Richland Community College strives to provide educational opportunities to enable individuals to become contributing members of the workforce.  The workplace has changed with new work hours and work patterns due to improved telecommnications and computer technologies.  Sixty-five percent of new jobs will require post-secondary education and training below the baccalaureat level, and 75% of the current workforce needs training. The information supply available doubles every five years.

An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum of 60 semester credit hours or more intended to prepare individuals for employment in a specific field. It also serves those persons already employed in the field who desire to improve their competencies and achieve an associate's degree. A number of the AAS degrees have been articulated and/or capstoned with four-year institutions for completion of a Bachelor's degree.