ABSTRACT
Baccalaureate degrees are the most popular postsecondary degrees awarded, with US institutions awarding more than 1.5 million of them in 2010. One particular type of baccalaureate degree that has experienced some growth the past few decades has been the applied baccalaureate (AB) degree. Our research confirms these forms of AB exist, but our national studies have also located AB degrees that integrate a liberal arts focus, broadening the students’ learning and pursuits beyond employment. The first phase of research was the design, implementation, and analysis of a national inventory of AB degrees in the public sector. At the conclusion of the first phase, researchers identified several key features of AB degrees that merited closer attention. As a result, the second phase of research featured case studies of six states with unique approaches to AB degrees. The information and analyses from both phases of research contribute to the larger discussion regarding the definition and application of a baccalaureate education.
