Occupational Studies

Occupational Major

This major is primarily designed for job preparedness. Students who are considering transferring to a baccalaureate institution should be aware that decisions on transferability of courses are made by the baccalaureate institutions and differ from school to school. Students should contact the Transfer Services office early in their academic programs to determine which courses will transfer to the college of their choice.

Department of Business Studies
Penn 401 • Phone (215) 968-8227
Curriculum Code No. 2068

This major is for students whose educational and occupational goals are not met by the College’s other occupational and transfer majors. It allows students to build a sequence of courses to satisfy specific skills needed for employment and, upon successful completion, results in the award of the Associate of Arts degree.

This major may be of particular interest to potential and current area vocational technical high school students as well as graduates of area vocational-technical high schools.

This program is not for students who plan to transfer to baccalaureate institutions. Students are admitted to this major only after they indicate both the occupational objective and specific employment they expect to achieve through completion of the major. While the major is designed for students beginning their collegiate work, students with fewer than sixty credits of collegiate work may enter the major after receiving permission from both an academic advisor and the Chairperson of the Department of Business Studies.

This program is designed to prepare students for a variety of functional and staff operational,supervisory and management positions.The specific field of employment will be determined by the student ’s own interest and background,and will relate to the occupational electives.

Graduates of this program are able to

analyze and appraise basic operations and relate them to the particular business enterprise that they have identified in their occupational objectives;
apply and use the common mathematical functions of business such as the time value of money and interest, discount and loan calculations;
recognize basic computer concepts and use the internet, email, and standard computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, and graphics;
create business letters, memos, and analytical reports; and
prepare and deliver informative and persuasive speeches in a business setting.

Degree Course Requirements

CISC100	Introduction to Computers	3
COMM110	Effective Speaking ^G,2	3
COMP110	English Composition I ^A,G,1	3
COMP114	Technical Writing ^G
	or
OADM110	Business Communication ^A,G,1	3
MGMT100	Introduction to Business ³	3
MGMT120	Business Mathematics ^A,G,4	3
	Cultural Perspectives ^B	3
	Elective ^F	3
INTG285	Integration of Knowledge ^E,G,5	3
	Occupational Electives ^C,D	33
	Personal Health ^B	2
		62

Recommended Semester Sequence

The recommended course sequence is designed for full-time students who average 15 credit hours per semester. Students may need more time to complete major requirements based on placement testing. This additional time will entail some adjustments to the sequence recommended.

First Semester
CISC100	Introduction to Computers	3
OADM110	Business Communication ^A,G,1
	or
COMP114	Technical Writing ^G	3
MGMT100	Introduction to Business ³	3
	Elective ^F	3
	Occupational Elective ^C,D	3
		15
Second Semester
COMP110	English Composition I ^A,G,1	3
MGMT120	Business Mathematics ^A,G,4	3
	Cultural Perspectives ^B	3
	Occupational Electives ^C,D	6
	Personal Health ^B	2
		17
Third Semester
COMM110	Effective Speaking ^G,2	3
	Occupational Electives ^C,D	12
		15
Fourth Semester
INTG285	Integration of Knowledge ^E,G,5	3
	Occupational Electives ^C,D	12
		15

^A Placement testing required.
^B Consult the list of courses approved for this subcategory. Any course may be chosen.
^C Occupational electives are courses which contribute directly to the fulfillment of students' occupational and employment goals; they are selected by students in consultation with an academic advisor, and require the approval of the advisor.
^D An Occupational Education Plan (EDP) must be completed in consultation with the academic advisor and with written approval of the Chairperson of Business Studies. (Credits may be earned through work and/or life experience [CLLE] such as: trade proprietary education, military training, registered apprenticeship training, and licenser training.)
^E Any INTG course may be chosen.
^F Pre-college level courses do not meet this requirement.
^G Course requires prerequisite.

¹ Satisfies College Writing requirement.
² Satisfies Creative Expression.
³ Satisfies Social Perspectives.
⁴ Satisfies College level Mathematics or Science.
⁵ Satisfies Writing Intensive requirement.