an award to help many undergraduates pay for their education after high school. For the Pell Grant Program, an undergraduate is one who has not earned a bachelor's or first professional degree.

To qualify for a Pell Grant, the student must be attending school on at least a half-time basis. The current maximum award is $2,440. How much you actually get will depend not only on your Pell Grant Index number, but also the cost of education at Tech, whether you're a full-time or part-time student, and whether you attend school for a full academic year, or less than that. The school will tell you in writing how and when you will be paid and how much your award will be.

Eligibility for those who receive a Pell Grant for the first time is usually limited to 5 to 6 years of undergraduate study. Students should see the college financial aid office for additional details.


College-Based Grants - The college-based financial aid packets include Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Work Study Program, and Perkins Loans. These programs are administered by the individual colleges. Each school sets its own deadlines, with most deadlines being early in the calendar year, so apply early.

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Latest update: July 7, 2004