Specialized Studies

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Don’t see the perfect fit among traditional programs? Create your own with our custom degree options. We offer two unique programs for students whose academic goals don’t fit into existing programs. These are the Associate of Interdepartmental Studies (A.I.S.) and the Associate of Individualized Technical Studies (A.I.T.S.).

The A.I.S. lets you study a broad knowledge base. Take courses to design a customized path that aligns with your career goals. You will take 19 hours of general education courses and 43 hours of electives. This allows you to explore multiple interests and build a well-rounded education. This degree isn’t transferable as a whole, but some courses may transfer to four-year schools. The A.I.T.S. also allows you to create a customized education plan. Combine courses from two or more disciplines to create a personalized degree. Your navigator will help you pick courses that best match your career goals.

Dr. Tracy McGrady
Provost and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs
417-447-8152

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Accreditation

OTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our current accreditation status with the HLC is displayed on the page linked below. Our next comprehensive evaluation will be in 2030-2031. View more information on OTC accreditation.

Program Outcomes

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General Admissions to Ozarks Tech

Admission to Ozarks Technical Community College is open to all individuals who can benefit from its educational programs. A focus of the college mission is on the academic, career and personal goals of the student. OTC may admit you as a First-Time student just completing their high school, GED or HiSET requirements or as a Transfer student coming from another institution finishing up a certificate or degree. For more information, visit OTC Admissions.

Wondering how you’re going to pay for college? At OTC, we believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to earning a degree. Our staff will work with you to make a financial plan. To browse the resources available to you, see paying for college.

At Ozarks Tech, we want your transfer process to be easy. We accomplish this goal through articulation agreements. These agreements are an official partnership to match coursework between schools. This gives you a more seamless transition from Ozarks Tech to a four-year institution.

We have established an agreement for this program. This will simplify the transfer of your credits to partner schools. To understand how this degree will transfer, review the current articulation agreements. Be sure to consult with your transfer school to ensure you’re on the right path toward completing your four-year degree.

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COSTS & OPTIONS

CREDENTIAL TYPE
PROGRAM
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO:
LENGTH OF PROGRAM
COST*

Associate of Interdepartmental Studies

Interdepartmental Studies
  • Build a customized degree based on your career goals and interests
  • Build a broad foundation of knowledge that complements your career goals

62 credit hours
4 semesters

$11,378.00*
to
$15,222.00*

Associate of Individualized Technical Studies

Technical Studies
  • Build a customized degree based on your career goals and interests
  • Build a degree comprised of two technical disciplines

62 credit hours
4 semesters

N/A

Short-Term Training

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Accelerate your career with OTC's short-term training courses. Gain valuable skills in as little as just weeks and unlock new opportunities for success. View courses. 

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Varies by course

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Clicking on the options below will provide overview information, course sequences (when applicable), and specific course descriptions. To see a full catalog of all the offerings at OTC, visit catalog.otc.edu.

Associate of Individualized Technical Studies

A.I.T.S Degree: 62 Hours

The Associate of Individualized Technical Study (AITS) degree is open to any student whose educational goals cannot be accomplished through enrollment in one of OTC's existing degree programs. The student may design a degree which combines two or more discipline areas into a unique education plan. Faculty members within the disciplines will assist the student in planning the most appropriate course of study for the individual.

Note: This program requires an approved AITS application. Please contact the Office of the Provost at academics@otc.edu to complete the process. When applying for admission, select the Associate of Arts (AA) degree. Upon your AITS application being approved, you will be moved into this program of study.

CORE 42 is a statewide general education course of study intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge. CORE 42 specifies the basic competencies and knowledge areas that all students completing degrees at a Missouri public institution of higher education must complete. CORE 42 is comprised of dozens of courses distributed across five knowledge areas. These courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number, which guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education. Please refer to MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

All knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo indicate all courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Choose courses, numbered 100 or higher, from two or more discipline areas to design your unique degree plan.

The 14 elective hours for this category can consist of any course numbered 100 or higher and used for requisites of concentration program courses.

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*Notices and Disclaimers

*Costs displayed are based on current tuition and fee rates for the program’s required credit hours, as approved by the OTC Board of Trustees, and are subject to change without notice. Estimates reflect both in-district and out-of-district residency rates. Actual costs, degree completion time, and credit requirements may vary based on residency, prior credits, elective courses, program updates, and enrollment factors. For additional information on attendance costs, visit Cost of Attendance, tuition and fees or contact us at 417-447-6900.

**Graduation rates vary by individual. For details on program enrollment, retention, exam/certification, and employment rates, visit Student Outcomes / Student Right-to-Know. Some careers on this list may require additional education and training. For program-specific accreditation visit OTC Accreditation.