Some degrees focus on theory. Applied degrees prepare you for the real world. That matters because today’s employers want skills, not just strong transcripts.
Ask employers across Canada, and you’ll hear a common concern. More than half say workers don’t have the technical, practical or job-specific know-how to step right into the job. These are the skills that matter on the ground, whether you’re managing a job site, troubleshooting a new technology or caring for patients in a healthcare setting.
If you’ve ever wondered what an applied degree is—or how it compares to a traditional university path—Mohawk College’s programs show how learning by doing helps you stand out in the job market.
What is an applied degree, and why does it matter?
An applied degree is the best of both worlds. It gives you the theory and credential you’d expect from a university bachelor’s program, plus the experience employers are looking for. Instead of focusing only on lectures, an applied bachelor’s degree builds hands-on learning right into the curriculum.
That practical application looks different depending on your program. At Mohawk College, it might mean working in state-of-the-art labs, running simulations or completing work experiences.
Mohawk College’s applied degrees were designed not just to boost practical abilities but to meet Ontario’s growing labour needs. Each program is developed with input from industry partners and focuses on sectors where skilled professionals are in demand, such as business, technology, and healthcare.
How applied bachelor’s degrees incorporate real-world experience
A patient named Apollo has just been admitted to the hospital with heart palpitations, and it’s your job to check his pulse. The setting feels real, and his symptoms are convincing, but Apollo isn’t an actual patient. He’s one of the high-tech simulators that Mohawk College healthcare students train on. It’s just one way the college’s hands-on degrees use simulations to make learning feel real.
Beyond simulations, Mohawk College also offers specialized learning labs where you can observe, test and apply course concepts. In these spaces, you’ll work with the same tools, equipment and technology used in the field. This practice means that when you step into a real workplace, you already know the tools of the trade and can focus on doing the job, not figuring it out for the first time.
The experience doesn’t stop on campus. Mandatory work experience and placements give you the chance to take your learning out into the world and work directly with employers. You’ll apply your knowledge in work settings while building a professional network and exploring different career paths.
Mohawk College has strong partnerships with employers who turn to the college knowing that students can make meaningful contributions. During your mandatory work experience or placement, you won’t be making coffee runs; you’ll tackle tasks that actually matter, enhance your resume and help you become confident.
That kind of preparation shows in the outcomes. Across Ontario, 85.8 per cent of college graduates found work within six months of finishing school in 2022–2023. Of those grads, 76 per cent landed jobs directly in their field in 2023, an increase from 70% in 2013.
What’s the difference between college and university degree experiences?
When it comes to getting ready for a career, colleges and universities take very different paths.
Universities tend to focus on the “why.” They dive deeply into theory, concepts and research to help you understand the reasons behind how things work. Colleges focus on the “how.” Applied degree programs balance theory with experiential learning, so you’re practicing what you study in real time.
It’s not just the approach that’s different. College classes are usually smaller, which means you’re not just another face in a huge lecture hall. Smaller classes give you more chances to interact with professors and instructors, get personalized guidance and build relationships that can lead to job recommendations, networking or job opportunities. Plus, being part of a small class enriches discussions and projects.
Why choose Mohawk College applied degrees?
From healthcare to technology and management, Mohawk College’s applied degrees open doors to real careers. The college currently offers ten applied degrees. They were all developed with input from local industry partners to ensure you gain the skills that are in high demand.
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Trades Management) (Honours): Choose from four pre-mapped pathways—building renovation technology, business – trades, electrician or motive power technician. Depending on your background, you may enter at semester 4 and graduate sooner.
- Bachelor of Management – Sustainability: Sustainability is a three-year applied degree program that combines business education with sustainability leadership and hands-on experience, preparing graduates to succeed in complex sustainability roles.
- Bachelor of Management – Sustainability (Honours): Sustainability is a four-year, applied degree program that blends business leadership with sustainability-focused practices and work integrated experiences, preparing gradua
- Bachelor of Technology Partnership: In four and a half years, earn a university degree, a college advanced diploma, a certificate in business management and 12 months of work experience. Streams include automation engineering technology, automotive and vehicle engineering technology or biotechnology. Applications are done through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
- Bachelor of Technology Partnership (Degree Completion): Upgrade your diploma to a degree in collaboration with McMaster University. Receive two years of credit for previous advanced diploma studies and choose from civil engineering infrastructure technology, manufacturing engineering technology, power and energy engineering technology or software engineering technology streams. Applications are done through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
- Bachelor of Technology – Sustainability: Sustainability is a three-year applied degree that equips graduates with the interdisciplinary knowledge, technical expertise, and hands-on experience in sustainable technologies to succeed in complex sustainability roles.
- Bachelor of Technology – Sustainability (Honours): Sustainability is a four-year applied degree that cultivates advanced technical expertise in sustainable technologies, equipping graduates to drive innovation and lead change across diverse industries.
- Diploma RPN to BScN Degree: Advance your nursing career through this three-year collaborative program with McMaster University. Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) and expand your professional opportunities. Applications are done through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
- Nursing (BScN): Complete this four-year collaborative degree with McMaster University to meet RN registration requirements and launch your nursing career. Applications are done through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
- Medical Radiation Sciences: In four years, earn both an Ontario College Advanced Diploma in Health Sciences from Mohawk College and a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences from McMaster University, specializing in radiography, ultrasonography or radiation therapy. Applications are done through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
Built around real-world experience, Mohawk College’s applied degrees give you more than a credential. They give you the confidence and in-demand skill set to step straight into a career. Learn more about these hands-on degrees.
