Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA has been approved by the Northwest Commission on Community Colleges & Universities to offer an online Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in applied business management beginning fall 2020. This degree—the College’s second BAS offering—addresses the shortfall in bachelor-level education for small- to medium-sized employers, as well as entrepreneurs.
“Bachelor’s degrees like the BAS in applied business management lead to higher wages and more job opportunities,” said Tonya Wagner, WCC’s dean for workforce education. “The flexibility of online coursework allows students to pursue a higher degree and grow their career while maintaining their current job or family responsibilities.”
The degree builds on WCC’s Associate in Science – business administration degree, as well as related associate degrees in hospitality and tourism, accounting, and finance. Students with any type of associate degree are welcome to apply. Courses will be offered online with on-campus support and resources available. Core coursework includes professional communication; human resources and marketing for managers; financial management; private enterprise, profits and social justice; business strategy and sustainability; and organizational leadership. To be eligible, students need to have an associate’s degree (business-related preferred), minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, and 2.3 GPA in business-related coursework.
This is the College’s second BAS degree, which offers more educational options for Whatcom students at a lower price and with more flexibility than a typical university bachelor’s degree. Eligible students may qualify for financial aid through workforce funding opportunities.
About Whatcom: Whatcom Community College in Bellingham is regularly recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute. The College, a destination for cybersecurity, healthcare and business studies, offers a bachelor of applied science degree, transfer degrees, career preparation, online courses, and community education classes. WCC’s accomplished faculty and staff serve 11,000 students annually. For more information, visit whatcom.edu.
