Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies

BGSU Firelands

The Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS) at BGSU Firelands is a degree program designed to respond directly to specific regional workforce needs. Students complete a series of Technical and Applied Studies (TAS) courses along with courses in an area of concentration designed to develop concrete workplace skills in the areas of health care leadership, small business enterprise, or technology.

Entrance into the degree program will require an associate's degree. Students who have not yet earned an associate's degree will be advised through an associate degree completion program before transitioning into the BTAS. Students who have already earned an associate's degree, through BGSU Firelands or elsewhere, will enter directly into the BTAS program. The vision of the program is to develop workers who possess both the "soft-skills" (communication, critical thinking, and professionalism) and career specific skills (corresponding to degree concentration) that are needed in today's employment market.

Curriculum

All BTAS students will take a common set of program specific courses:

  • TAS 3000: Introduction to Technical and Applied Studies
  • TAS 3010: Understanding Data
  • TAS 3030: Community-Based Learning Seminar
  • TAS 4010: Project Development
  • TAS 4030: Senior Capstone Field Experience
  • ENG 3880: Introductory Technical Writing
  • COMM 3060: Interpersonal Communication OR COMM 2050: Business and Professional Speaking

Students will then take a series of courses specific to their selected areas of concentration. These courses will address specific workplace needs.

All students will participate in a field experience in a professional setting relating to their area of concentration.

Areas of Concentration

Small Business Enterprise The concentration in Small Business Enterprise (SBE) is an in-depth examination of small businesses built on a foundation of continuous innovation, lean principles, asset management, labor effectiveness, promotion, social media and communication. The Associate of Applied Business (AAB) will work seamlessly into the Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS). Additionally, Associate of Science, Associate of Arts, or Associate of Technical Study degree holders will be prepared for the BTAS in Small Business Enterprise (SBE).

Students will spend an entire semester working on one business project that will lead to Lean certification focusing on customer value. The degree will be available entirely and exclusively at BGSU Firelands, and the degree will have no affiliation with the College of Business in Bowling Green or an impact on the AACSB accreditation of that college.

Program Benefits

This degree will provide the following benefits:

  • Gain knowledge and skills to become a successful small business owner.
  • Be prepared to work in a small business as over 50% of the population works in a small business.
  • Learn about intrapreneurial innovation and become part of the most rapidly growing sector in business.

Program Requirements

The BTAS in Small Business Enterprise requires a minimum of 122 credit hours. A total of 60-62 hours from an associate degree in business or other associate degree program may be applied toward the BTAS. Students will complete the following concentration specific courses in addition to the TAS courses listed above and elective hours.

BA 1500: Overview of Business Administration (3)
BAT 2050: Total Quality Leadership (3)
BAT 2100: Social Media Strategy for Small Business (3)
BAT 2400: Introduction to Business Analytics for Small Business (3)
BAT 3100: Innovation Strategies in Small Business (3)
BAT 3200: Asset Allocation for Small Business (3)
BAT 3300: Managing People in a Small Business Environment (3)
BAT 3400: Data Mining and Management for Small Business (3)
BAT 4000: Special Topics Relating to Small Business Environments (3)
BAT 4100: Public Relations for Small Business (3)
QS 3710: Six Sigma Systems (3)

Learning Outcomes for the Degree

  • Planning: Demonstrate ability to manage cash flow, labor, operations, and promotion.
  • Decision-making: Recognize elements of decision-making as related to cash flow, labor, operations, and promotion.
  • Intrapreneurial innovation: Demonstrate an understanding of Lean principles to innovate by using qualitative and quantitative methods to support conclusions.
  • Values and vision: Recognize new trends. 

Information Technology Support The Information Technology Support concentration provides the flexibility to prepare students for positions that require a broad range of technical duties. In most organizations, it is common for an employee to support both the users of the technology and the technology itself. The ITS concentration courses gives students a wide range of skills in programming, operating systems, virtual machines, databases, networking, security, project management, and forensics. The concentration is offered 100% online. However, some BTAS degree professional courses must be taken in person.

Program Benefits

Every course in this concentration leads the student toward both an enhanced understanding of the current technology topics covered but also toward current industry recognized certifications. With further review and concentrated study, the students in the concentration can qualify for industry certifications in CCNA Security, Cloud Technologies, LPI/Linux+, computer forensics, server technology, and computer machine virtualization. Focus within all courses includes the soft skills that employers are seeking in new and continuing employees such as oral and written communication, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and work ethic.

Program Requirements

The Information Technology Support BTAS Concentration requires a minimum of 122 credit hours. Hours from an applied associate degree in a computer science or information technology related field or other associate degree program may be applied towards the BTAS. Students will complete the following concentration specific courses in addition to the TAS courses listed above and elective hours.

CST 2850 Network Security Principles
CST 3200 Advanced Command-Line Utilities
CST 3520 Advanced Help-Desk Support
CST 3700 Introduction to Computer Forensics
CST 3800 Advanced Server Operations
CST 4100 Advanced LINUX Systems
CST 4210 Scripting for Network Administration
CST 4400 Cloud Technologies
CST 4800 Virtual Machine Configuration and Administration
CS 2010 Programming Fundamentals
TECH 4400 Project Management in Technological Settings

Learning Outcomes for the Degree 

  • Analyze user requirements and design Information Technology-based solutions.
  • Evaluate current technologies and their applicability to address user and organization needs.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work in project teams to develop and/or implement Information Technology-based solutions.
  • Develop and communicate Information Technology implementation plans for management review and approval.

Healthcare Leadership The employee base of hospitals and healthcare facilities in the BGSU Firelands region is over 4500. The concentration in Healthcare Leadership will help clinical practitioners in these settings be better prepared to take on leadership positions and specializations within their facilities. Healthcare Leadership emphasizes the implementation of lean principles and methods in professional healthcare environments by applying the concepts, tools and techniques of process improvement and customer value to create and sustain a more productive, efficient and cost effective healthcare delivery organization. Additionally, students will  develop the skills to provide workplace based education and training.

Program Benefits

The Lean component of our program takes the student beyond a basic understanding of Lean tools. Instead, we focus on learning the tools and principles, how they apply in the healthcare setting with real world examples and projects, and most uniquely, how to be an effective leader within a Lean healthcare organization. Course work includes critical leadership competencies, such as communication, problem solving and decision making skills, time management, coaching, and developing productive teams in order to lead in a Lean organization. Educational emphasis on the delivery of various teaching methods to different student demographics will be identified. These include, but are not limited to current healthcare professionals, patients, traditional college students and the general population.

Program Requirements

The BTAS in Healthcare Leadership requires a minimum of 122 credit hours. Hours from an applied associate degree in a health related field or other associate degree program may be applied toward the BTAS. Students will complete the following concentration specific courses in addition to the TAS courses listed above and elective hours. 

AHTH 2500 Electronic Health Records Management
AHTH 3000 Healthcare Systems in the United States
AHTH 3110 Adult Health Education
AHTH 3120 Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies
AHTH 3200 Healthcare Accreditation
AHTH 4020 Lean Leadership in Healthcare
AHTH 4100 Clinical Education in Health Professions
AHTH 4200 Cultural Diversity in Patient Care
AHTH 4400 Healthcare Finance Management
AHTH 4600 Healthcare Regulatory Agencies
AHTH 4900 Special Topics Relating to Healthcare Leadership

Learning Outcomes for the Degree

  • Clinical Performance Standards: The student is expected to recognize the need for lean activities in the care of the patient and the delivery of procedures. Examples include patient assessment, and case management.
  • Quality Performance Standards: The student is expected to recognize the lean technical areas of performance, which include equipment, material assessment, safety standards and total quality management with health system improvement outcomes.
  • Professional Performance Standards: The student is expected to recognize the activities desirable in the areas of education, interpersonal relationships, personal and professional behaviors and ethical behavior outcomes. 

Spring 2022 course requirements

Updated: 03/16/2022 11:39AM