Bachelor of Applied Sciences Degree Program: A New and Innovative Collaboration between a Land Grant University and Community Colleges

• Published in: NACTA journal Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 82 - 88
• Main Authors: Williams, Karen C., Wangberg, James K., Scull, W. Reed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Twin Falls North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) 01-03-2010; North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
• Subjects: Academic degree programs; Academic degrees; Adult Basic Education; Adult education; Adult Students; Agricultural education; Agriculture; Bachelor of arts degree; Bachelor of science degree; Bachelors degrees; Career Development; College students; Community Colleges; Curricula; Distance education; Educational programs; Higher education; Lifelong Learning; Management; Nontraditional Students; Services; Thinking Skills; United States; Universities; Universities and colleges; United States
• ISSN: 0149-4910

The College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming (UW), in collaboration with the UW Outreach School and the state's community colleges, developed a new and innovative Bachelor of Applied Sciences Degree (BAS) program. The online-only program serves a new audience, students who earned an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and have a minimum of two years work experience. Prior to the BAS, these community college graduates had no opportunity for professional advancement within their chosen professions if a baccalaureate degree was required. The BAS degree program was designed to utilize appropriate course credits and fill the gaps toward completing a four year university degree and to serve place bound professionals. The process for doing so was highly collaborative, involving all of Wyoming's community colleges, several UW academic departments and colleges, and support staff university-wide. The program has successfully enrolled students from a broad array of professional disciplines and produced its first graduate in the brief time span of two years. The systems view of organizing such a program and the curriculum described herein may serve as a model for other universities striving to meet the forecasted higher national demands by non-traditional students for online education in their professional fields.