Technical Studies

Technical Studies (TECH)

Associate in Applied Science in
Technical Studies (A.A.S.-T.S) Degree

The Associate in Applied Science degree in Technical Studies (A.A.S.-T.S.) is designed for students who want to take technical and general courses for college credit in order to meet the training or retraining demands of current or prospective employers. This interdisciplinary degree program enables individual students or groups of employees associated with one employer to tailor technical programs to their own specific needs. Courses are selected on the basis of students’ interests, goals and abilities. Each student’s program is individually designed. As the two examples here point out, the AAS-TS degree is designed to be flexible and interdisciplinary. Because of the variety offered in this degree-program, the number of credits required for graduation could varies from 60 to 66.

Anyone interested in earning an A.A.S.-T.S. degree should speak with an admissions officer. Qualified students are referred to the Dean of Business, Science and Technology to assess prior learning experiences. (Procedures for the Assessment of Prior Learning are outlined in this catalog) If qualified, a learning contract outlining course requirements and leading to the A.A.S.-T.S. degree is developed. (Note: The learning contract is an official document, filed in the student’s permanent record. It can be changed only with the written approval of the Dean of Business, Science and Technology. Any approved changes in a student’s program become part of the learning contract.)

In general, the program is divided into three parts:

Credits for Prior Experience (Not more than 20 credits)

Any occupational or technical training for which prior learning credit is sought must be relevant to a student’s education and career goals. This includes apprenticeship, union activities, military training, etc. Awarded credit is based on:

Assessment of individual portfolios and records (See Credits for Prior Learning
in this catalog or online)
Work completed in evaluated apprenticeship programs and accepted by the appropriate
academic teaching departments
Other sources, such as CLEP, military schools, industrial schools

Technical & Related Course:

If a student has insufficient prior experience for a 20 credits of prior learning experience,
he/she will also take an additional 20 credits in technical and related courses.

General Education:

At least 20 credits in General Education must be taken.

Technical Studies

Degree Examples

Example 1

For example, an individual completes an evaluated apprenticeship program to be an electrician, has an interest in management/labor relations and wants to stay with his company because of its location. A program that would give this individual mobility within his job might look like this: (This schedule is meant as AN EXAMPLE ONLY.)

General Education

COURSE NO.	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
ENGL 1010*	Composition I	3
PSYC 1050	Psychology in the Workplace	3
ENGL*	Literature	3
Social Science/ Psychology Elective		3
MATH 1700*	Algebra for Technology	3
MATH 1710*	Trigonometry for Technology	3
Liberal Arts Electives	Take 9 credits from: Computer Studies, English, Speech, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Math, Science, Social Sciences	9
	Total General Education Credits	27

Approved Apprenticeship..................................................................................20

Technical Courses

COURSE NO.	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
ETEK 1120	Electrical Circuits	4
ETEK 1010	Digital Electronics	4
INST 1110	Instrumentation I	4
INST 1210	Instrumentation II	4
	Total Technical Course Credits	16

Total Program Credits......................................................................................63

*Placement test required

Example 2

In this case, an individual may have completed an apprenticeship or organized training program, yet new developments in that field indicate that robots will soon do the bulk of the work required in that industry. However, this individual also enjoys working with people. A degree program for him or her might look like this: (This schedule is meant as AN EXAMPLE ONLY.)

General Education

COURSE NO.	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
ENGL 1010*	Composition I	3
SPCH 1100	Oral Communication I	3
PSYC 1050	Psychology in the Workplace	3
MATH 1200*	College Algebra	3
COMI 1100	Introduction to Computers	3
ECON 2030	Principles of Microeconomics I	3
ECON 2040	Principles of Macroeconomics II	3
Math/Science Elective	Take 3 credits from: Math, Science	3
	Total General Education Credits	24

Approved Apprenticeship..................................................................................20

Technical and related Courses

COURSE NO.	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
BUSN 1010	Introduction to Business	3
BUSN 2060	Principles of Marketing	3
ACCT 1010	Financial Accounting	4
ACCT 1020	Managerial Accounting	4
LAWS 2050	Law of Contracts	3
LAWS 2070	Law of Business Organization	3
	Total Technical and Related Course Credits	26

Total Program Credits........................................................................................64

*Placement test required