Applied Baccalaureate Degrees at Community and Technical Colleges
Colleges Play an Important Role
Community and technical colleges play an important role in producing baccalaureate degree graduates
in Washington State. The Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC) advocated
for community and technical college applied baccalaureate programs because it would help:
- Meet state goals for increasing the total number of baccalaureate degrees awarded by 2019
to 42,400 per year. The community and technical college system will need to increase the
number of students who transfer to a baccalaureate program by 20,400 which includes increasing
the number of applied baccalaureate programs by 1,400.
- Expand the workforce mission of community and technical colleges to serve the needs of local and state employers.
- Increase educational pathways for professional and technical associate graduates who have been limited in their ability to apply credits toward a bachelor degree. The workforce student population is comprised of a large portion of people of color, older working adults, and people (women) who are place bound with family responsibilities.
Background Information
Applied baccalaureate programs stem from the 2005 Legislature passing E2SHB 1794, giving the State Board authority to select pilot programs at designated community and technical colleges. Subsequently, the 2010 legislature passed Substitute House Bill 2655 giving the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges authority to approve community and technical college applied baccalaureate degree programs. This removed the pilot status of the community and technical college applied baccalaureate programs.
Program Information
Currently, community and technical colleges offer 15 applied bachelor degrees at ten colleges:
- Bellevue College – Bachelor
of Applied Science in Radiation and Imaging Sciences, 2007; Bachelor of Applied Arts in
Interior Design, 2009;
Bachelor of Applied Science in Health Care Technology and Management, 2011; Bachelor of Science Nursing, 2012; Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Systems & Technology, 2012
- Centralia College – Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management, 2012
- Columbia Basin College – Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management, 2009
- Green River Community College – Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology: Network Administration and Security, 2013
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Technology in Applied Design, 2009
- North Seattle Community College – Bachelor of Applied Science in International Business, 2013
- Olympic
College – Bachelor of Science Nursing, 2007
- Peninsula College – Bachelor
of Applied Science in Applied Management, 2007
- Seattle Central Community College – Bachelor of Applied Behavioral Science, 2009
- South Seattle Community College – Bachelor
of Applied Science in Hospitality Management, 2007; Bachelor of Science in Professional Technical Teacher Education, 2012
Programs with Statement of Need in 30-Day Review
Send comments about programs under review to Edward Esparza at SBCTC.
Program Approval Process and Application Materials
Please contact Edward Esparza for questions about the process or application materials.
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Page Manager: landerson@sbctc.edu
Page Reviewed/Updated: May 22, 2013, 8:34 AM