Best Practices Column:

In this column every two months we will feature a best practices idea submitted by

a member of the Washington Academic Advising Coalition.  If you would like to

submit a column to be featured, please contact Denny Steussy at

dsteussy@highline.edu by July 1, 2008 to be considered for the column that will

run from September 1 - November 30, 2008. 

From December 3, 2007 - June 30, 2008, we will have an article from our past

WAAC president, Molly Brown, from Lake Washington Technical College.

From July 1, 2008 - August 30, 2008, we will have an article from Alma Osorio

our current WAAC Secretary/Treasurer from Lake Washington Technical College.

Turning a technical associate’s degree into a bachelor’s degree
Molly Brown
Transfer Adviser, Lake Washington Technical College

As it seems many colleges see it, two-year college students are divided into two camps: those who want to transfer to four-year institutions, and those who want job skills. From the students’ perspective, however, my experience shows these educational goals are not separate. I have been a transfer adviser at Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC) for the past 2.5 years, and while the most urgent goal of LWTC students is to enter the workforce, many also want to go on to a university. For these students, earning a living and earning a bachelor’s degree lie on the same path, the path that leads to a successful career.

How do students transfer a technical associate’s degree? Because of its professional-technical focus, an ATA or AAS degree does not contain the general education coursework required for a bachelor’s degree. This does make it more challenging for a technical degree holder to transfer, but some simple steps can make the transition easier for students.

 

• Make use of articulation agreements
  LWTC has been successful in establishing a dozen agreements with baccalaureate institutions which make it much easier for our students to transfer. These can be program specific, linking particular majors with specific degrees at the two-year college, or open to any degree our college offers. Some technical courses cover material required in university courses, but as they are not listed with academic titles, partnerships and faculty communication with four-year schools and have been important in establishing course equivalencies and facilitating transfer.
• Look for “Upside Down” degree options
  An “upside down” bachelor’s degree is great for students who want the higher-level credential, but do not need it in a specific discipline. I often call this “Just a Degree, Please.” The Evergreen State College and Seattle Pacific University have the best known “upside down” options, but other private colleges including City University, DeVry University and the University of Phoenix will accept significant numbers of technical credits in transfer. Central Washington University is now also offering Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in specific areas, and the UW Seattle’s Evening Degree program is very flexible in the kinds of transferable credits which are needed for admission.
• Plan, Plan, Plan
  Students should work with faculty or other advisers as soon as they determine they might want to transfer so they can take additional transferable courses within their degree plan. Choosing transferable electives and slightly different courses where possible can reduce the number of “extra” classes a student may need to take to satisfy general education or prerequisite requirements for their chosen BA degree.

The points above probably sound familiar to seasoned transfer advisers, and my final points will as well.

• Use transfer advising resources early and often
  Students should seek out advising and transfer center resources as soon as they even *think* they might want to transfer. LWTC sends a quarterly newsletter to students who have indicated an interest in transfer, as well as regular email updates about transfer events. The college’s website also contains information about transfer opportunities and resources.
• Plan a course of study early to avoid taking “extra” classes
  Should a student take General Psychology or Intro to Sociology? Pre-Calculus or Math in Society? Knowing what courses will help students satisfy requirements for particular institutions and majors is essential to help students reduce the number of courses they need to take before transferring.
• Research four-year schools to find the program and college that fit best
  An articulation agreement may sound great, but will the student like the environment at that school? The best way for a student to find out is with an actual campus visit, either on their own, or through a visit organized by the transfer center.

While the points above apply to any student interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree, I find them particularly pertinent to the technical transfer student. Professional technical degrees often do not have much choice in the classes students can take, so students must be even more intentional in their planning and research. With a few well-selected courses and the right match in a four-year institution, the dream of a bachelor’s degree is well within their grasp.

For more information on LWTC’s transfer programs, including lists of articulation agreements and copies of newsletters, visit www.lwtc.ctc.edu/transfer.