The Certificate of Applied Science is a 30 credit hour state modeled degree developed to provide a stackable credential for students in approved training/educational programs. This degree enhances student’s hard skill education by offering collegiate level general educational courses. The goal of this degree is to not only recognize the completion of an intermediate step towards earning an Associate degree, but to also to encourage students to embrace life-long learning.

The degree is designed to:

• provide for cooperatively sponsored educational opportunities that via a stackable credential that can lead to an associate degree for employees/students participating in quality education and training programs sponsored by business, industry, labor, government or other educational agencies;
• Provide a timely and efficient mechanism for community and technical colleges to deliver educational programs in a variety of occu­pational fields to employers;
• Increase abilities of employees to communicate information effectively;
• Develop employee’s abilities to solve problems and productive teamwork
• Assist those em­ployed in the workforce to understand that education is a life-long process.

Program Focus:

Business, industry, labor, currently enrolled students, and government organizations interested in furthering the education and training of their employees/members constitute the target audience of this degree program. Provide a program of study designed to enhance and maintain employee knowledge and skills, it is expected that such individuals will enjoy greater job security and job flexibility while providing employers with more highly skilled and educated workforce. For those just entering the job market, the program of study will include the education and training needed to assure basic entry level skills for the specific technical/occupational field.