Bachelor of Applied Sciences: Outcomes Evaluation. Research Report No. 13-6
Author: Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Date: 2013-08-00
Type: Reports - Research
Subjects: Community Colleges,Technical Institutes,Bachelors Degrees,College Programs,Enrollment,College Graduates,Employment,Income,Student Characteristics,Undergraduate Students,School Holding Power

Community and technical colleges (CTCs) play an important role in producing baccalaureate degree graduates in Washington State. Baccalaureate degrees that build upon the professional-technical associate degree provide expanded opportunities for both graduates and employers by providing the upper-division coursework in an applied field. Programs developed at the CTCs provide a clear pathway for students who may be place-bound or have difficulty finding a transfer opportunity for their applied baccalaureate degree. The programs also help to address the gap found by some employers of successfully recruiting qualified applicants who have the job-specific technical skills as well as the skills learned through a baccalaureate program. In addition to recruiting new personnel, Bachelor of Applied Sciences (BAS) programs are beneficial to employees already working in a technical field who wish to be promoted to higher level management or specialized positions which may require a bachelor's degree. The Washington State Board for Community &amp; Technical Colleges (SBCTC) advocated for CTC applied baccalaureate programs because it would help: (1) 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, which includes increasing the number of applied baccalaureate programs at the CTCs; (2) Expand the workforce mission of CTCs to serve the needs of local and state employers; and (3) Increase educational pathways for professional-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 (primarily women) who are place-bound with family responsibilities. Applied baccalaureate programs originated from the 2005 Legislature passing E2SHB 1794, giving the State Board authority to select pilot programs at designated CTCs. Subsequently, the 2010 legislature passed Substitute House Bill 2655 giving the SBCTC authority to approve CTC applied baccalaureate degree programs. This removed the pilot status of the CTC applied baccalaureate programs. As of the conclusion of academic year 2012-13, seventeen programs in ten colleges have been approved for applied baccalaureate degrees, with students enrolled in ten programs in eight colleges (seven programs are in development). This report evaluates the outcomes of students in the programs, such as enrollments and demographics over time, completions, and employment outcomes for students who have graduated and entered the workforce following their program. The programs described in this paper include: (1) 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; (2) Centralia College--Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management, 2012; (3) Columbia Basin College--Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management, 2009; (4) Lake Washington Institute of Technology--Bachelor of Technology in Applied Design, 2009; (5) Olympic College--Bachelor of Science Nursing, 2007; (6) Peninsula College--Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management, 2007; (7) Seattle Central Community College--Bachelor of Applied Behavioral Science, 2009; and (8) South Seattle Community College--Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Management, 2007. Key findings for enrollments and graduates through 2013 show programs are growing by reaching out to their local communities. Employment and earnings for first graduates demonstrate strong gains made even more significant by occurring in the midst of the recession.