Degree, Diploma & Certificate Information

An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree prepares students for employement in an occupation or range of occupations. It requires a minimum of 15 credits selected from at least three of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). A minimum 30 credits must be in the academic program’s occupational or technical field of preparation. AAS degree programs are at least 60 credits in length and typically take at least two years to complete.

A diploma is a comprehensive program with extensive technical coursework to help develop job skill that will lead directly to employment. Diploma programs range from 31 to 72 credits and typically take one to two years to complete. Technical courses for diploma programs will apply to available degrees within the same program.

A certificate is designed to develop a student’s occupational skills for a specific job that will lead directly to employment. Certificate programs range from 9 to 30 credits and typically take less than one year to complete. Technical courses for certificate programs will apply to available degrees within the same program.