Career Programs

Career Programs—Associate of Applied Science Degree

Pellissippi State offers several programs that prepare students for business and technical careers. These programs are designed for the student whose primary educational goal is entry-level employment or career advancement. The placement rate for graduates of Career Programs is consistently above 90 percent. The College’s Career Programs are continually revised to reflect the changes in the skills and knowledge graduates need to be successful in responsible positions in business and industry. These degree programs are not designed for transfer to baccalaureate institutions. However, the general education courses typically transfer to most four-year colleges and universities, and several of the programs are fully transferable.

The degree earned is the Associate of Applied Science. All Associate of Applied Science degree programs offered at Pellissippi State require a minimum of 60 semester hours.

Career Programs 

• Administrative Professional Technology/Medical Office Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Accounting, A.A.S.  
• Architectural Design Technology, A.A.S.  
• Business/Hospitality Management Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Business/Management Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Civil and Construction Engineering Technology, A.A.S.  
• Computer Information Technology/Cyber Defense Concentration, A.A.S.   
• Computer Information Technology/Networking Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Computer Information Technology/Programming Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Computer Information Technology/Systems Administration and Management Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Criminal Justice, A.A.S.  
• Culinary Arts, A.A.S.  
• Early Childhood Education, A.A.S.   
• Electrical Engineering Technology, A.A.S.  
• Electromechanical Technology, A.A.S.  
• General Technology, A.A.S.    
• Interior Design Technology, A.A.S.  
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, A.A.S.  
• Media Technologies/Audio Production Engineering Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Media Technologies/Photography Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Media Technologies/Video Production Technology Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Media Technologies/Web Technology Concentration, A.A.S.  
• Nursing, A.A.S.  
• Paralegal Studies, A.A.S.    
• Water Quality Technology, A.A.S.  
• Welding Technology, A.A.S.  

Career Programs Guarantee

Job Competency Guarantee Program. The faculty of Pellissippi State guarantee that any graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree judged by his/her employer as lacking in the technical job skills expected of an entry-level employee will be provided additional courses (up to 15 semester hours) by Pellissippi State at no charge.

Degree. The graduate must have earned an A.A.S. degree in June 1988 or thereafter in the area of concentration designated on the student transcript. The student must have earned at least a C in all major courses of study.

Employment. The employment must be full time, and the job must be certified by the Placement Office as directly related to the graduate’s program of study. Initial date of employment of the graduate must be within one year of completion of program requirements.

The employer must provide Pellissippi State written notification that the employee is lacking the entry-level knowledge and skills identified at the time of initial employment and must specify the area(s) of deficiency within 90 days of the graduate’s initial employment.

Affective behaviors, such as attitude, judgment and interpersonal relations, will be considered job competencies for purposes of the guarantee, provided that formal instruction in appropriate affective behaviors is included within the specialty area.

Retraining guarantee. Skill retraining will be limited to 15 semester credit hours and to enrollment in credit courses regularly offered by Pellissippi State. The skill retraining must be completed in one academic year.

The employer, the graduate and a college counselor, with the advice of appropriate teaching faculty, will develop an educational plan that specifies the course(s) constituting the 15 credit hours of retraining. The graduate must meet all prerequisites, corequisites and other admission requirements for retraining courses. Failure, withdrawal or audit of a retraining course(s) is creditable to the 15 credit hour limit.

Pellissippi State will waive tuition and fees. The graduate or the employer will bear the costs of books and supplies, as well as other related costs.

Career Programs core curriculum*

* Courses designated to fulfill general education requirements at Pellissippi State Community College are published in the General Education  section of this Catalog.

Cooperative Education

The Cooperative Education program (Co-op) enhances Career Programs by offering students the opportunity to integrate classroom theory with practical work experience. Paid work experiences are arranged in career-related areas to benefit both the student and the employer. This hands-on work experience enables the student to attain increased self-confidence, increased marketability upon graduation, and academic credit and income while in school. For the employer, the program provides highly motivated students for entry-level positions and a source for potential employees. For a complete list of Co-op courses, visit Cooperative Education courses .

Eligibility. To qualify for the Cooperative Education program, the student must be enrolled in a career program at Pellissippi State, must be in good standing academically, and must have completed 15 or more credit hours of college-level courses in the major. A student who is appropriately placed on the job in her/his career major upon entering Pellissippi State may be eligible for immediate enrollment in the Co-op program.

Credit. Academic credits are awarded for the cooperative work experience on a variable scale based upon the number of hours on the job. To earn one academic credit, the student must work 45 hours on the job. Tuition will be calculated according to the projected credit hours to be earned in co-op work experience during the semester. Once placed in a position by the Co-op Office, the student is required to register for Cooperative Education course credit each semester worked. Since co-op courses will be add-on credit, a student may earn credits as long as she/he is eligible to remain in the program.

Grades. The grading for the cooperative education work experience will be PASS/NO PASS. A grade designation is given where cooperative work experience is used for course substitution.