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Session 2586

Bridging a Gap: A.S. to B.S. Articulation in Florida

Marilyn Barger, Gary Goff, Hugh Rogers Hillsborough Community College/Hillsborough Community College/ University of Central Florida

Introduction

The state of Florida has made a commitment to increase the educational level of its population, especially its workforce, by increasing the numbers of bachelor degrees awarded annually. The ambitious goal goes hand in hand with significant efforts to bring high technology industry and employment to the state. This state level goal, along with the burgeoning population in its schools and institutions of higher learning has forced the state to focus on its educational system as a means to achieving its objectives. Current discussions within the Florida Department of Education indicates that an additional 15,000 new bachelor degrees need to be awarded annually to meet Florida’s job market requirements. To this end, a number of state level educational initiatives have been undertaken over the last few years to make the educational system more efficient as well as more productive. As part of this more global effort, Florida implemented a statewide transferable Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in 2000 for twelve (12) career fields. Previously, the A.S. degree was considered to be a terminal degree and a course of study where a student could obtain significant workplace skills in a particular discipline with only the most necessary supporting general education requirements. The paradigm shift to define A.S. degrees as transferable also outlined the criteria for the community colleges to define Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree as a terminal degree.

Most of the community college program and degree programs have been restructured, and efforts are beginning throughout the state to articulate various A.S. degrees to appropriate B.S. programs. This paper will review some of the new and innovative approaches various institutions are taking to developing new A.S. to B.S. articulation agreements.

State-Wide-Activities

Under the new criteria, all Florida A.S. degree programs can develop their own articulation agreements with appropriate upper division programs throughout the state. However to further promote this initiative; the state designated twelve Associate of Science degrees to be automatically articulated to specific university programs. To date, only five AS degree programs have been approved for articulation to a Bachelor of Science degree. These programs are Electronic Engineering Technology, Radiography, Nursing, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Business Administration. There is currently an AS to BS in Criminal Justice pending action by the statewide SUS/CC Criminal Justice Committee. There is currently no action underway to articulate the remaining six programs. These Career Ladder Agreements were the work of a task forces in each discipline comprised of representatives from both A.S. and

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Goff, G., & Rogers, H., & Barger, M. (2003, June), Bridging The Gap: Articulating Degrees In Florida Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12624