Associate of Technical Study (A.T.S.)
Program Overview
The A.T.S. degree is designed to create an individualized, technical associate program using planned or previously earned technical coursework. The A.T.S. is available to students registered through the Chillicothe, Lancaster, and Southern campuses.
There are two types of A.T.S. degrees, Type A and Type B. Major code AS5513 applies to Type A. A Type A A.T.S. is a coherent combination of technical courses selectively drawn from two or more programs currently offered by Ohio University to serve a career objective which would not be adequately addressed by one of those existing programs. Students are building their program primarily from Ohio University courses and generally have not earned credit as specified in the Ohio Career-Technical Credit Transfer (CT)2. Students may plan a course of study by working with an ATS faculty advisor to create a planned course of study consisting of 30 technical credits by selecting available technical courses from at least two areas. When combined, these courses must be aligned to meet a clearly identifiable career objective. Additionally, the career objective must be distinct from any other technical programs offered at Ohio University. Transfer courses received may also be applicable to the career objective. Use of transfer credit would depend on appropriateness to the career objective, as approved by the Technical Study Review Committee.
An A.T.S. Academic Advisor on your campus can assist you as you create your A.T.S. program of study.
A Type B A.T.S. is designed for students who have completed an approved Ohio Career-Technical Credit Transfer (CT)2 program at a career, vocational, or continuing education center in Ohio. Students completing an approved (CT)2 program would receive transfer credit according to the Ohio Career-Technical Credit Transfer Guidelines. This credit would then apply toward the technical (major) requirements of the A.T.S. degree. Students should contact the college office if possessing Career Technical Credit and are interested in completing an A.T.S. focused on:
- AS5514 - Associate of Technical Study in Business Technology
- AS5515 - Associate of Technical Study in Building and Industrial Technology
- AS5516 - Associate of Technical Study in Health and Allied Health Technology
- AS5517 - Associate of Technical Study in Information Technology
- AS5518 - Associate of Technical Study in Services Technology
For the Type B A.T.S., 30 total technical credit hours are required. If the above (CT)2 program is less than 30 credit hours, the remaining related hours must be earned at Ohio University. When combined, these courses must be aligned to meet a clearly identifiable career objective. All proposals with less than 30 (CT)2 credit hours or were completed at a continuing education center may require review for program admission by the Technical Study Review Committee.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
To enter the Associate of Technical Studies program, an application is required to gain admission to Ohio University. In the first semester of attendance, admitted students in a Type A program or a Type B program with less than 30 credit hours must also work with an approved A.T.S. faculty partner and possibly other faculty reviewers with expertise in one or more areas of study in the proposed program who will assist in suggesting courses when preparing the A.T.S. Course of Study application. The A.T.S. application deadlines for a student proposal to be reviewed by the Technical Study Review Committee are as follows for AY22-23: October 15, 2022 for fall semester 2022, February 15, 2023 for spring semester 2023, and August 1, 2023 for summer term 2023.
Credit Hour Residency at Ohio University
The Ohio University Board of Trustees has exempted the A.T.S. programs from requiring major residency due to the nature of the program.
Change of Program Policy
To submit an application for admission to the program, you must currently be registered as a degree-seeking student. To graduate with an Associate of Technical Study degree, you must:
- Earn 60 hours.
- Earn at least 18 semester credit hours while enrolled at Ohio University (degree residency requirement).
- Complete University freshman-level requirements in written communication, quantitative reasoning skills, and general education.
- Complete an approved area of concentration, consisting of at least 30 hours, which has coherence and educational purpose equivalent to an established degree program.
- Earn at least a 2.0 GPA in the area of concentration and overall to earn the degree.
External Transfer Admission
Students who transfer to Ohio University from another institution may apply to the Associate of Technical Study by following the procedure for application described above.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Because the curriculum plan in the Associate of Technical Study is unique to each student, depending on the student's educational and career goals, potential opportunities upon graduation vary with the student.