At the beginning of the 21st century, a new knowledge-based economy is emerging. Innovative technology and knowledge-based companies and industries are changing the way we do business and provide services and redefining the forces that contribute to economic success.

At the center of this knowledge and idea based economy are knowledge workers who will fill the high-skill, high-wage jobs that will be used to measure our future economic prosperity.


Youngstown State University is in the knowledge business. You can get the leading knowledge and skills necessary to be successful through our two-year associate degree programs. Our associate degree programs are designed to prepare you for both today and tomorrow's jobs and careers. Most of the jobs that you'll be working at ten or fifteen years from now don't exist yet. They aren't even on the drawing boards. But the people who will get tomorrow's rewarding jobs and careers are those who are preparing for them today.

Many of our associate degree programs provide internship or co-op opportunities; opportunities to work in your field of study or major with some of the best local businesses, agencies, health care facilities, and other industries in the region, while you're learning. The connections you make can boost your career, and the experience you get will make you an attractive job candidate.

Our two-year associate degree programs provide transition directly into our four-year bachelor's degree programs without duplication of coursework or loss of credits upon graduation (2+2 program).

YSU hires many of our faculty directly from business, industry, and the professions. We have some of the smartest people in the field creating our associate degree courses. They're the kind of professionals that you'll be working alongside after graduation. They know all about the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the new Knowledge Economy.