85% of our graduates are employed.
30% enjoy upward career mobility.
Program Overview
As a Bellevue College student, OLS students earn an accredited associate degree in Occupational & Life Skills. Students will spend 10-14 hours in the classroom weekly taking courses such as Personal Finance, Healthy Relationships, Writing & Media, Computer Applications, and Workplace Problem-Solving. Class sizes are small, with 12-16 students in each class, allowing for more personalized instruction. Students also complete a 200-hour internship with a local business, and Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.
Students develop a career path for themselves with our support based on their personal goals, values and skills. The program is specific to their self-identified skills, strengths, and passions. Our goal is to help students attain marketable skills for a successful work life. Most students are gainfully employed within three months of graduation.
OLS students grow interpersonal skills and take steps toward greater independence. The confidence they gain at OLS, both onsite and in the community, help students self-advocate and mature so they can become productive community members.
Our Transition to Online Learning
In March 2020, OLS courses moved online under the Washington State Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders. Many students have adjusted seamlessly and even prefer online classes.
Additionally, the structure provided by OLS for their daily routine is highly valued by our students and families. As a
program, we reinforced our student support team and will continue to do so to guarantee the success of those students who may struggle with the online model.
Information on Fall Quarter 2020
Following Bellevue College safety guidelines, the Fall Quarter will be offered online. But rest assured: we are ready for new students entering the program in September. These are some of the steps we are taking to ensure your success:
- Orientation will be extended in order to provide tutorials and ‘how-to’ instruction prior to the quarter beginning
- We are increasing instructor/staff support in order to get our new cohort on board with online learning.
- Our Fall curriculum is specifically designed to target executive functioning deficits, so we are well equipped to
address those issues.
In addition to our preparation for the academic portion of our program, social connection is very important to our program and the health of our students.
- OLS courses are live and interactive via Microsoft Teams.
- We have facilitated many different ways for students to connect with each other such as student-led clubs and
virtual family meetings.
Find out more about who our students are by visiting our OLS Students page and watching our Student Testimonials videos. You can see an overview of OLS Courses on our Curriculum page.
Last Updated June 10, 2020
