Career Technical Education

Degree and Certificate Options Through NSHS

Students complete high school requirements and college courses at CSN, TMCC, GBC, and WNC.

Associate Degree (AA, AB, AS) ~ 60 credit hours

  • Intended to transfer to 4-year colleges and universities
  • Can stop at associate level or proceed toward bachelor’s degree
  • Can be general arts or sciences, or specialized in a major (i.e. marketing, biological sciences, etc.)

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) ~ 60 credit hours

  • Advanced career and technical education (CTE), skills and training for high-demand occupations
  • General education component similar to associate degrees
  • Usually non-transferable, terminating degree; sometimes continues to a Bachelor of Applied Science

Certificate of Achievement (CA)~ 30 credit hours

  • Moderate career and technical education (CTE), skills and training for high-demand occupations o Usually just one general education course such as communications or English
  • Usually non-transferable but leads into an associate of applied science program

Skills Certificate (SC) ~ 6-20 credit hours

  • Entry-level career and technical education (CTE), skills, and training for high-demand occupations
  • Focused entirely on skills and training for careers
  • Usually non-transferable but leads to CA and AAS program

Popular Programs of Study

  • Health Sciences, Nursing, Health/Lab Technicians
  • Computing & Engineering Technology
    • Software Development
    • Networking
    • Cybersecurity
    • Graphic Design and Web Development
    • Manufacturing Technology
    • Electronics
    • Utilities
  • Business Management, Marketing, Finance, Accounting
  • Paralegal Studies
  • Fire Science, Public Safety, Emergency Medical Tech
  • Hospitality and Culinary Arts
  • Welding
  • Automotive Technology and Diesel Mechanics
  • Heating, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation
  • Aviation Technology
  • Construction Management
  • Water/Wastewater Treatment
NSHS program study