Students who complete the Energy Generation Operations program
at Southeast Community College can transfer those credits to
Bismarck (N.D.) State College toward completion of a Bachelor of
Applied Science degree in Energy Management.
Both schools recently signed an articulation agreement that
takes effect immediately.
SCC students who earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in
Energy Generation Operations will be admitted to BSC with junior
standing. Bismarck State has the only Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Energy Management in the nation. The program is entirely
online.
"Our BAS program was developed in response to the
ever-increasing demand for highly trained energy workers to fill
the many positions soon to be vacated by a large number of
retirees," said Kari Knudson, vice president of the Bismarck State
College National Energy Center of Excellence. "We are excited
to offer graduates of the Energy Generation Operations program at
Southeast Community College the opportunity to articulate into
BSC's Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management. The
BAS degree offered by Bismarck State College is well-regarded
within the energy industry, and this partnership will equip more
potential energy employees with the skills and knowledge necessary
to advance their careers."
Students who transfer credits to BSC will be required to
complete a minimum of 30 to a maximum of 60 semester hours at
Bismarck State College. Upon successful completion of the remainder
of college credit classes as outlined, the student will be awarded
the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Energy Management.
The Letter of Agreement, in part, states, "The BAS in Energy
Management is designed for individuals interested in supervisory
and management positions in the energy industry. The BAS builds on
energy-related foundations developed in previously completed energy
education programs and includes general education, core management
and energy management courses."
John Pierce, chair of SCC's Energy Generation Operations
program, worked with Tammy Heupel, coordinator of the BAS in Energy
Management at Bismarck State College, on the agreement.
"Many of our students are interested in continuing their
education in the energy field," said Pierce, who contacted BSC in
January about the possibility of working out a transfer agreement.
"And since Bismarck State's degree is offered online, this is
exactly what our graduates are looking for."
SCC's program offers a Nuclear focus, an Industrial Process
Operations focus, and an Energy Generation Operations Military
focus, all of which were designed to provide specialized
instruction in each focus area.
"All students take the first five quarters of common curriculum,
then choose one of the three focuses to complete their A.A.S.
degree," Pierce said. "Most of the focus courses are delivered
online or hybrid, which means the schedules can be staggered so
that students can take more than one focus, if they choose to,
within the same quarter. That's a huge workload in one
quarter, but a few of our graduates have pulled it off."