Definition and Purpose
The type of articulation used in Tech-Prep programs at El Paso Community College deals with technical competencies mastered in a secondary career and technology course and then transferred and applied to the same competencies required in an entry level college course. The articulation of course work has become a major aspect of Tech-Prep programs at the College. Trends and efforts toward articulation in the 1980s had the potential of dissolving many artificial educational levels. The advantages of articulation clearly outweigh the disadvantages. Secondary and post-secondary school systems are not in competition for the same students. Therefore, one system should complement the other.
Both educational levels inevitably include some of the same instructional content in their respective curricula. Such overlap of content establishes the need for vertical articulation, not only for the students’ benefit, but also for economic reasons. Most educational institutions must start from the beginning and train students for entry-level employment. The challenge is to devise an articulation system that avoids as much duplication of effort as possible while still preserving the integrity and self sufficiency of each program. | 
