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Pierce College's professional/technical degrees provide students with technical and related skills needed for successful employment. These degrees emphasize practical, work-related skills that translate to effectiveness and expertise in the workplace.

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)

To keep up — and stay ahead — in the ever-changing workplace, education and skills training is a lifelong pursuit. Get the skills to go further in your career with a bachelor's degree from Pierce College. An applied bachelor's degree builds on the education and training from a two-year technical associate degree.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Students who complete the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in one of Pierce College's specific professional/technical programs will receive a degree titled with that program specialty. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 90-quarter credits or their equivalent, including all specific requirements of an approved professional/technical program. The purpose of these degrees are to provide immediate employment.

Associate of Applied Science — Transfer (AAS-T)

Built upon the technical courses required for job preparation, but also includes a college-level general education component, common in structure for all such degrees and is intended for the dual purpose of immediate employment and as preparation for the junior year at 4-year institutions in which Pierce College has agreements for a bachelor of applied science (BAS) degree. In preparation for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, check with your advisor to see which components of these degrees are generally accepted.

Associate in Technology — General

A graduate of any approved occupational/vocational program from an accredited college, military school, vocational/technical institute, technical college, licensed private college, vocational school, industry, apprentice-based training or university may apply up to 65-quarter credits toward the Associate in Technology – General degree. The remainder of the student's program shall include a minimum of 18 credits of related instruction. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the following areas: communications, computation and human relations. All related instruction courses must be numbered 100 or above. 90-quarter credits are required.

Certificates

Certificate programs emphasize basic, practical skills needed for entry-level employment. Often, in a short period these certificates prepare a student with beginning job skills or providing knowledge and skills needed for advancement in a specific professional/technical area.

Degree Requirements

  1. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 90-quarter credits or their equivalent, exclusive of physical education activity courses, including all specific requirements of an approved professional/technical program.
  2. A minimum college cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher is required.
  3. Earn the lesser of (at least) 20 college-level credits or 25% of the credits applicable to the degree or certificate at Pierce College.
  4. A minimum of 18 credits in related instruction is required.

Related Instruction (18 credits minimum)

Professional-technical degrees and certificates of 45 credits or more must include the equivalent of at least 3 credits of related instruction in each of the areas of communication, computation, and human relations.

  • The related instruction credits may be either stand-alone courses or embedded into program courses.
  • The related instruction components have identifiable and assessable learning outcomes that align with and support program goals or intended outcomes
  • When embedded, at least one course outcome must explicitly align with the related instruction focus area.  Learning outcomes, content, and assessments align with current industry expectations.
  • Related instruction courses will be noted in degree and certificate maps with appropriate rationale as to their role in preparing the student for industry.

Related Instruction Suggested Course List

  • Communications * — Any AA-DTA Communication Skill course; or BTECA 115, BTECA 116
  • Computation * — Any AA-DTA Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills course; or BTECA 117
  • Human Relations * — BUS 240, MNGT 130, PSYC& 100, PSYC 201, PSYC 210, SOC& 101, SOC 211

* Minimum of three credits

Related Instruction Content for the Communications, Computation, and Human Relations Focus Areas

Communications

Courses fulfilling the Communication requirement for a certificate of 45 credits or more will offer instruction in at least one of the following content areas:

  • Genre Conventions
  • Rhetorical Awareness
  • Writing Processes
  • Reading Comprehension Strategies
Computation

Courses fulfilling the Computation requirement for a certificate of 45 credits or more will offer instruction in at least one of the following content areas:

  • Numeracy
  • Proportional Reasoning
  • Algebraic Skills and Reasoning
  • Mathematical Modeling
Human Relations

Courses fulfilling the Human Relations requirement for a certificate of 45 credits or more will offer instruction in at least one of the following content areas:

  • Communication Skills
  • Conflict Management and Problem Solving Skills
  • Self-awareness and Relationship Management
  • Collaboration and Teamwork
  • Intercultural Knowledge and Cultural Humility
  • Empathy

Institutional Review, Adoption, and Documentation

Upon meeting the above criteria, courses follow Pierce College's Curriculum Review Process, which includes approval by Chairs, Program Coordinators, Deans, Outcomes Team Curriculum Committees, Learning Council, and the appropriate program advisory committees.