Career Studies
Career Studies is an Associate in Applied Science degree you build around the work you want to do. Rather than following one fixed sequence of courses, you work with an academic advisor to map out a plan that fits your field, your schedule, and the credits and experience you already bring with you.
Students come to Career Studies for different reasons: to complete prerequisite courses required for admission to another program, to explore career options before choosing one, to stack two certificates into a degree, or to put existing credits and work experience toward a credential that fits.
- 61 to 62 credits for the Associate in Applied Science degree
- 24 credits of career cluster coursework in your chosen field
- Two pathways: Open Pathway or Health Science Pathway
- Built with an advisor around your goals
Who It’s For
- You are building skills in a trade or technical field and want a degree that recognizes them.
- You are completing two certificate programs and want them to add up to an associate degree.
- You are finishing prerequisite courses required for admission to another EMCC program.
- You are exploring career options before committing to a specific field.
- You are waiting for a seat in another certificate or degree program.
- You are returning with transfer credits or work experience that did not fit another credential but still holds value toward a degree.
Waiting for a Seat? Start Anyway.
Some EMCC programs fill early or carry a waiting list, and a wait of a semester or a year can feel like lost time. It does not have to be.
Enrolling in Career Studies lets you start now on the general education courses nearly every program requires, so you arrive at your seat with a semester or two already behind you and a lighter load ahead. Those credits are not a detour. They count toward the program you are waiting for, and if you decide to stay with Career Studies instead, they count here too.
Talk with an advisor before you register so the courses you take line up with the program you are aiming for. Email emccadvising@mainecc.edu to get started.
Two Pathways
Open Pathway
The Open Pathway is the flexible option. Eight career elective courses form a cluster around the field you are working toward, and the rest of the degree is free electives and general education.
Health Science Pathway
The Health Science Pathway is for students working toward admission to one of EMCC’s allied health or nursing programs. It gives that exploration a structure, so the courses you take while deciding are the same ones your eventual program will require.
Exploring Careers in Healthcare gives you a collective overview of what it means to study in an allied health program and to work in a healthcare profession, covering nursing, medical radiography, surgical technology, medical assisting, medical office, and emergency medical services.
From the second semester on, your courses depend on which program you are heading toward. Anatomy & Physiology II, oral communications, and a math elective are common to most tracks, and your advisor will add the coursework specific to your target program. By the fourth semester, students on this pathway are normally placed in their program of choice.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the A.A.S. degree in Career Studies will be able to:
- recognize and apply appropriate terminology within the chosen area of specialization;
- describe ethical and responsible behavior relative to the chosen career field;
- recognize the value of diversity in opinions, values, abilities, and cultures of colleagues and customers in a professional workplace;
- apply problem-solving skills and quantitative analysis using technology relative to the area of specialization; and
- utilize appropriate information resources to gather and disseminate technical information within the chosen career field.
Admission Requirements
A high school diploma or a state high school equivalency certificate (GED or HiSET), plus a completed application.
EMCC places students into math and English courses using transcripts, GPA, and standardized test results. We may ask you to take the Next Generation Accuplacer exam if those sources do not provide enough information.
If you are seeking transfer credit, disclose every college you have attended and have official transcripts sent directly from each one, whether or not you expect credit from them.