Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS)
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is a career-focused degree designed for students who want to enter the workforce with specialized technical skills. AAS programs combine hands-on training with coursework that prepares students for employment in a specific industry or occupation.
The AAS is often a good option for students seeking direct entry into employment in a specific career field, as well as for those looking to advance in their current profession or meet requirements for licensure or certification.
While the AAS is primarily designed for workforce preparation, some programs may offer opportunities for further education. MHCC maintains transfer agreements with select universities that allow students to apply AAS coursework toward a bachelor’s degree in related fields.
Associate of Applied Science programs offered at MHCC:
- Automotive Technology: Chrysler MCAP
- Automotive Technology: Ford ASSET
- Automotive Technology: IMPORT
- Automotive Technology Subaru U
- Business Management
- Business Management: Accounting
- Business Management: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
- Computer Game Development
- Computer Information Systems (CIS)
- Cybersecurity: Networking and Security Operations
- Cybersecurity: Penetration Testing
- Dental Hygiene
- Early Childhood Education and Family Studies
- Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies
- Engineering Technology
- Fisheries Technology
- Funeral Service Education
- General Apprenticeship
- Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology
- Integrated Media: Commercial Photography
- Integrated Media: Graphic Design
- Integrated Media: Video
- Mechatronics
- Medical Office Specialist: Administrative Secretary
- Medical Office Specialist: Billing and Coding
- Medical Office Specialist: Management
- Mental Health, Social Services, and Addiction Counseling
- Natural Resources Technology: Forest Resources
- Natural Resources Technology: Wildlife Resources
- Nursing
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Respiratory Care
- Surgical Technology
- Theatre Arts: Professional Theatre Technician
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Career-Technical Program Courses | 77-91 | |
| Written Communication, 1 course | 3-4 | |
| Mathematics, 1 course | 4-6 | |
| Human Relations, 1 course | 3-4 | |
| Health and Physical Education, 3 credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 90-108 | |
Career-Technical Program Courses
Complete all required core courses in a career-technical curriculum. Some programs require prerequisite coursework or placement test levels before beginning the curriculum. Check individual program pages for information. Elective courses included in an AAS degree program must be numbered 100 or above.
Written Communication
Complete one (1) course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| WR101 | Workplace Communications I | 3 |
| WR121Z | Composition I | 4 |
| WR122Z | Composition II | 4 |
| WR227Z | Technical Writing | 4 |
- *
Some programs may require an additional writing course. Review specific program page for more details.
Mathematics
Complete one (1) course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MTH058 | Quantitative Reasoning I | 6 |
| MTH065 | Beginning Algebra II | 4 |
- *
Some programs may require a higher level of math. Review the specific program page for more details.
Human Relations
Human Relations
Complete three (3) or more credits from the following options:
- One (1) Arts & Letters course, 3-4 credits (if taken summer 2015 or later).
- One (1) Social Science course, 3-4 credits (if taken summer 2015 or later).
- A minimum of three (3) credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BA285 | Leadership and Human Relations | 3 |
| HD130AT | Introduction to Careers: Applied Technology (taken summer 2020 or later) * | 2 |
| HD118 | From Undecided to Decided: Navigating Careers, Majors, and College Success | 3 |
| HD204 | Developing Emotional Intelligence | 3 |
| HD208 | Career and Life Planning (taken summer 2020 or later) | 3 |
| HPE110 | Teambuilding and Group Facilitation | 3 |
Arts & Letters
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art/Art History | ||
| ART115 | Basic Design I: Two-Dimensional | 4 |
| ART116 | Basic Design II: Color Theory | 4 |
| ART117 | Basic Design III: Three- Dimensional | 4 |
| ART204 | History of Western Art: Prehistoric - Byzantine | 4 |
| ART205 | History of Western Art: Medieval - Renaissance | 4 |
| ART206 | History of Western Art: Baroque - Modern | 4 |
| ART211 | Survey of Visual Arts (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ART215P | Survey in Visual Arts: Photography | 3 |
| ART225 | Digital Art Toolbox | 4 |
| ART226 | Digital Drawing and Imaging | 4 |
| ART227 | Introduction to Animation | 4 |
| ART231 | Drawing I | 4 |
| ART232 | Drawing II | 4 |
| ART233 | Drawing III | 4 |
| ART234 | Figure Drawing I | 4 |
| ART235 | Figure Drawing II (if taken summer 2019 or later) | 4 |
| ART236 | Figure Drawing III (if taken summer 2019 or later) | 4 |
| ART240 | Character Design and Illustration | 4 |
| ART254 | Ceramics I | 4 |
| ART255 | Ceramics II | 4 |
| ART256 | Ceramics III | 4 |
| ART257 | Jewelrymaking/Metalsmithing I | 4 |
| ART258 | Jewelrymaking/Metalsmithing II | 4 |
| ART259 | Jewelrymaking/Metalsmithing III | 4 |
| ART260 | Introduction to Digital Photography | 4 |
| ART261 | Black and White Film Photography | 3 |
| ART262 | Intermediate Black and White Film Photography | 3 |
| ART271 | Printmaking I: Screen Printing and Relief Printing | 4 |
| ART272 | Printmaking II: Screen, Relief and Intaglio Printmaking | 4 |
| ART273 | Printmaking III: Advanced Printmaking | 4 |
| ART281 | Painting I | 4 |
| ART282 | Painting II (if taken summer 2019 or later) | 4 |
| ART283 | Painting III (if taken summer 2019 or later) | 4 |
| ART291 | Sculpture I | 4 |
| ART292 | Sculpture II | 4 |
| ART293 | Sculpture III | 4 |
| ART294 | Watercolor I | 4 |
| ART296 | Watercolor II | 4 |
| ART297 | Watercolor III (if taken summer 2019 or later) | 4 |
| Communication / Speech (cannot be same course used to fulfill Oral Communication requirement) | ||
| COMM100Z | Introduction to Communication | 4 |
| COMM111Z | Public Speaking | 4 |
| COMM114 | Argument and Critical Discourse | 3 |
| COMM115 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| COMM218Z | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| COMM219 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| Creative Writing | ||
| WR240 | Creative Writing: Nonfiction | 4 |
| WR241 | Creative Writing: Fiction I | 4 |
| WR242 | Creative Writing: Poetry I | 4 |
| WR244 | Creative Writing: Poetry II | 4 |
| WR245 | Creative Writing: Fiction II | 4 |
| English / Literature | ||
| ENG104Z | Introduction to Fiction | 4 |
| ENG105Z | Introduction to Drama | 4 |
| ENG106Z | Introduction to Poetry | 4 |
| ENG201 | Shakespeare | 4 |
| ENG204 | British Literature I: Old English to Renaissance (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG205 | British Literature II: Age of Enlightenment to Present (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG212 | Latin American Literature | 4 |
| ENG218 | Arthurian Legends | 4 |
| ENG222 | Women's Literature (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| ENG250 | Introduction to Mythology | 4 |
| ENG253 | Survey of American Literature I (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG254 | Survey of American Literature II (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG257 | Introduction to African American Literature (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG261 | Literature of Science Fiction (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG271 | World Literature: The Classical World (Ancient Literature to 1000 C.E.) (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG272 | World Literature: 1000 to 1800 C.E. (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ENG273 | World Literature: 1800 C.E. to the Present (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| Ethics in the Workplace | ||
| HUM202 | Ethics in the Workplace (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| Film Studies | ||
| FA257 | Films and Society (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| FA258 | Understanding the Film (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| FA266 | Film Directors (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| FA270 | Film Genres | 4 |
| Modern Languages (second-year) | ||
| ASL201 | Second-year American Sign Language I (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ASL202 | Second-year American Sign Language II (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ASL203 | Second-year American Sign Language III (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| JPN201 | Second-year Japanese I (Cultural Literacy course) | 5 |
| JPN202 | Second-year Japanese II (Cultural Literacy course) | 5 |
| JPN203 | Second-year Japanese III (Cultural Literacy course) | 5 |
| SPAN201 | Second-year Spanish I (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| SPAN202 | Second-year Spanish II (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| SPAN203 | Second-year Spanish III (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| Music | ||
| MUS101 | Music Fundamentals | 3 |
| MUS103 | Jazz History | 3 |
| MUS105 | History of Rock | 3 |
| MUS111 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS112 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS113 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS201 | Music in Cinema (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| MUS211 | Music Theory IV (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| MUS212 | Music Theory V (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| MUS213 | Music Theory VI (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| MUS268 | Music History: Baroque to Romantic (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| MUS279 | Popular Songwriting | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHL191 | Language and the Layout of Argument | 4 |
| PHL201 | Introduction to Philosophy (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PHL202 | Fundamental Ethics (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| Religion | ||
| R210 | World Religions (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| R211 | History of the Old Testament (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| R212 | History of the New Testament (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| Theatre Arts | ||
| TA101 | Appreciating Theatre | 3 |
| TA106 | Theatre History: Origins to the Renaissance (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| TA107 | Theatre History: Restoration to Contemporary (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| TA121 | Costuming (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| TA141 | Acting Fundamentals I | 3 |
| TA142 | Acting Fundamentals II | 3 |
| TA143 | Acting Fundamentals III | 3 |
| TA148 | Movement for the Actor | 3 |
Social Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Social Science | ||
| SSC100 | Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship | 4 |
| Anthropology | ||
| ANTH201 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 4 |
| ANTH202 | Introduction to Archaeology and World Prehistory (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ANTH203 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| ANTH240 | Language and Culture (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| Communication | ||
| COMM115 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| Economics | ||
| EC115 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| EC201Z | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| EC202Z | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| Geography | ||
| GEOG105 | Introduction to Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG106 | Introduction to World Regional Geography (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| GEOG107 | Introduction to Cultural Geography (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| GEOG202 | The Geography of Europe (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| GEOG206 | Geography of Oregon (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| GEOG209 | Geography of the Middle East and North Africa (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| GEOG214 | Geography of Mexico and Central America (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| GEOG290 | Environmental Problems and Restoration | 3 |
| History | ||
| HST101 | Western Civilization: Ancient and Classical Europe (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST102 | Western Civilization: Medieval and Early Modern Europe (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST103 | Western Civilization: Modern Europe (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST110 | Ancient World History (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST111 | Medieval World History (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST112 | Modern World History (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST195 | History of the Vietnam War (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST201Z | United States History I (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST202Z | United States History II (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST203Z | United States History III (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST204 | Women in U.S. History (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST225 | Women in World History (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST237 | America in the 1960s (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST240 | History of Oregon (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST264 | African-American History: 1500 - 1870s (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST265 | African-American History: 1870 - Present (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| HST270 | History of Mexico (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| International Studies | ||
| INTL101 | Introduction to International Studies (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| Journalism | ||
| J211 | Introduction to Mass Communications | 3 |
| Music History | ||
| MUS103 | Jazz History (if taken summer 2020 or later) | 3 |
| MUS105 | History of Rock (if taken summer 2020 or later) | 3 |
| MUS201 | Music in Cinema (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| MUS268 | Music History: Baroque to Romantic (Cultural Literacy course) (if taken summer 2020 or later) | 4 |
| MUS279 | Popular Songwriting | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| PS200 | Introduction to Political Science | 4 |
| PS201 | American Government | 4 |
| PS203 | State and Local Governments | 4 |
| PS204 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| PS205 | International Relations (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PS209 | Problems in American Politics | 4 |
| PS215 | Global Issues | 4 |
| PS217 | Introduction to Public Land Management: The Politics of Recreation | 3 |
| PS225 | Political Ideology: Ideas About Government | 4 |
| PS241 | Introduction to Political Terrorism | 4 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSY101 | Psychology of Human Relations | 3 |
| PSY151 | Introduction to the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 |
| PSY202Z | Introduction to Psychology II | 4 |
| PSY214 | Introduction to Personality (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| PSY216 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY231 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY232 | Sexuality and Society (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| PSY237 | Human Development | 4 |
| PSY239 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | 4 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC204Z | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| SOC205Z | Social Change and Institutions | 4 |
| SOC206Z | Social Problems | 4 |
| SOC213 | Race Relations in the United States (Cultural Literacy course) | 4 |
| SOC215 | Gender and Society (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| SOC216 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOC223 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| Theatre History | ||
| TA106 | Theatre History: Origins to the Renaissance (Cultural Literacy course) (if taken summer 2021 or later) | 3 |
| TA107 | Theatre History: Restoration to Contemporary (Cultural Literacy course) (if taken summer 2021 or later) | 3 |
| Women's Studies | ||
| WS101 | Introduction to Women's Studies (Cultural Literacy course) | 3 |
| World Literature | ||
| ENG271 | World Literature: The Classical World (Ancient Literature to 1000 C.E.) (Cultural Literacy course) (if taken summer 2020 or later) | 4 |
| ENG272 | World Literature: 1000 to 1800 C.E. (Cultural Literacy course) (if taken summer 2020 or later) | 4 |
| ENG273 | World Literature: 1800 C.E. to the Present (Cultural Literacy course) (if taken summer 2020 or later) | 4 |
Health and Physical Education
Complete three (3) credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HE151 | Drug Education: Stimulants and Performance Enhancing Drugs | 3 |
| HE152 | Drug Education: Opioids, Cannabis, Depressants and Hallucinogens | 3 |
| HE202 | Adult Development and Aging | 1 |
| HE204 | Nutrition for Health | 3 |
| HE205 | Diet Appraisal | 1 |
| HE207 | Stress Control Through Activity Intervention | 1 |
| HE209 | Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 1 |
| HE208 | HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections | 1 |
| HE/FN225 | Nutrition (FN225, if taken summer 2021 or later) | 4 |
| HE242 | Stress and the Human Body | 3 |
| HE250 | Personal Health and Wellness | 3 |
| HE251 | Wilderness First Aid | 2 |
| HE252 | First Aid: Responding to Emergencies | 3 |
| HE255 | Alcohol and the Family | 3 |
| HE261 | CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | 1 |
| HE262 | Basic Life Support | 1 |
| HE265 | Women's Health | 3 |
| HE289 | Wilderness First Responder | 4 |
| HPE110 | Teambuilding and Group Facilitation | 3 |
| HPE120 | Introduction to Navigation | 1 |
| HPE170 | Structure and Function of the Human Body | 3 |
| HPE172 | Exercise Science | 3 |
| HPE174 | Fitness Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| HPE260 | Prevention and Care of Exercise-Related Injuries | 3 |
| HPE270 | Introduction to Sport Psychology | 3 |
| HPE285OL | Wilderness Survival | 3 |
| HE289L | Wilderness First Responder Part- 2 | 2 |
| HE289R | Wilderness First Responder - Recertification | 2 |
| HPE291 | Lifeguard Training | 2 |
| HPE295 | Health and Fitness for Life | 3 |
| PE131 | Introduction to Exercise and Sports Science | 3 |
| PE185__ | PE185 activity course 1 | 1 |
- 1
Three (3) credit hours of PE185 may be granted toward an associate degree at MHCC for completion of military basic training. A copy of the DD214 form or a Joint Services Transcript is required.
Cultural Literacy course