Program Details
Program Details
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Associate of Applied Science
Virginia Western Community College
Program Details
Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Degree
Associate of Applied ScienceAssociate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Degree
Virginia Western Community College
The Technical Studies Associate of Applied Science degree is designed for individuals seeking to work in a technical area or who have considerable work experience seeking upward mobility in their professions.
Program Overview & Guidance

Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
Considerations When Selecting Courses |
This program requires an additional application (linked below) which must be completed with the help of an advisor.
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Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
Doing More With Your Degree | Is your goal to enter or advance into a technical field with a college degree? The Technical Studies Associate of Applied Science degree is designed for individuals seeking to work in a technical area or who have considerable work experience seeking upward mobility in their professions. This degree provides flexibility to better meet the emerging needs of local and statewide industries' desire for highly educated and trained employees. Choose up to two career studies certificates or one certificate combined with general education courses to create a coherent technical plan of study. Begin your journey with VWCC today where you will use your skills, experience, and your education in a high demand and rewarding career. |
Program Successes & Highlights | Credits afforded through experiential credit gained through prior learning, internship credit, directed study credit and/or apprenticeship credit will be considered. Evening and online classes available. |
Program Credit Requirements

Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.
The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio
and the requirements for the selected program.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Degree
60
Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Degree
60
TECHNICAL STUDIES
60
General Education Requirement - 15 Credits
12
Communication
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Humanities/Fine Arts
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Social/Behavioral Sciences
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Mathematics/Natural Sciences
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
SDV101 Orientation Discipline Specific
2
SDV101 Orientation Discp Spec
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Technical Studies Elective
43
Tech Studies ELE FA24
43
Earn 43 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
---|---|
Associate Transfer Degree Completion | To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor. |
Credit for Prior Learning | Yes |
Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information

Number of Transfer Students
519
College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
---|---|
Is This College Right For Me? | Virginia Western Community College's service region includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem, along with Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. Virginia Western was the first college established in the Virginia Community College System, in 1966, and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of more than 8,500 students in credit courses and more than 1,200 enrollments in accelerated career training and continuing education courses. |
Transfer Student Catalog Year | A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major. |
First Year Student Catalog Year | A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major. |
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://www.virginiawestern.edu/transfer/transfer-agreements/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Germanna Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Blue Ridge Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Mountain Gateway Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Danville Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Industrial Technician - Mechanical | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Danville Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Integrated Machining Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Danville Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Venture Creation and Management | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Danville Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies Industrial Technician - Electrical | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Eastern Shore Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies | Associate | Associate in Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Laurel Ridge Community College | Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Mountain Empire Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Welding | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Southside Virginia Community College | Associate of Applied Science with a major in Technical Studies-Industrial Maintenance Technician | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
Southwest Virginia Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Advanced Manufacturing | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Hybrid |
Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies/HVAC and Refrigeration | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies/Engineering Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Virginia Highlands Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Technical Studies with a Specialization in Electrical Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Technical Studies with a Specialization in HVAC | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Technical Studies with a Specialization in Industrial Maintenance Electronics | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Technical Studies with a Specialization in Industrial Maintenance Mechanic | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Technical Studies with a Specialization in Machine Tool | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Technical Studies with a Specialization in Welding | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
---|---|---|---|
17-3026.00 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
17-3026.01 | Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
Cost To Complete
