The Occupational & Life Skills Associates (OLSA) Degree
The Occupational and Life Skills program is a four-year associate degree developed for neurodiverse students in the lifePATH® program utilizing a cohort model. While the OLSA does not focus on a specific industry, its purpose is to help students develop transferable skills that can be applied to any industry.
During the first two years, students take requisite courses that focus on college-level academic expectations, workforce, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills. After two years, some students exit the lifePATH® OLSA cohort and/or simultaneously pursue other certificate or degree programs offered at Lone Star College, with lifePATH® wrap-around support. Students who remain in their lifePATH® OLSA cohort will spend the last two years learning about professional expectations and applying their soft skill knowledge to the real world while earning both the OLSA and the Business Operations Certificate (C1).
Program Components
Academic Skills
- Strategies for learning success
- Academic skill development
- Academic decision making
Workforce Skills
- Learn hard and soft skills
- Utilize problem solving
- Evaluate strengths and challenges
- Develop strategies for success
Interpersonal Skills
- Interact with diverse people
- Practice perspective taking
- Adjust behavior based on interactions
Intrapersonal Skills
- Identify emotional responses
- Assess personal motives
- Advocate for needs
- Determine relationship levels
Benefits of the OLSA Degree
- Fully Accredited - The OLSA is a unique four-year degree program accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Southwest Association of Colleges.
- Peer Groups - Students take classes as a group which provides the structure and support needed to increase independence and social interactions, while also promoting community and a sense of belonging.
- Specialized Faculty - OLSA courses are taught by instructors utilizing Universal Design for Learning which supports all learning styles.
- Embedded Certifications - Students completing the OLSA also earn a Level 1 Business Operations Certificate. Extra time for mastery of the course content is integrated into these courses.
- Campus Mentorships - Students are paired with faculty and campus leaders to support soft skill development in the areas of career and workplace readiness during years 2 and 3 of the program.
- Community Internships - Students gain community work experience during year 4 of the program allowing them to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and mentoring experience to the business environment.
OLSA Classes
Year 1
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| Effective Communication | Business Composition |
| Learning Framework: 1st Year Experience | Career Cluster Research |
| Human Relations I | Human Relations II |
| Self-Awareness & Personal Change | Interpersonal Relationships |
| Academic Readiness & Review I | Academic Readiness & Review II |
Year 2
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| Networking & Customer Service | Business Composition |
| Mathematic Essentials | Career Path Explorations |
| Business Computer Applications I | Business Computer Applications II |
| Wellness & Lifestyle I | Wellness & Lifestyle II |
| Academic Readiness & Review III | Academic & Readiness Review IV |
| Campus RAMP I |
Year 3
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| Business Principles I | Business Principles II |
| Principles of Business Management I | Principles of Business Management II |
| History of Integration & Advocacy | Self-Determined Career |
| Transition to Career I | Transition to Career II |
| Academic Readiness & Review V | Academic Readiness & Review VI |
| Campus RAMP II |
Year 4
| Fall | Spring |
|---|---|
| Problem Solving & Decision Making I | Problem Solving & Decision Making II |
| Information & Project Management I | Information & Project Management II |
| Community Internship I | Community & Internship II |
| Stress in the Workplace I | Stress in the Workplace II |
| Academic Readiness & Review VII | Academic Readiness & Review VIII |
OLSA Criteria
IQ Assessment Scores of 70 or above in each:
- Full Scale IQ
- Reading Comprehension
- Written Expression or Fluency
- Math Problem Solving or Reasoning
Application Process
- Attend a lifePATH Information Session
- Submit lifePATH Admission Application
- Submit Full & Individual Educational Evaluation or other Disability Evaluation
- Apply to Lone Star College
- Take the Texas Success Initiative (TSIA2) Exam
- Request accommodations for testing through disability services (if required)
Campus Locations
LSC-Tomball
Email: TC-lifePATH@LoneStar.edu
Phone: 281.655.3607
Address: 30555 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball, TX 77375
LSC-Montgomery
Email: MC-lifePATH@LoneStar.edu
Phone: 936.271.6149
Address: 3200 College Park Dr, Conroe, TX 77384