Applied Education

Common Questions

If APLED is not an academic discipline, why does SCC have a department to teach these classes?

The purpose of the applied education courses is to prepare students for careers rather than only entry-level jobs. This means that students are introduced to courses outside of their core area of study. These courses focus on skills and competencies in the areas of communication, problem-solving, human relations/leadership, responsibility, and global awareness. A panel of representatives from state and local businesses and industries identified these skills and competencies, which they deemed necessary for success on the job. This group met with representatives from the vocational/technical division faculty and developed the APLED curriculum in 1994.

Communication, problem-solving, human relations/leadership, responsibility, and global awareness are an integral part of each of the four main APLED courses, and are especially emphasized in each class where applicable, as shown in the table below. The Applied Education department is the service group whose faculty teach these courses.

Recurring feedback from industry representatives allows us to make periodic and necessary changes to the curriculum in order to meet the ever-changing challenges of, and changes in, today's workplace. Students enrolled in local high schools may earn 3 to 6 credits in APLED classes. See: Articulation Agreements.

In addition to the competencies developed in 1994, students are introduced to hands-on experience with personal computers in courses that emphasize written communication. Students also become familiar with other forms of electronic communication. See: ANGEL.

If APLED is not an academic discipline, then how many students does the department teach during a typical school year?

APLED faculty typically teaches from 1,000 to 1,200 students each school year. This number is, of course, dependent upon enrollment in the various departments whose students must complete one or more of the APLED courses.

Why am I required to take these APLED classes when they are not directly related to my core area of study?

With a growing emphasis on teamwork and customer service, fueled by increased competition, business owners have realized that written and verbal communications are the cornerstones of their success. That is, employees must be able to communicate among themselves as well as with their supervisors and the public. When you speak to someone or you write a letter to a customer, you are selling yourself first. You cannot sell yourself (and your company or its products or services) without good communication.

What is your attendance policy regarding APLED classes?

In response to concerns by business leaders that we help prepare students for the realities and requirements of long-term employment and meaningful careers, APLED faculty adopted the following department-wide attendance policy: Each student is allowed three days absence for each scheduled class. NOTE: These absences should be used for emergencies only. Beginning on the fourth day of absence, points will be deducted from the student's final grade according to a formula based on the number of days attended divided by the number of scheduled class days. A student's grade will be multiplied by this attendance factor to determine his or her final grade. Absences beyond the three-day limit may be excused but must be based on compelling, verifiable reasons such as a doctor's note or other third-party documentation.

For more information:

Dennie Carlson, APLED Department Chair
DCarlson@scc.spokane.edu
(509) 533-7339

For additional contacts, please
refer to the online directory for this department.

You can also submit an online information request or get our address to write for more information.

You may be eligible for free tuition!
Follow this link to learn more.

Contact:
Email:
Telephone: