Compass Career Pathways

Launch and Overview of the Program

Compass Career Pathways began in response to developing the first Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) in Alaska. As the design and implementation planning progressed within the Kodiak College faculty for apprenticeships, it became obvious that this program would be an ideal fit for any individual seeking an innovative approach to completing their degree. The program focuses on best practices in education, such as purposefully pairing courses that have complementary content, and helping students to make connections across higher education disciplines.

Delivery Model

The Compass Career Pathways program offers two short, complementary 8-week courses twice a semester, so finding a balance between work, family, friends, and college is manageable.
Students make consistent progress toward their degree because they are still following full-time, 12 credit schedules.
Not all courses are well-suited to an intensive format for specific learners, so students are welcome to “mix and match” between 8-week and traditional 16-week classes to met their personal needs and schedules.

two people walking

Benefits

While shorter classes are more intensive, students’ focus is less divided, and research has shown that students tend to be more successful in shorter college courses.
A purposeful pairing of courses offered during the same 8-weeks allows content to be reinforced in both courses with complementary overlap in some materials and assignments.
Additionally, some courses will provide ways for students to demonstrate current competencies (written or oral examinations) allowing for progressing more quickly.

Courses Taken in the First Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Fall 2024, 1st 8-weeks	COMM A241: Public Speaking	COMM GER
Fall 2024, 1st 8-weeks	EDEC A105: Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood Education	Social Sciences GER

Courses Taken in the Second Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Fall 2024, 2nd 8-weeks	ANTH A200: Alaska Native Cultures	Diversity & Inclusion GER, Alaska Native-Themed GER, Social Sciences GER
Fall 2024, 2nd 8-weeks	ART A160: Art Appreciation	Diversity & Inclusion GER, Fine Arts GER.

Courses Taken in the First Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Spring 2025, 1st 8-weeks	WRTG A111: Writing Across Contexts	Written Communication GER
Spring 2025, 1st 8-weeks	PSY A111: Introduction to Psychology	Social Sciences GER

Courses Taken in the Second Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Spring 2025, 2nd 8-weeks	BIOL A102: Introductory Biology	Natural Sciences GER
Spring 2025, 2nd 8-weeks	COMM A241: Public Speaking	COMM GER

Depending on placement with ALEKS

Semester Options
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Spring 2025, 16-weeks	MATH A055: Elementary Algebra	Developmental Math
Spring 2025, 16-weeks	MATH A105: Intermediate Algebra	Developmental Math

Courses Taken in the First Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Fall 2025, 1st 8-weeks	WRTG A212: Writing in the Professions	Written Communication GER
Fall 2025, 16-weeks	STAT A200 Elementary Statistics	Quantitative Skills GER

Note that in this semester students will take a total of three classes. Statistics is 16 weeks.

Courses Taken in the Second Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Fall 2025, 2nd 8-weeks	AKNS A201: Alaska Native Perspectives	Diversity & Inclusion GER, Humanities GER, Alaska Native-Themed GER DEED Teacher Alaska Studies Requirement
Fall 2025, 16-weeks	STAT A200 Elementary Statistics	Quantitative Skills GER

Courses Taken in the First Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Spring 2026, 1st 8-weeks	HIST A 131: History of the US I	Diversity & Inclusion GER, Humanities GER
Spring 2026, 1st 8-weeks	MATH A211: Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I	Elementary and Special Education

Courses Taken in the Second Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Spring 2026, 2nd 8-weeks	GEOL A111: Planet Earth	Natural Sciences GER
Spring 2026, 2nd 8-weeks	PSY A150: Lifespan Development	Social Sciences GER

Courses Taken in the First Eight Weeks
Semester	Course	Course Attributes
Fall 2026, 1st 8-weeks	MATH A211: Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I	Education Major
Fall 2026, 1st 8-weeks	EDFN A300 Philosophical and Social Context of American Education	ED Capstone GER, DEED Teacher Multicultural Requirement

References

Banks Street College of Education. (2022, Spring 5). Registered apprenticeship programs and teacher residences: Building shared understandings between workforce development and education. https://educate.bankstreet.edu/pt/37/
Liberman, M. (2019, January 29). The long and short of online courses. Inside Higher Education. https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2019/01/30/institutions-experiment-shorter-online-courses-audience
Barber, J. P. (2020) Facilitating the integration of learning: Five research-based practices to help college students connect learning across disciplines and lived experience. Taylor & Francis Group.