Reduced Credit Degrees

Overview of the Degree

The Bachelor of Applied Science-Reduced Credit (BASRC) gives institutions the opportunity to create focused bachelor’s degree pathways that meet high-demand workforce needs. It offers an academically rigorous, career-focused route, with a curriculum intentionally built around the competencies graduates need for clearly identified occupations.

Guidance

The framework is organized around the long-standing instructional design principles of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Although the guidance is presented sequentially, the five phases form a continuous improvement cycle. Evidence collected during implementation and evaluation should inform reassessments of workforce needs, competencies, curricular offerings, assessment, and program delivery methods.

• Part I Design Guidance

Guidance intended to help institutions analyze and establish the workforce-related need for the BASRC. The analysis elements should provide evidence to either support the development of an initial prospectus or identify gaps that should be addressed before the prospectus is developed.

• Part II - Designing, Developing, and Evaluating - Coming Soon!

Guidance intended to provide a framework for institutions to:

• • Identify and validate the occupational competencies graduates must possess;
  • Design curriculum and assessments around those competencies;
  • Develop academic and student-support mechanisms to deliver the program;
  • Monitor program implementation; and
  • Evaluate student learning, student success, workforce outcomes, and ongoing program relevance.

Reduced Credit FAQ.pdf