What is polytechnic education?

Expert Faculty Many university educators have master’s and doctorate degrees, and the same can be said about the faculty at polytechnic institutions. The advantage at a polytechnic institution is that many instructors come to the classroom with vast industry experience and credentials. This means BSC students are gaining valuable knowledge from career professionals in an applied-learning, classroom environment.

Applied Research Research conducted at universities tends to be based on theory- and knowledge-sharing. A polytechnic institution develops meaningful partnerships with industry leaders and stakeholders, and as a result, research projects are designed to solve industry-specific, work-based problems. BSC will engage

WHAT IS

POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION? North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution is an educational model that engages students and industry with hands-on, applied learning to develop workforce-ready knowledge, skills and degrees. This model allows students to combine multiple academic programs (skill sets) to create customized, college degrees with embedded, industry-recognized, stackable credentials. These specialized programs and credentials are created in partnership with industry professionals and can be short term, flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of both the student and industry.

industry leaders in applied-research projects and its findings can be used to develop industry standards and processes, as well as technical improvements that support industry growth and development.

Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILT) At the core of a polytechnic institution is the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model.

These teams, developed in partnership with business and industry stakeholders, offer direct input in the development of programs and services. BILT provides strategic advice and feedback on industry trends and the knowledge, skills and abilities required in the high-demand careers of the future and they impact program curriculum. This is just one of the many reasons polytechnic students have such a high

A polytechnic institution is supported by the private sector because it incorporates industry knowledge and skills into the education of their future workforce and provides a direct transition into the workplace; ultimately producing sustainable economic development on a statewide level.

A polytechnic institution is attractive to students because each career pathway is customizable to their needs, including opportunities to earn credentials, certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees. This process can begin in high school, offering a seamless transition from K-12 to higher education to high-demand career at a considerable cost savings to the student, taxpayer and private sector.

employment rate. Graduates have the most up-to-date skills that industry leaders and employers are seeking, making them workforce ready.

North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution creates a mechanism where the public and private sector can mutually benefit by leveraging the public resources that already exist.

WHY

POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION? There is one key principle that sets a polytechnic institution like Bismarck State College apart from traditional institutions, and it can be summed up in just a few words: HANDS-ON, APPLIED LEARNING. A polytechnic institution combines the in-depth theory typically found at universities with practical, career and technical education typically found at community or technical colleges. Polytechnic institutions typically focus on undergraduate degrees and offer a wide variety of certificate, associate and bachelor’s degree programs with lower admission requirements, smaller class sizes and lower tuition.

Real-World Experience It’s not uncommon for colleges and universities to offer internship programs, but a polytechnic institution takes it another step further by introducing students to real-world experiences early in their education – both inside and outside the classroom. BSC actively incorporates work-integrated learning into all degree options. Integrated learning encompasses many opportunities in collaboration with business and industry including service learning, project-based learning, apprenticeships, internships, field experiences and clinicals. Through industry-sponsored projects, learners begin to recognize how their skills are applied to solving industry issues, improving efficiencies and much more.

Because of this, learners at a polytechnic institution are workforce ready on graduation day. They have gained valuable experiences, acquired the career-readiness skills required to be marketable and leave BSC with a competitive advantage.

Here’s a closer look at how learners benefit from a polytechnic education.

Flexible Learning Pathways

While traditional university courses focus on academic disciplines such as English, math and history, polytechnics institutions focus on fusing technologies with hands-on, applied learning in high-priority occupations in a variety of disciplines ranging from manufacturing, energy and agriculture to cybersecurity and health sciences. In addition to traditional undergraduate degrees, polytechnics also provide learners with opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials, certifications, certificates and degrees with apprenticeship options.

Polytechnic education is flexible. Many BSC programs share the same foundational core curriculum, giving students options to pursue short-term certificates, traditional associate degrees or customized, stackable degrees. Part-time options, online/hybrid learning, and evening and weekend programming provide even more flexibility for learners who want to upgrade their skills without sacrificing their personal lives or careers.

STEAM STEAM education is an integrated approach to learning using Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics to guide students and open their minds to the world around them. Advancing on the foundation of STEM – which embraces creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication – STEAM compliments that foundation by further embracing curiosity and innovation.

At a polytechnic institution, hands-on education and experiential learning gives students a unique opportunity to gain an understanding about how they learn. The concepts of STEAM are woven throughout programs that align with business and industry demands. Students develop highly employable skills that are job specific: leadership, initiative, entrepreneurship, reliability, planning and organizing, critical thinking, problem solving, communication and teamwork.

Another unique quality of polytechnic education is that students often learn and work with the same group of peers (known as a cohort) throughout their plan of study. The cohort model emulates typical workplace teams and helps students learn how to closely collaborate with peers, instructors and

The flexibility of a polytechnic education is attractive to learners because each career pathway is customizable to meet students’ needs, including opportunities to earn certificates and associate degrees while still in high school; offering a seamless transition from K-12 to higher education to industry, at a considerable cost savings.

business and industry experts.

WHY

POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION?

Real-World Experience

It’s not uncommon for colleges and universities to offer internship programs, but a polytechnic institution takes it another step further by introducing students to real-world experiences early in their education – both inside and outside the classroom. BSC actively incorporates work-integrated learning into all degree options. Integrated learning encompasses many opportunities in collaboration with

There is one thing that sets a polytechnic institution like Bismarck State College apart from traditional

business and industry including service learning, project-based learning, apprenticeships, internships,

institutions, and it can be summed up in just a few words: HANDS-ON, APPLIED LEARNING.

field experiences and clinicals. Through industry-sponsored projects, learners begin to recognize how their skills are applied to solving industry issues, improving efficiencies and much more.

A polytechnic institution combines the in-depth theory typically found at universities with practical, career and technical education typically found at community or technical colleges. Polytechnic institu-

Because of this, learners at a polytechnic institution are workforce ready on graduation day. They have

tions typically focus on undergraduate degrees and offer a wide variety of certificate, associate and

gained valuable experiences, acquired the career-readiness skills required to be marketable and leave

bachelor’s degree programs with lower admission requirements, smaller class sizes and lower tuition.

BSC with a competitive advantage.

Here’s a closer look at how learners benefit from a polytechnic education.

Flexible Learning Pathways

STEAM

STEAM education is an integrated approach to learning using Science, Technology, Engineering, the

While traditional university courses focus on academic disciplines such as English, math and history,

Arts and Mathematics to guide students and open their minds to the world around them. Advancing

polytechnics institutions focus on fusing technologies with hands-on, applied learning in high-priority

on the foundation of STEM – which embraces creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and

occupations in a variety of disciplines ranging from manufacturing, energy and agriculture to

communication – STEAM compliments that foundation by further embracing curiosity and innovation.

cybersecurity and health sciences. In addition to traditional undergraduate degrees, polytechnics also provide learners with opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials, certifications, certificates

At a polytechnic institution, hands-on education and experiential learning gives students a unique

and degrees with apprenticeship options.

opportunity to gain an understanding about how they learn. The concepts of STEAM are woven throughout programs that align with business and industry demands. Students develop highly

Polytechnic education is flexible. Many BSC programs share the same foundational core curriculum,

employable skills that are job specific: leadership, initiative, entrepreneurship, reliability, planning and

giving students options to pursue short-term certificates, traditional associate degrees or customized,

organizing, critical thinking, problem solving, communication and teamwork.

stackable, degrees. Part-time options, online/hybrid learning, and evening and weekend programming provide even more flexibility for learners who want to upgrade their skills without sacrificing their

Another unique quality of polytechnic education is that students often learn and work with the same

personal lives or careers.

group of peers – known as a cohort – throughout their plan of study. The cohort model emulates typical workplace teams and helps students learn how to closely collaborate with peers, instructors

The flexibility of a polytechnic education is attractive to learners because each career pathway is customizable to meet students’ needs, including opportunities to earn certificates and associate degrees while still in high school; offering a seamless transition from K-12 to higher education to industry, at a considerable cost savings.

and business and industry experts.

Expert Faculty

Many university educators have master’s and doctorate degrees, and the same can be said about the faculty at polytechnic institutions. The advantage at a polytechnic institution is that many instructors come to the classroom with vast industry experience and credentials. This means BSC students are gaining valuable knowledge from career professionals in an applied-learning, classroom environment.

Applied Research

Research conducted at universities tends to be based on theory and knowledge-sharing. A polytechnic institution develops meaningful partnerships with industry leaders and stakeholders, and as a result, research projects are designed to solve industry-specific, work-based problems. BSC will engage

WHAT IS

POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION? North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution is an educational model that engages students and industry with hands-on, applied learning to develop workforce-ready knowledge, skills and degrees. This model allows students to combine multiple academic programs (skill sets) to create customized, college degrees with embedded, industry-recognized, stackable credentials. These specialized programs and credentials are created in partnership with industry professionals and can be short term, flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of both the student and industry.

industry leaders in applied-research projects and its findings can be used to develop industry standards and processes, as well as technical improvements that support industry growth and development.

Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILT)

At the core of a polytechnic institution is the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model.

These teams, developed in partnership with business and industry stakeholders, offer direct input in the development of programs and services. The BILT provides strategic advice and feedback on industry trends and the knowledge, skills and abilities required in the high-demand careers of the future, and they impact program curriculum. This is just one of the many reasons polytechnic students

A polytechnic institution is supported by the private sector because it incorporates industry knowledge and skills into the education of their future workforce and provides a direct transition into the workplace; ultimately producing sustainable economic development on a statewide level.

A polytechnic institution is attractive to students because each career pathway is customizable to their needs, including opportunities to earn credentials, certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees. This process can begin in high school, offering a seamless transition from K-12 to higher education to high-demand career at a considerable cost savings to the student, taxpayer and private sector.

have such a high employment rate. Graduates have the most up-to-date skills that industry leaders and employers are seeking, making them workforce ready.

North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution creates a mechanism where the public and private sector can mutually benefit by leveraging the public resources that already exist.