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Workforce Development Solutions: A.A.S. Technical Studies

The Blue Ridge Community and Technical College can customize this Associate of Applied Science degree for employers. Certificate programs requiring 32 credits for completion are also available.

Goals of the Technical Studies Program include:

  • To increase the abilities of employees to use technology effectively and responsibly.
  • To increase abilities of employees to communicate information effectively through reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
  • To develop employee’s abilities to solve problems through understanding, reasoning, research, and productive teamwork.
  • To assist those employed in the workforce to understand that education is a life-long process.

Degree programs implemented under this degree designation will include instruction consistent with the following components and categories.

Curriculum for an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies
Component I General Education
21 credits
Component II Technical Core
12 credits
Component III Occupational Specialty Core
18 credits
Component IV On-the-Job Training
13 credits
 
Total Credit Hours
64 credits

Component I – General Education

1.
Communication Skills (at least one business or technical writing course)
6 credits
2.
Interpersonal Skills 3
3 credits
3.
Quantitative Skills/Laboratory Science Experience (at least one college-level course in mathematics)
6 credits
4.
Social Science
3 credits
5.
General Education Elective
3 credits
Total Credit Hours Required 21

Component II – Technical Core   

Each program of study must include a general technical core that meets the goal of developing skills that may be applied to a variety of occupations or that may be specific to an occupation. Examples of the Technical Core courses are listed in the Blue Ridge CTC catalog.

1.
Intro to Desktop Publishing
3 credits
2.
Lean Manufacturing
3 credits
3.
Leadership Development Program
3 credits
4.
Microsoft Access for Windows
3 credits
5.
Introduction to Print Estimating
3 credits
6.
Intro to Printing
3 credits
7.
Internships (Imaging, Press, Finishing, Distribution –up to 3 credits each)
1-12 credits
8.
Press 1 – Small Press

3 credits

Total Credit Hours Required 12  

Component III—Technical/Occupational Spec.

The component consists of technical specialty courses specific to an occupational area. Apprenticeship and industry based education and training program courses are to be converted to college credit at the ratio of 15:1 and at a rate consistent with the lab hour/credit ratio of the degree granting institution for laboratory credit.

1. Specialization Area – (Choose 1:  Logistics System, Web Press Specialization, Finishing Specialization, Chemical Research Technology, Magazine/Catalog Operations) 3 credits
2. Desktop Color Editing     3 credits
3. Print Estimating                1 credit
4. Press 2 – Large Press 4 credits
5. Press Module Training   4 credits
6. Advanced Press Module Training 2 credits
7. Distribution and Control 3 credits
8. Intro to Finishing 3 credits
9. Finishing I - Binder 3 credits
10. Finishing II – Inkjet Modules 3 credits
11. Intro to Color Theory & Management 1 credit
12. Color Management         1 credit
13. Safety Training 3 credits
14. Support a Diverse Workforce 1 credit
15. Human Resource Management 3 credits
16. Electives - (Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Quantitative, Elective) 1-12 credits
Total Credit Hours Required 18  

Component IV—On-the-Job Training

The component consists of a paid or unpaid OJT, internship, or practicum performed in a business or industry setting in the occupational area. The on-the-job training component is to be converted to credit hours at a ratio of 150:1 with the maximum of 2,080 contact hours allowable. A statement of the total number of contact hours experience through on-the-job training will be placed on the college record.
Total Credit Hours Required 13

Community and Technical College System of WV