Instructional Programs
Programs of study offered at Drake State include university parallel programs, career technical programs, and certificate programs.
University Parallel Programs: Associate Degrees
Associate degrees require a minimum of 60-64 credit hours of coursework. The Directory of Programs in the previous section gives a list of degree programs Drake State offers.
A university parallel program allows a student to complete the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. These programs are designed to transfer to a four-year college or university. Drake State offers two transfer degrees:
- Associate in Arts (A.A.)
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
The Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees are awarded to students completing a planned university-parallel program to meet the requirements of the first two years of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Area V requirements may vary with individual four-year institutions, and all courses will not satisfy these requirements. Students must obtain approved university parallel degree plans from the appropriate university academic division, Counseling and Testing Services. The degree plan will also indicate the courses needed in addition to the general education core to complete the degree.
Associate in Applied Science Degrees
Career and Technical programs lead to the Associate in Applied Science degree requiring 60 - 76 credit hours for completion. These programs are intended to prepare students for specific careers or occupational enhancement. These programs also include some general education courses. Although these programs are not designed primarily for transfer, many of the courses are transferable to four-year institutions.
Certificates and Short Certificates
Certificate programs are especially designed for students who wish to prepare for careers or career advancement through short-term, intensive programs.
Many of the college’s programs have grouped related courses into certificates requiring 60 hours or less to complete. Students may choose to pursue certificates as alternatives to, or in addition to, associate degrees. There are two levels of these course groupings: (1) Certificates comprised of 30 to 60 credit hours of course work and (2) Short Certificates comprised of 9 to 29 credit hours of course work. The coursework required for a Short Certificate is generally deemed sufficient for students to acquire the minimum skills required for an entry-level position in the related field. However, they do not include coursework intended to develop the student’s critical-thinking and generalized problem-solving skills. Programs offering associate degrees do so because the College’s industry partners have rated the associate degree as a valuable asset in their workforce.
The coursework for Certificate programs is grouped to provide students with industry-specified skill sets deemed necessary for specific tasks within the related industry, and consequently may be used by students and graduates to provide proof of credentials to prospective employers. However, students should be cautioned that employers, when making hiring decisions or considering promotions, place emphasis on completion of degrees in programs that offer them. For most students, obtaining Certificates should be seen as completing building blocks toward meeting career objectives.