Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland has announced that it will offer two new bachelor degrees beginning in September.

The new degrees will be available in Applied Science in Public Health and Applied Science in Transportation and Logistics Management, with the programs providing a pathway for current workers to upgrade their skills and earn new credentials.

Public Health

The new degree will allow current students in health and social service programs to use their two-year associate’s degree as the first two years of the bachelor-level program. It also provides a pathway for high school students enrolled at the Lake Washington Technical Academy to earn their high school diploma and move directly toward completing their Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees.

“Like our Bachelor of Technology in Applied Design, this Public Health degree combines rigorous academics and well-rounded professional training to give students the skills and credentials needed for success in the public health sector,” said President Amy Morrison Goings. “This new bachelor’s degree will help people move into or further into those careers.”

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health estimates 250,000 new public health workers will be needed in the U.S. by 2020. Shortages are expected both from existing employee retirements and the need for newly trained workers.

Job creation and hiring trends support the need for this new Bachelor’s Degree at LWIT.

The Washington State Employment Security Department estimates a 2.05 percent growth in 2010-2020 for health and social services jobs – more than 300,000 jobs in a variety of healthcare support professions. Additionally, people who hire for local, private businesses and public health agencies indicate they are having difficulty finding four-year graduates.

The Bachelor’s Degree program will be housed in the new 83,000 square-foot Allied Health building on the LWIT Kirkland campus. The building features classrooms, offices, clinical facilities and lecture halls dedicated to allied health education. The College currently offers twelve health and social services degrees, including RN-Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapist Assisting, Occupational Therapy Assisting, Funeral Service Education and Medical Assisting.

Transportation and Logistics Management

Transportation and Logistics Management is a growing industry, with promising career paths, each of which require practical knowledge as well as industry-specific skills.

Enrollment for limited class spaces are open now.

“This Bachelor of Applied Science in Transportation and Logistics Management combines rigorous academics and practical hands-on training to give students the skills and credentials they need for today’s careers and tomorrow’s opportunities,” said President Amy Morrison-Goings. “Our purpose is to be the college of choice for workforce education. The transportation and logistics management area promises many jobs and many career paths. This new bachelor degree will help people move into those careers.”

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, in its 2011 Talent Pipeline Study, estimates that the local manufacturing sector will create more than 18,000 jobs 2014-2019, including jobs in shipping, receiving and traffic, team managers, purchasing agents and logistics.

A recent Washington State Employment Security Department study showed more than 1,500 job openings in such positions as cargo and freight agents, and managers of mechanics, installation, repairs and transportation, general operations and production, purchasing, and sales and service.

Workers who want to upgrade their skills or move into management positions by completing this new degree program come from many industries – road, air, rail and maritime transport; airports, seaports and public transit authorities; manufacturers and trade-related organizations.

College students who could use this new degree program to advance their job possibilities come from such programs as business administration, auto repair, diesel and heavy equipment technician, motorcycle, marine and power equipment technician.

Details about the programs and how to apply for admission will be available at the college Open House 4-7 p.m. on March 6 at the Kirkland campus.