Research Guides: NSCC1010: You've Got This!: NSCC Plans

Career Pathways that Connect to Degrees @ Nashville State

Need help considering a career pathway that connects to a degree at Nashville State? You can go to the Nashville State website to Explore All Programs.Or this link organizes all our degrees by Career Pathway on a single page: Nashville State Career Pathways. Each degree links to its own program page.

The program page for AAS degrees shows the career outlook like the one below for Culinary Arts.

The program page for transfer degrees (AS, AA) links to the Tennessee Transfer Pathway (TTP) website if the degree is a TTP with transfer and career information.

Check out this video on a career in hospitality management.

You May Be Able To Get College Credit for Previous Experience

As you consider a degree, consider if you can gain credit for previous experience and finish faster! All degrees have this option. You can take a College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test at a Nashville State Testing Center. Passing the subject test can lead to college credit. Many AAS degrees have specific information on previous experience that will count for college credit. For example, you can earn college credit for

Microsoft Office certifications
- Accounting AAS Prior Learning Assesment Opportunities
- Administrative Professional Technology AAS Prior Learning Assessment Opportunities
Early childhood education experience
- Early Childhood Education AAS Prior Learning Assessment Opportunities

For more information on Credit for Previous Experience and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) see this website.

Example Degree Plans @ Nashville State that Connect to a Career

AS in Health Science Example
Jada would like to be a nurse. Her first choice is the AAS in Nursing at Nashville State. Nursing program acceptance is selective, and Jada needs to take the program pre-requisites first. Jada can take the Nashville State Nursing pre-reqs while in the AS in Health Sciences degree. She can also take pre-reqs for other Nursing degrees to keep her options open. Since Jada is currently working in the healthcare field, she plans to take the pre-reqs as a part-time student. Note: Students interested in health care professions that require graduate school should be in the AS in Pre-Health Professions, Tennessee Transfer Pathway.
AAS Business Example
Breanna has been working in retail and is interested in moving into management. An AAS in Business with a Management concentration will equip her with the skills she needs. AAS in Business Concentrations: Entrepreneurship, Logistics, Management, Marketing and Retailing. Note: the AS degrees in Business Administration, Management and Marketing are Tennessee Transfer Pathways.
AAS Computer Information Technology Example
Tony wants a job in programming ASAP but is also working full time. With this plan, Tony will have a Technical Certificate in Computer Programming first. Then Tony will get an AAS in Computer Information Technology with a Concentration in Programming. AAS in Computer Information Technology Concentrations: Cyber Defense, Data Analytics, Networking, Programming, Systems Administration and Management, Systems Analyst. Note: The AS in Computer Science is a Tennessee Transfer Pathway.
AS Psychology Example
Caleb would like to be a therapist but is not 100% sure. A Tennessee Transfer Pathway will let Caleb take General Education classes and consider his interests as he takes psychology courses. An AA in Psychology is also an option, it would include two foreign language classes among the electives.

Would you like to make your own Academic Plan? That's an assignment in NSCC 1010. If you are not in the class, talk to your advisor and see this self-help guide on Academic Plans.