Tiffin University, founded in 1888, will launch an associate of arts degree in general studies this coming fall. The creation of a new online associates program with a liberal arts focus represents an unusual move for an established land-based college that focuses on career options.

The new program will become part of what the school has named Ivy Bridge College and will target traditional college-age students who want to earn an associates degree before entering a four-year institution. The targeted audience will be recent high school graduates who would have difficulty financing an education at a four-year public or private institution and could not disrupt their current life situation due to work or family commitments.

Tiffin currently offers a wealth of accredited online degree programs including an M.B.A. option, masters in criminal justice, and masters level programs in the humanities. The new Tifflin program contrasts with the general thrust of the school towards career-oriented programming.

Because the new program features more of a liberal arts focus, the university created a college within a college concept.