Its official. Beginning this fall, Northwest College will offer its first four-year degree, a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree in professional studies.

The degree plan was approved Friday, Jan. 29, by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — the entity that oversees and authorizes regional accreditation for Wyoming community colleges.

NWC says its professional studies program provides students “with the knowledge, skills and abilities to become successful managers and leaders in their area of specialization.” The degree is designed for those looking to build upon current skills or academic progress. The curriculum is focused on “enhancing student skills in communication, management, marketing and organizational leadership, while providing the ability for students to apply those skills in practical ways that allow for career mobility.”

This new program is made possible with existing faculty and staff resources at NWC.

“The BAS in Professional Studies program represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of Northwest College’s mission to be student-centered and cultivate our community,” NWC Interim President Lisa Watson said. 

The unique program will allow students to attend classes in-person, over live video, online or a combination of those options, depending on their needs, Watson said.

“In this way, the college can provide the Big Horn Basin with access to a flexible and affordable bachelor’s program that delivers high-quality career preparation in a personal and convenient manner,” she said. 

Students who pursue the B.A.S. will take 14 upper-level classes that make up the program core, offered in a short-term format that can be completed in eight weeks instead of the traditional 16. Because of the shorter timeframe, the core courses are more intense, and students will be enrolled in no more than two at any given time.

Courses will be delivered in an adaptive hybrid model — offered simultaneously in both a traditional face-to-face format and an online format. Students enrolled in the professional studies program can move seamlessly between these two formats during courses based on their individual situations.

“This degree is a great fit for working professionals who are looking to advance to management,” said Renee Dechert, NWC professor of English and coordinator of the B.A.S. program. 

She said the classes have a technical grounding that provides the basis for a four-year degree.

“In addition, the degree will be available entirely online so that it better fits into the lives of those with a job and other responsibilities,” Dechert said.

Students enrolled in the professional studies program will take core courses such as Business and Professional Communication, Technical Writing in the Professions, Human Resource Management, Introduction to Marketing and several similar courses.

Visit nwc.edu/BAS or contact NWC Enrollment Services Director West Hernandez at 307-754-6103 or West.Hernandez@nwc.edu to learn more.