2023-2024 Online Catalog
Technical Studies, A.A.S. |
Program Description
The A.A.S. degree in Technical Studies will provide a means for students to acquire credits based on technical training within their employing organization. Credit may be granted to individuals who have successfully completed courses evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE) in a corporate, industrial or military training program or through a certified apprenticeship training program in the building and construction trades and who are interested in pursuing an associate in applied science degree according to the following guidelines:
Program is evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE)
- Collegiate-level depth/breadth of curriculum beyond entry-level requirements
- Number of lecture/lab hours of study
- Company and trainer certifications
- Prior completion of prerequisites or predetermined skill level
- Types of assessments
- Level of supervision
- Cooperative/apprenticeship experiences associated with the training
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:
- Apply theory and hands-on practices to the specific area of technical studies within their employing organization;
- Perform laboratory procedures and assess the validity of experimental/diagnostic data;
- Employ critical thinking and problem solving skills to solve technical problems;
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate and present information in a logical and systematic manner;
- Express and interpret both technical and non-technical concepts orally, in written, and electronic formats;
- Demonstrate information literacy through familiarity and the effective use of technical literature in their field of study;
- Examine the various issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion impacting the trades.
After Union College
Upon graduating the student will have increased opportunities for professional and personal advancement. This A.A.S. degree is not transferable to a four-year institution, but many of the non-technology courses may transfer.
Fall Semester
- ENG 101 - English Composition I 3 credit hours
- 4 credit hours*
- Up to 8 Technical Studies Credits Awarded 1 8 credit hours
Spring Semester
- ENG 102 - English Composition II 3 credit hours
-
OR
- ENG 122 - Introductory Technical and Business Writing 3 credit hours
- CST Gen Ed Requirement 2 3 credit hours
- Elective Technical 3 4 credit hours
- Up to 8 Technical Studies Credits Awarded 8 credit hours
Fall Semester
- ENG 128 - The Dynamics of Communication 3 credit hours
-
OR
- ENG 129 - Public Speaking 3 credit hours
- 4
- Elective Technical 3 4 credit hours
- Up to 5 Technical Studies Credits Awarded 5 credit hours
Total Program Credits: 60
* Higher course may be indicated by math placement test. Students will meet with an advisor to select an area of concentration from among all of the college’s technically-oriented A.A.S. degree programs. An advisor for the selected concentration area will develop with each student a plan of study to include at least 10 credits from the concentration area.
1 Between 3 and 25 credits may be earned as block credits for ACE evaluated corporate, industrial, or military training programs after review by faculty of a related program and/or the appropriate advisor. These credits will be posted to a student’s Union College transcript on a matching basis as students earn credits for courses taken at Union College.
2 Choose any 3 credit computer science OR computer information systems course from the list of Gen Ed courses in the current catalog.
3 Upon consultation with the advisor, additional technical electives may be selected from the following areas: ARC, AST, BIO, CHE, CIT, CST, EET, GEY, MAT, and PHY, if required.
4 Choose any 4 credit lab science course from the list of Gen Ed courses in the current catalog.