Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Curricula

The programs listed below are comprised of Associate in Applied Science degrees (A.A.S), diplomas, and certificates.  The intent of these degrees and credentials is employment upon completion.  These programs were not designed to transfer into a four-year degree, although transfer pathways may be available depending on the four-year institution chosen by a transfer student. Some universities offer a two-year program that builds on the AAS degree so the student can earn a Bachelor’s degree in two years, while others require additional work to meet Bachelor's program requirements, thereby extending the time to degree completion.

The AAS degree leads to employment within a particular industry and requires a combination of  general education/work effectiveness and technical coursework.  The Diploma is a concentration of technical course work with only 6 required hours of general education credit.  The short-term focus of the diploma is technical skills and knowledge to immediately enter the workplace. 

A certificate can range from 3-50 credit hours, but most certificates require between 6 and 30 credit hours.  Certificates are focused on very defined technical skills that can lead to employment in specific industries without the need for additional education.  Many certificates cover the technical skills necessary to pursue a specific licensure or nationally recognized certification.  

In addition, many AAS, diploma, and certificate programs contain tracks.  Tracks are a concentration of a particular technical skill or focus area within the overall program. As an example, under the current KCTCS Computer & Information Technologies (CIT) AAS degree, there are 11 tracks to choose from.  Those tracks range from Video Game Design or Cloud Computing Technologies to Network Administration.  The choice of a track allows the student to align their area of interest more closely to a particular focus within the program of study.  Students should note they must select at least one track for completion with the general education and technical core when multiple tracks are offered.  All curriculum track requirements are outlined in the academic curriculum frameworks for each program.