Wake Tech Orientation p.1

An associate’s degree can usually be completed in two years if you are academically ready to complete college-level work and follow the program planning guide. An associate’s degree generally consists of 60+ credit hours and prepares you to either enter the workforce or transfer into a bachelor's degree program at a four-year college or university.
A diploma can usually be completed in one year if you follow the program planning guide. A diploma generally consists of 40 to 47 credit hours and helps to prepare you for entry into the workforce.
A certificate can usually be completed in one to two semesters. A certificate generally consists of 12 to 15 credit hours, targets specific skills, and leads to entry-level jobs.
If you are a part-time student or if you take pre-curriculum or EFL courses (courses that begin with a zero), these programs will take you longer to complete. You will receive details on attendance and different types of courses later in the presentation.


The College/University Transfer programs are designed for the student who wishes to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Students choosing college/university transfer programs have a selection of degrees from which to choose: Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Engineering.
The Associate in Arts (AA) program is designed for students who are planning to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in fields such as education, accounting, business, English, history, nursing, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, etc. This degree provides students with core general education courses that provide a strong liberal arts foundation.
The Associate in Science (AS) program is designed for students who are planning to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in fields such as biology, chemistry, computers, math, etc. This degree provides students with core general education courses and a strong foundation in mathematics and science.
The Associate in Engineering (AE) program is designed for students who are planning to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering fields such as aerospace, biomedical, chemical, electrical, computer, nuclear, civil, etc.
The Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) program is designed for students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Fine Arts such as design, studio art, art education, or art history.  Many of the credits taken toward the AFA qualify as transfer coursework under the North Carolina Statewide Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.  Since Bachelors’ degrees in Fine Arts fields vary from one institution to another, students need to talk with an AFA coordinator to receive advising support throughout the degree program and in choosing transfer options.

Applied Science programs (also called Career and Technical programs) offer degree, diploma, and certificate options that focus on specific skills and prepare students for employment. Many students choose to begin with a certificate program that prepares them to enter the workforce with entry-level skills, while continuing to take courses to complete a diploma or associate’s degree.
Students who complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree have the option to pursue a bachelor’s degree at select colleges and universities through special agreements. You will learn about those options on the next slide.

Many of the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees and diploma programs at Wake Tech transfer in full or in part to four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina through agreements that clarify what credits will transfer to particular schools. These agreements offer graduates of our career and technical programs the opportunity to build upon the technical training they received at Wake Tech.

Learn anywhere! Wake Tech offers more than 60 online and hybrid program options. Associate degrees in arts, business, computer programming, criminal justice, early childhood education, and more, as well as a variety of diplomas and certificates may be completed online or in hybrid format. Costs and credits earned are the same as on-campus courses, and students have access to equivalent services and resources. Study where you want, when you want, and beat the high cost of commuting!

Online courses are an alternative to on-campus instruction and allow you to take courses wherever and whenever it’s convenient for you. Yes, this means you can take courses in your pajamas! Each course is facilitated by a qualified, competent instructor who develops the course so that the learning outcomes are comparable to a traditional seated class. The instructor also serves as a resource to the students and provides a syllabus and course guidelines. Courses include group interaction, instructor feedback, and independent learning to engage students and accommodate all kinds of learning styles.
Hybrid courses combine classroom meetings with online instruction, reducing the number of hours that a class meets on campus during the semester. Check the course schedules in WebAdvisor to determine when your hybrid course will meet on campus.

eLearning Intro is an interactive, online assessment that helps students to determine their readiness for learning online and address deficiencies or potential difficulties before getting started.
***Before registering for online classes at Wake Tech,*** new students (and those who have not completed an online course at Wake Tech in the past five years with a grade of C or better) must complete the eLearning Intro.  A registration hold will be placed on your account for online classes until you have successfully completed the assessment.
To access the eLearning Intro course, log in to your Blackboard account.