Glossary

Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship programs assist registered indentured apprentices to acquire the related technical knowledge and skills to augment the on-the-job experiences for all aspects of their trade. Both the employer and the apprentice must be contracted with the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards to begin apprenticeship training.
Articulation Agreement:: An articulation agreement is a formal agreement between institutions that allows credit for a course or sequence of courses taken at one institution to be applied in specific programs at another institution. These agreements may be between a high school and a postsecondary institution, or among postsecondary institutions.
Associate of Applied Science Degree: An AAS degree helps individuals prepare for, or advance in, a particular occupation or field. Most AAS degrees require 60-70 credits and consist of technical studies, general studies and electives. Time to completion varies widely. Some or all credits may be applied toward a bachelor's degree program at a four-year college.
Associate of Arts and Science Degree: An Associate of Arts & Science Degree is awarded to an individual for completion of a program that is intended for transfer to a four-year college or university. The degree requirements usually include courses in fine arts, humanities, mathematical and natural sciences, and social sciences.
Bachelor’s Degree:: A bachelor’s degree is an academic degree that is awarded to individuals for completion of an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for four years.
Business and education partnership:: This partnership is a collaborative relationship that is mutually beneficial for students, staff, industry experts, and/or community members to increase student readiness, employability skills, and acquisition of academic and technical skills.
Career Clusters:: In their simplest form, Career Clusters are groupings of occupations/career specialties used as an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction. Occupations/career specialties are grouped into the Career Clusters based on the fact that they require a set of common knowledge and skills for career success. The Knowledge and Skills represented by Career Clusters prepare learners for a full range of occupations/career specialties, focusing on the holistic, polished blend of technical, academic, and employability knowledge and skills. This approach enhances the more traditional approach to career and technical education in which instruction may focus on one or two occupations and emphasize only specific occupational skills.
Career Pathways:: Career Pathways are sub-groupings of occupations/career specialties used as an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction. Occupations/career specialties are grouped into Pathways based on the fact that they require a set of common knowledge and skills for career success.
Career and Technical Education: (CTE):: A CTE is an instructional program that includes a rigorous sequence of quality academic content and technical skills, with a focus on specific career clusters and pathways. Programs prepare students to successfully transition to postsecondary education or work.
Doctoral Degree: A doctoral degree is an academic or professional degree that qualifies the holder to teach or practice in a specific field, such as philosophy, literature, law or medicine. Examples are Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Education (Ed. D.). Doctoral applicants were previously required to have a master’s degree, but many programs will now accept students immediately following completion of their undergraduate studies.
Knowledge and Skills:: Knowledge and Skills are industry-validated statements that describe what learners/employees need to know, and to be able to do, for career success within a Cluster and/or Pathway.
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Majors in the Liberal Arts and Sciences provide pathways to a wide array of 21st century careers through preparation in such areas as knowledge of human cultures and the natural world; critical and creative thinking skills; effective communication skills; intercultural knowledge and competence; and individual, social and environmental responsibility.
Master’s Degree:: A master’s degree is an academic degree that is awarded to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. Generally, students must have previously earned an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree.
Occupations/Career Specialties:: These are particular careers or occupations based on advanced knowledge and skills specific to a career or occupation.
Program of Study (curriculum framework):: A program of study is a sequence of instruction (based on recommended standards and knowledge and skills) consisting of coursework, co-curricular activities, work-site learning, service learning, and other learning experiences. This sequence of instruction provides preparation for a career.
Tech Prep:: This school‐to‐work transition program helps students make the connection between high school, postsecondary education and employment. As a statewide career development system, Tech Prep provides students with a planned program of study that incorporates academic and career‐related articulated courses between secondary and postsecondary education.
Tech Prep - Advanced standing credit:: A high school student who has successfully completed a course taught by a high school teacher using a high school curriculum, wherein the high school and a technical college have compared curriculum competencies and developed an articulation course agreement, can receive advanced standing credit. Credit is awarded upon enrollment in the technical college; however, grades are not recorded on a technical college transcript.
Tech Prep - Transcripted credit:: Postsecondary credit earned by a high school student for successfully completing a college-level course taught via an articulation agreement is called transcripted credit. Both credit and grades are reported directly on a technical college transcript.
Technical Diploma: Technical diplomas help individuals prepare for a targeted occupation, typically at the entry level. Credit requirements range from 3-70 credits and time to completion varies widely. Some credits may bridge into associate degree programs.
Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship:: This rigorous one- or two‐year program is designed for high school juniors and seniors. It combines academic and technical instruction with paid on‐the‐job training at a mentored worksite. Wisconsin technical colleges award credit to two‐year youth apprenticeship program graduates.
Wisconsin Youth 0ptions:: This program allows public high school juniors and seniors, who meet certain requirements, to take postsecondary courses at a UW institution, a Wisconsin technical college, one of the state's participating private nonprofit institutions of higher education, or a tribally controlled college. Approved courses count toward high school graduation and college credit.