A full bachelor of arts degree in social sciences is now available completely through online study as a result of an expanded partnership between Washington State University, Bellevue Community College and Edmonds Community College.
Students take the first two years of study through the online programs of the Bellevue and/or Edmonds colleges, for which they earn an Associate in Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) degree. The final two years of the program are obtained through Washington State University’s online programs, after which the student is awarded a bachelor’s degree by WSU.
The A.A.S. degree is a pre-major program designed to fulfill the first two academic years of university work. It is accepted by all public universities in Washington state, but the course-work prescribed for the online degree in social sciences is specifically geared for transfer to Washington State University’s program.
“Washington State University is very pleased to collaborate with Bellevue and Edmonds community colleges to expand access to this degree,” said Muriel Oaks, WSU dean for Extended University Services. “As demand for higher education increases in our state, we believe that partnerships such as this will enable our institutions to meet that demand in new and innovative ways.”
“With this program, the three schools worked together to provide our students with the opportunity to earn a degree completely online,” said Charlene Khane, interim associate dean for distance learning and media services at Edmonds Community College. “You can complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree online at Edmonds or Bellevue Community College, and then transfer to WSU to take the upper division requirements online.”
“Online study is ideal for busy professionals, those with family commitments or those who simply want to enhance their credentials with a valuable degree,” said Thornton Perry, co-director of BCC’s distance education program. “If students have busy work or home schedules that prevent them from attending college on a regular basis, this option may be the answer.”
Bellevue Community College, Edmonds Community College and Washington State University have collaborated for three years in offering online degrees, including A.A.S. and B.A. degrees in General Business and Management Information Systems.
