The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) recently approved a request from Seminoles State College and ten other institutions to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology. The statewide pilot collaborative program provides a degree completion mechanism for adult learners who have received an industry-recognized credential, earned previous college credit in a technical field or require specialized interdisciplinary training.

Alongside SSC, Carl Albert State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Murray State College, Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Redlands Community College, Rogers State University, Rose State College, Tulsa Community College, and Western Oklahoma State College will offer the new program, which will be available via traditional and electronic delivery statewide.

“For many adult learners, family commitments, work responsibilities and financial pressures have been barriers to college degree completion in the past, and this collaborative program will allow them to finish the college degrees they started while using industry credentials earned in their previous work,” OSRHE Chancellor Glen D. Johnson said. “The new AAS in Applied Technology partnership will provide specific technical knowledge and skills to prepare these students for employment, career advancement, or entry into a bachelor of technology program. This collaboration reflects public higher education’s continuing efforts to increase college degree completion and expand academic innovations as recommended by the 2018 Task Force on the Future of Higher Education.”

Representatives from each of the 11 colleges worked to develop pathways to complete an applied associate’s degree for students who have earned an industry-recognized credential through the completion of a program at an Oklahoma technology center or other entity, to award a block of technical credit for industry recognized credentials earned and to combine general education coursework with specific technical knowledge and skills in preparation for employment or career advancement.

Representatives from each of the 11 colleges worked to develop pathways to complete an applied associate’s degree for students who have earned an industry-recognized credential through the completion of a program at an Oklahoma technology center or other entity, to award a block of technical credit for industry recognized credentials earned and to combine general education coursework with specific technical knowledge and skills in preparation for employment or career advancement.

All general education courses required for the collaborative degree program are currently listed on the state system Course Equivalency Project Matrix to guarantee transferability among institutions, along with a listing of industry credentials found on the Statewide Technical Assessment Inventory. Information about these course and industry credential listings can be found at https://showwhatyouknowok.org/. Existing courses, faculty and resources will support the program at each participating campus.