The Applied Baccalaureate Degree: The Right Time and Place

The applied baccalaureate degree, which integrates once-terminal applied associate degrees and course work into a four-year degree, is a relatively new phenomenon in higher education. This article presents findings from the first of two phases of research conducted—utilizing Kingdon's (1995) Multiple Streams framework—exploring the status of these degrees in both traditional associate- and baccalaureate-granting institutions and the policy context surrounding their implementation. Results of two purposefully chosen state-level cases showed implementation of applied baccalaureate degrees happens when an individual or a group of individuals drives the conversation toward the adoption of such degrees. It is a combination of the right time and place, as well as the right people, that make the applied baccalaureate degree a reality.