CAREER AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS

Career and technical education programs at Community Colleges of Spokane provide avenues for students to enter high-skill and potentially high-wage occupations or transfer to university-level technical education programs. These programs are developed with business and industry input and continued oversight from professionals actively employed in the occupations. Students are able to earn certificates of completion and Associate in Applied Science degrees in more than 100 professional and technical areas. Additionally, the colleges’ focus is on extended learning opportunities for students who are upgrading skills due to technological changes, seeking new occupations or re-entering the workforce. 

Industrial, professional and service organizations partner with the colleges to provide work-based learning opportunities for career and technical students, enabling them to apply skills learned in an actual job setting. These opportunities also reinforce social and community focused behaviors that lead to productive and responsible citizens. For more information, see the Cooperative Education/Work Experience section in this catalog. 

Associate In Applied Science (AAS) 

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree candidate in a career and technical area must complete a minimum of 90 credits in program requirements with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. Many programs require more than 90 credits. The candidate must earn at least 30 credits from Community Colleges of Spokane with the last quarter completed in residence. 

A minimum number of credits must be completed in related instruction. Related instruction areas are defined as communications, computation and human relations/leadership. A minimum of three (3) credits must be completed in each area. Safety and hygiene requirements must be completed. SCC and SFCC have different requirements that must be met and are outlined in Career Planning Guides. 

A student possessing proven competencies in the program requirements and/or related instruction area may be granted advanced standing. The appropriate administrator must approve advanced standing placements. 

All credits and grade points received from the time the student enrolls in the program are used for GPA calculation. 

Career And Technical Certificates 

Career and Technical Certificates of at least three quarters in length also include a specified amount of credits in related education. The three areas of related instruction are computation, communications and human relations/leadership. A student possessing proven competencies in these areas may be granted advanced standing. The appropriate instructional dean must approve advanced standing placement. These courses also may be footnoted with the following: “This related education requirement may be substituted with any course, or combination of courses, approved by the instructional dean.” A minimum grade point average of 2.0 must be maintained. The candidate must earn at least 30 credits from CCS, with the last quarter completed at the college awarding the certificate 

Additional Programs 

In addition to the previously described programs, CCS offers: 

 Aviation/Airway Science at SFCC, which through an agreement with the University 
    of North Dakota allows students to complete their first two years earning their 
    private and commercial pilot’s licenses and multi-engine and instrument ratings 
    before transferring to UND to complete their bachelor’s of science degree.
 Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)-Military Science through a cross-
    enrollment agreement with Eastern Washington University.
 College Level English as a Second Language for students who have been admitted 
    to college credit programs and who are non-native speakers of English.