Occupational/Vocational Education, B.S.

Program Objectives

The university’s undergraduate Occupational/Vocational Education degree program provides students with a blend of academic, vocational technical teaching, and elective learning opportunities. The program is committed to educating participants in comprehensive personnel development, which responds to specific occupational updating, professional growth and enhancement, and state-of-the-art information sharing for and with vocational technical educators. The program advocates a teaching approach, which brings about desired changes in the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and appreciation level of those in training.

The Bachelor of Science in Occupational/Vocational Education requires completion of the 48-credit liberal arts and sciences (LAS) core, the specific requirements for the major, several additional LAS courses required for the major, and elective courses, for a minimum of 120 credits.

Program of Study

The Occupational/Vocational Education degree is a bachelor of science degree. A significant component of the program is its availability to students at off-campus vocational technical school sites located across Massachusetts.

Job relevance and valid, reliable, vocational technical practice is attained through participatory planning and affiliation with industry, vocational technical school practitioners, professional associations and representatives of the university.

The program offers up to 12 credits in recognition of the work experiences of the participating students through the Prior Learning through Portfolio Assessment (PLA). Candidates may apply for the Prior Learning through Portfolio Assessment (PLA) after completing 80 credits in the program.

Principal Sites where the Program is Offered

Courses offered at various regional vocational high schools. In addition, many of the required courses are also available online.