V.S. Degree, Diploma and Apprenticeship 

Program Requirements



ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY TYPE: INSTRUCTION

POLICY TITLE: Degree, Diploma, and Apprenticeship Program Requirements


The purpose of this academic policy is to clearly define and identify the requirements established by either the Wisconsin Technical College System or Fox Valley Technical College for the curricular structure of degree, diploma, and apprenticeship programs. Associate degree (Associate in Applied Science), technical diploma, and apprenticeship programs are defined as postsecondary instruction which prepare persons to enter or maintain employment in an occupation. These programs require formal approval of the district and WTCS boards.

Collegiate transfer degrees (Pre-Professional Associate in Arts or Associate in Science; Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science) are designed to prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities by providing a broad background in liberal studies. Collegiate transfer programs require formal approval of the district board, as well as both the WTCS Board and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

It is the policy of the college to ensure integrity in its curricular offerings by developing programs within the definitions and requirements outlined below. In addition, courses that serve as prerequisites to required courses must also be included in credit parameters and required in program plans.

Associate in Applied Science Degree Programs (Aid Code 10)
Associate in applied science degree programs are developed to assist persons preparing for, or advancing in, an occupation. The curricula of associate degree programs are designed to reflect statewide competency requirements for a target job or jobs, which define the occupational program. These programs consist of 60-70 credits in the following categories:

Technical Studies courses
 36 credit minimum
(36-49 credit range)
General Studies requirement
 21 credits minimum
(21-30 credit range)
     Specifically:  
     Communications
6 cr.  
     Social Science
3 cr.  
     Behavioral Science
3 cr.  
     Math and/or Science
3 cr.  
     Add'l General Studies
6-15 cr.  
Electives       3 credits minimum
(3-6 credit range)

The Technical Studies category includes courses that are specific to, or support the development of, technical skills and knowledge. General Studies courses are those program courses which relate to the effective functioning of the individual in both occupational and community settings (communications, social and behavioral sciences, math, and/or science). Courses required for the purpose of the function in program category General Studies must be chosen from the approved “WTCS General Education System Course List.” Additional general studies courses, or those not on the WTCS approved list, may be included in the Technical Studies category. Elective courses are those courses at the associate degree level which are selected by the student.

Technical Diploma Programs (Aid Codes 30, 31, and 32)
Technical diploma programs are based on local needs of business and industry and are designed to assist persons preparing for entry into, remaining in, or advancing in an occupation. These programs consist of 2-70 credits, with 70-100 percent of the total credits required to be occupational specific. Up to 30 percent of the credits may be made up of occupational support and/or general education courses. The specific aid codes for technical diploma programs are defined as follows:

Aid Code 30: Less Than One Year (2-25 credits)
Aid Code 31: One Year (26-54 credits)
Aid Code 32: Two Years (55-70)

Technical diploma programs can include associate degree level (aid code 10) courses.

Apprenticeship Programs (Aid Code 50)
As directed by 106.01(10) Wis. Stats., technical college districts shall provide apprentice related instruction at the request of the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS), Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). These programs are developed to assist registered apprentices to acquire the related technical knowledge and skills to augment the planned on-the-job-experiences. Apprenticeship programs of three or more years of on-the-job training shall have a minimum of 400 hours of related instruction.

Collegiate Transfer Programs (Aid Code 20)
Collegiate transfer programs represent multiple programs that are based on student intent to transfer.

The Pre-Professional Associate in Arts and the Pre-Professional Associate in Science degrees are designed to meet the needs of the two-year college student who is planning to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program in a specific professional field. At least 60 to 65 percent of the coursework is in general education; the remainder of the course work is drawn from lower division courses in the career field. The range of total credits required is 63 to 70.

The Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees are designed to constitute the first two years of a four-year degree in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and similar areas. At least 90 percent of the course work is in general education; the remaining 10 percent may be in general education or technical studies. The total minimum credits required is 64.

For further detail on course and credit requirements, please refer to the WTCS Educational Services Manual under “Program Standards.”

Note: The WTCS Board took formal action on August 20, 2005, to establish collegiate transfer programs as authorized under s.36.31, Wis. Stats.

Additional information on the above types of programs can be found in the WTCS Educational Services Manual, available as a direct link from FVTC’s Intranet site under Academic Program Plans.


Related Policy:
Administrative Policy V.C



Adopted: 04/30/98
Reorganized: n/a
Reviewed: 03/31/06
Revised: 12/20/06
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   Maintained by:

   Sarah Bingham

   Last Modified:
   11/1/2011 1:48:50 PM