Academic Information

LWTech.edu/academics

Degrees and Certificates

LWTech awards degrees and certificates as outlined below. 

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degrees

LWTech offers ten applied bachelor degrees:

• Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management - Entrepreneurship
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Healthcare
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Design
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Gaming and Interactive Media
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology: Computing and Software Development
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management.

The applied bachelor degree is awarded for completion of at least 180 credits, including at least 60 credits of 300 and 400 level coursework. An Applied Associate degree (AAS or AAS-T), Direct Transfer Associate Degree (DTA), or equivalent credits (minimum 90 credits) from a regionally accredited institution in a related field with the required distribution of general education coursework is a prerequisite for program admission. Other program admission requirements can be found at LWTech.edu/bachelors and on each BAS program page in the catalog.

To submit an application for a BAS degree, a minimum of 30% of the technical credits must be earned in residence.

A minimum passing numeric grade (2.0 or higher) in each upper division course that receives a numeric grade and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all upper division courses are required for the applied bachelor degree.

Major Related Programs (Transfer Degrees)

The Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) and Associate in Science - Transfer/Major Related Program (AS-T/MRP) degrees are transfer degrees for students wishing to pursue bachelor degrees at four year institutions. Completing these degrees prepares students to transfer with junior status to participating colleges and universities. Degrees available are in Biology, Business, Computer Science, Construction Management, Math Education, Pre-Engineering, and Pre-Nursing. 

DTA/MRP and AS-T/MRP degrees must contain a minimum of 90 credits. The number of credits required varies with each program.

To submit an application for a DTA/MRP or an AS-T/MRP degree, a minimum of 30% of the credits must be earned in residence.

A minimum passing numeric grade (2.0 or higher) in each course that receives a numeric grade, and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all courses, is required for the DTA/MRP degree.

Associate of Applied Science Transfer (AAS-T) Degree

The AAS-T degree must contain a minimum of 90 credits. The number of credits required varies with each program.

An AAS-T degree is built upon the technical courses required for job preparation but also includes a college-level general education component, common in structure for all such degrees. These degrees are consistent with the dual purpose of transfer and preparation for direct employment.

The AAS-T degree must contain a minimum of 25 credits of transferable general education courses including written communication (ENGL& 101 ; 5 credits), quantitative reasoning (any generally transferable math course with intermediate algebra as a prerequisite; 5 credits), social science (5 credits), natural science (5 credits), and humanities (5 credits).

To submit an application for an AAS-T degree, a minimum of 30% of the technical credits must be earned in residence.

A minimum passing numeric grade (2.0 or higher) in each course that receives a numeric grade, and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all courses, is required for the AAS-T degree.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

An AAS degree must contain a minimum of 90 credits. The number of credits required varies with each program.

The AAS degree must contain a minimum of 20 credits of general education courses, including instruction in written communication (ENGL& 101; 5 credits), quantitative reasoning (5 credits), social science (5 credits), and humanities (5 credits).

To submit an application for an AAS degree, a minimum of the last 30% of the technical credits must be earned in residence.

A minimum passing numeric grade (2.0 or higher) in each course that receives a numeric grade, and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all courses, is required for the AAS degree.

Certificate of Proficiency

A Certificate of Proficiency is issued to students completing a program of specialized occupational training of 45 credits or longer. The number of credits varies with each program.

At least 15 credits of general education, including instruction in written communication (5 credits), quantitative reasoning (5 credits), and social science (5 credits), are required along with the technical requirements listed in the catalog.

To submit an application for a Certificate of Proficiency, a student must have completed a minimum of 30% of the technical credits at Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

A minimum passing numeric grade (2.0 or higher) in each course that receives a numeric grade, and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all courses, is required for the Certificate of Proficiency.

Certificate of Completion

A Certificate of Completion is issued by Enrollment Services to students who satisfactorily complete the competencies and requirements for programs of less than one academic year, less than 45 credit hours in length, which does not necessarily include related instruction.

To submit an application for Certificate of Completion, a student must have completed all technical credits in residence at Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

A minimum passing numeric grade (2.0 or higher) in each course that receives a numeric grade, and a cumulative average of 2.0 in all courses is required for a Certificate of Completion.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s total liability for claims arising from a contractual relationship with the student in any way related to classes or programs shall be limited to the tuition and expenses paid by the student to the college for those classes or programs. In no event shall the college be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to, loss of earnings or profits. 

Additional Notes Regarding Degrees and Certificates

In the absence of a choice of program, students will be assigned to a program code that matches their course selection.

Students can choose to graduate under the catalog currently in effect or the catalog in effect when they started in the program, as long as that catalog is no more than seven years old.

Global Outcomes

Lake Washington Institute of Technology identifies five Global Outcomes - institution wide student learning outcomes - that all students graduating from LWTech should have to be successfully prepared for today’s careers and tomorrow’s opportunities. The five Global Outcomes are Communication, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Intercultural Appreciation, and Teamwork.

Each long certificate and degree program includes coursework used to assess student performance in these global outcomes:

Communication

The ability to engage effectively in verbal, non-verbal, written, and/or symbolic expression.

Critical Thinking

The ability to evaluate information, draw inferences, arrive at conclusions, and create solutions based on objective analysis of the evidence.

Information Literacy

The ability to recognize when information is needed, to choose the appropriate tools to locate the required information, and to effectively gather and evaluate the information.

Intercultural Appreciation

The ability to describe and demonstrate the value of cultural differences and commonalities among people and to recognize and respond to those differences and commonalities in the workplace and the learning environment. Differences and commonalities include, but are not limited to, ethnicity, age, gender, ability, life experiences, family situation, race, and sexual orientation.

Teamwork

The ability to participate actively and cooperatively in a group to advance a common goal.

Basic Education for Adults

Technology Building, T217 | (425) 739-8363

LWTech.edu/adult-education

Students come to LWTech with skills at varying levels, and some students need to improve their academic skills in order to be successful in college certificate and degree programs. The college offers developmental education to many students who:

• have been out of school a long time and wish to brush up on basic skills
• need to improve basic reading, writing and mathematics skills before enrolling in other college courses
• are from non-English speaking countries and wish to improve their English abilities
• may already have adequate skills but wish to improve them further
• wish to finish their high school education

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

Adult Basic Education helps students improve their reading, writing, and math skills to begin work toward a high school diploma or transition into the college’s workforce or academic programs. Courses are offered both day and evening, and all of them allow students to study and complete some of their lessons online. All new students need to take a placement test, attend a program orientation class, register, and pay $25.

Adult High School Completion Pathway (HS+)

The High School+ program believes all community members should have the chance to earn their high school diploma. HS+ is a competency-based program for students who are at least 21 years old. This program turns life experience into high school credits and allows students to demonstrate their knowledge in several ways, including work, life and military experience. After this prior learning is evaluated, students then fill in any gaps in their credit requirements by taking courses on such topics as math, government, science, and literature. Completion of a Washington State high school diploma prepares students to enter one of LWTech’s workforce or academic programs, and it may help them obtain the financial support to attend college.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

The ESL program serves refugees and immigrants through day and evening classes offered at the Kirkland campus. The program offers English language learning at all levels, from beginning to advanced, for students who want to improve their English and become better parents, workers, and community members, or who want to transition to the college’s workforce or academic programs. ESL at LWTech also offers classes on special topics such as healthcare and how to conduct business in the United States, and many classes allow students to study and complete some of their lessons online. All new students need to take a placement test, attend a program orientation class, register, and pay $25.

Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST)

I-BEST is a nationally-recognized model that allows advanced ESL and ABE students to begin their college workforce or academic studies right away. It does this by having students work with two teachers in the same classroom, with one teacher presenting job skills or academic lessons and the other assisting students with building their basic skills in reading, writing, math, speaking, and listening. Students learn several topics at once, earning college credits and moving faster toward their career or education goals.  LWTech I-BEST allows students to enter academic transfer degree programs as well as workforce programs in manufacturing, allied health, and business. Information about the I-BEST program can be found in the Transitions Office housed in the Technology Building, T217.

High School Programs

Lake Washington Institute of Technology offers a number of options for high school age students. As requirements for entry and completion are subject to change, please visit High School Programs at LWTech.edu/academy for current information.

International Programs and Global Education

International Programs and Global Education provides diverse services and programs for international students. These services and programs include: immigration and academic advising, class registration, orientation, medical insurance enrollment, cultural adjustment support, and assistance with applying for Optional Practical Training work experience.

Many international students begin their studies in the Intensive English Program before progressing to academic programs. Students who have not completed high school in their own country may be eligible for the International High School Completion Program, allowing them to take courses that will help earn high school and college credits at the same time. For more information about International Programs and Global Education, please see LWTech.edu/international

eLearning

elearning@lwtech.edu

There are three types of eLearning courses. Each type requires the same amount of course work per credit hour, but there are differences in how much is conducted in the classroom versus online.

Web Enhanced

These classes are conducted with a traditional classroom schedule and utilize online systems for activities such as posting class announcements and grades or submitting assignments.

Hybrid

These are classes that replace some - but not all - classroom time with online learning. For instance, a class that would ordinarily meet five days a week might meet three days a week and substitute online activities to replace the other two class sessions.

Online

These are classes conducted 100% online. Students should expect to spend several hours each week working online during the quarter, and never meet their instructor face-to-face. Online classes include scheduled assignments and activities and are not typically self-paced.

Before enrolling in an online course, consider the following:

1. Do You Have Your Own Computer and Internet Access at Home? It is very important for students in online or hybrid classes to have reliable access to a computer with an internet connection. If you do not have access to these at home or work, you can use the student computer labs on campus when they are open and available. For online or hybrid classes, you may need to spend 2-3 hours at a time at the computer, several days each week.
2. How Are Your Technology Skills? A student in a fully online class needs to be able to: use email; use web browsers; use word processing software; download files; create attachments; and solve problems that may arise by doing tasks such as clearing browser histories, clearing cookies, and adjusting browser plugins. If you do not have these skills, you may be better suited to hybrid and web-enhanced courses, rather than fully online courses. In addition, we recommend you find the tutoring, resources, or basic classes you need to learn the above skills to be fully successful in web-enhanced and hybrid courses.
3. How Comfortable Are You With Asking for Help When You Need It? In an online course, you need to be able to research answers from the materials the instructor has provided, as well as communicate via email or discussion posts with your instructor and fellow students. Students who are most successful in online and hybrid courses are comfortable finding help and asking for support when they need it.
4. How Much Time Do You Have to Devote to an Online Class, Working at a Computer with an Internet Connection? In a typical online course, you will spend 10-15 hours per week online completing coursework. Online classes have the same work load as face to face classes, without dedicated classroom time to complete coursework. Students in online classes need to be able to organize and plan how they will accomplish these tasks independently.
5. Do You Have the Soft Skills That Contribute to Success in Online Learning? Students who are successful in online courses usually have the following skills:

• self-motivation, self-discipline, and organization
• effective time management
• strong reading comprehension
• strong writing
• comfort participating in online class discussions and providing feedback
• interest in and curiosity about new technologies

Cooperative Education

Cooperative education is a process that draws upon community resources to expand students’ learning outside the classroom. It offers students the opportunity to blend classroom theory with planned, supervised field experience in areas relating to their career choices. They work with a cooperative education coordinator, faculty member and employer to identify and develop specific skills and learning goals to be gained through the encounter.

Students work on paid, or in some cases, unpaid training assignments while integrating specific periods of on-campus study with employment.

Students may be able to apply their current job experience, if related to a career choice, toward a certificate or degree. Cooperative education experience may substitute for some coursework to meet personal needs. For more information on Cooperative Education, students should contact their faculty adviser.

Credits and Credit Load

The academic year is divided into three quarters of approximately eleven weeks each, while also running an eight-week summer quarter (the length of individual courses may differ). In order to complete certificate or degree requirements in the prescribed number of quarters, a suggested course load per quarter will be approximately 15 to 20 credits. A lecture class which meets five hours per week for one quarter typically yields five quarter credits. Lab courses require ten hours of class time per week for five credits. Special permission is needed to carry more than 21 credits.

Full- and Part-Time Student Status

Students enrolled in 12 or more credits are considered full-time. Some programs may require higher quarterly credit loads to complete requirements in a specified time period. Some external agencies may use different credit values to calculate full-time status.

Students registered for fewer than full-time credits as defined above are considered part-time.

NOTE: For financial aid purposes, the financial aid office should be consulted for definitions of three-quarter time, half-time, and less than half-time because the level of enrollment affects aid eligibility.

Graduation

The student is responsible for working with his or her advisor to meet all degree or certificate requirements. Automated degree checks are available for various academic programs and time periods through online services on the campus website.

To receive a preliminary evaluation before the final quarter starts, students must apply to graduate by the second week of the preceding quarter. Students should apply to graduate by the fourth week of the preceding quarter. Applications received after that may be deferred to a future quarter.

Commencement is held yearly in June. Students who complete a program during the preceding summer, fall, winter and spring quarters, or the following summer, are invited to participate.

Graduation is recorded on student transcripts two-to-four weeks after the end of the student’s final quarter. Diplomas are sent to students four to six weeks after the end of the final quarter.

Some programs offer other special awards that are not posted to the transcript.

In accordance with state law, students are expected to complete their degree and certificate programs within a suitable length of time or number of credits. See Enrollment Services  or the student handbook for details.

Grading

LWTech uses a numeric grading system for most courses. Instructors may report grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments and the grade of 0.0. Grades in the range of 0.6 to 0.1 are not assigned. A grade of 0.7 earns credits; however, a minimum grade of 2.0 is required for a number of purposes including technical courses, academic core requirements, progression in a sequence of classes, to satisfy a prerequisite, and graduation requirements. Typically transfer into another institution requires at least a 2.0. Numerical grades and performance may be considered as follows:

I - Incomplete

An incomplete grade may be given if the student is doing passing work, is unable to complete the requirements of the course during the quarter, and can complete the requirements within a contracted period of time. The student does not re-register for the course in a later quarter to remove the incomplete within the contracted period of time.

When an I (Incomplete) grade is given by an instructor, a contract is filed with Enrollment Services stating: 1) the work necessary to remove the Incomplete, 2) a date for completion, and 3) the grade earned if not completed. Incomplete coursework must be completed by the required date as established by the instructor (this date may be no later than the end of the subsequent quarter of enrollment, with the exception of courses taken in spring quarter, which must be completed before the end of fall quarter). The student may not register for the course in a later quarter to remove the incomplete grade. The Incomplete will be changed to a 0.0 or to the grade assigned on the contract the quarter following the contracted date.

N - Audit

Audit means the student registered on a space-available basis to attend the class and to listen, but not do graded work. The N grade does not earn credit and does not affect the GPA. The audit grade option must be approved by the instructor and submitted to Enrollment Services by the eighth week of the quarter.

NG - No Grade

NG means the course is “not graded” for any student taking the course. This applies, for example, to some non-credit courses. It would not appear on graded, credit courses. NG does not affect the GPA and does not earn credits. It does not indicate whether a student attended, just that the student enrolled.

R - Repeating a Course

The qualifier R on a transcript means a course has been repeated and is excluded from credits and grade point average. A student may repeat any course regardless of the grade received; however, financial aid and other funding sources may not cover the repeat of a course in which a passing grade (2.0 or higher) was earned. It is the student’s responsibility to determine funding for the repeat course. All grades will still appear on the transcript whether repeated or not. If the most recent grade is lower than the earlier grade, the higher grade will count in the overall GPA.

S/U - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

S/U grading is used for work experience, clinical, and skill development courses. The S indicates a satisfactory level of performance by the student. By assigning an S grade, the instructor certifies a performance level of at least a 2.0 or higher. Credit is earned but the S does not affect the GPA calculation. A U grade is assigned when the level of performance is below 2.0. A U grade does not earn credit and does not affect the GPA.

W - Withdrawal

A student may officially withdraw from any course through the eighth week of the quarter (or the equivalent for a short course or courses with irregular start or end dates) by completing a withdrawal form and submitting it to Enrollment Services. Official withdrawals occurring after the tenth instructional day of the quarter are posted with a W on the student’s permanent transcript. Withdrawals do not count in the GPA calculations and cannot be assigned by faculty in the grading process.

Y - In Progress

A Y grade is given to students who are doing passing coursework in basic skill classes (ABE, ESL, etc.) but need additional instruction and time to complete course requirements. Students are required to re-register for the course and pay all tuition and any other charges. The Y remains on the transcript for the quarter assigned, while the final grade will be posted to the quarter in which the student re-enrolled in the course. The Y grade earns no credit and does not affect the GPA.

Z - Unofficial Withdrawal

Students who attend briefly, rarely, or not at all, and who fail to withdraw from a course with a W grade, may be assigned a grade of Z if appropriate in the judgment of the instructor. The Z grade does not earn credit and does not count in the GPA calculation.

* (Asterisk)

This symbol (asterisk) means the grade has not been assigned yet. The student should consult with his or her instructor. This grade does not affect the GPA and does not earn credits. Note however that a * grade could prevent a student from receiving honors, impede financial aid eligibility, block graduation, or result in a student being considered in academic difficulty. It is important that all enrolled courses be assigned valid grades.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average indicates the general achievement of the student. The quarterly GPA includes only classes for that specific quarter; the cumulative GPA includes all classes which comprise the student’s academic history at LWTech. GPA is calculated by dividing the grade points by the number of credits of the courses for which the student was awarded a decimal grade. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of credits by the numeric value of the grade for each course. The calculation does not include courses for which the student was awarded Z, Y, N, W, I, S, U, or other non-decimal grades.

Example:

The GPA is calculated for each quarter and also for all quarters combined, which is referred to as a cumulative GPA. Contact Enrollment Services if you have questions about your GPA.

Grade Changes

Grades may be changed by instructors only in cases of clerical errors or subsequent completion of coursework. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a grade change with the instructor. A grade change form must be completed, signed by the instructor, and submitted to Enrollment Services before a grade change becomes official. Students have 60 days from the end of the quarter to request a grade change (deadlines for Incomplete grades differ).

Grade Appeals

Students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic progress and following course procedures established by instructors. The purpose of allowing a grade appeal is to protect students from prejudiced, arbitrary, or capricious academic evaluation. Students are responsible for following the grade appeal process as described in the college’s Policies and Procedures listed on the college website. 

Academic Dishonesty

Also included in the Grade Appeal and Change Procedures is the specific procedure for student appeal of academic dishonesty program dismissal or final grade. Students are responsible for following the procedure outlined there. 

Grade Forgiveness Policy

In order to compensate for the effects of circumstances in a student’s past that may have negatively affected his or her GPA, LWTech offers a grade forgiveness policy. This procedure can be accomplished through an appeal filed with the registrar. The following criteria must be met to be eligible for such an appeal:

1. Grades must be three or more years old.
2. Only quarters including credits graded below a 2.0 may be forgiven.
3. Grade forgiveness can include one or several quarters from a prior census point back, as requested by the student.
4. The student must demonstrate a 2.0 GPA in all decimal graded courses taken after the last date of the period for which a student is requesting forgiveness.

All courses in a given quarter are removed from the GPA but remain on the student’s transcript. This appeal can be requested by turning in a letter of appeal to the registrar in Enrollment Services. A determination will be made whether grade forgiveness is appropriate on a case-by-case basis.

NOTE: Grade forgiveness can only be granted once.

Grades previously forgiven will not be reinstated. Also if a student is transferring to another college, that college may not recognize the grade forgiveness previously granted at Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

Grade Reports

After the end of each quarter, grades can be accessed through the college’s online services. Grades are not mailed out. Official transcripts are available through Enrollment Services and unofficial transcripts are available on the Web. It is important that students check grades at the end of each quarter and address questions promptly. See grade changes above.

Honor Roll

• President’s List requires a 4.0 quarterly grade-point average with a minimum of 12 college-level credits earned cumulatively and 12 credits earned for the quarter.
• Dean’s List requires a 3.7 quarterly grade-point average with a minimum of 12 college-level credits earned cumulatively and 12 credits earned for the quarter.
• Both lists require a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in all coursework.

Honors are awarded at graduation for students who achieve the following cumulative grade point averages:

• Cum Laude = 3.5 = 3.69
• Magna Cum Laude = 3.7 - 3.99
• Summa Cum Laude = 4.00

Each candidate for graduation is assessed at the time graduation is finally approved. Please contact Enrollment Services for further information.

Class Cancelation and Program Closure

The college reserves the right to cancel courses due to unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to low enrollment, loss of an instructor, and change in equipment needs. In all college initiated cancellations, the student will receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees.

If a program is closed, the college will provide a method for current students to finish the degree or certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements within six years of the date of initial enrollment in the closed program. Substitutions for discontinued courses will be permitted upon approval of the Dean of the closed program.