Convert IQueryable list to generic list?

I am trying to call GetScanningLogOnSettings()

that queries a table ScanningDepartments

to get the departments, then instantiate ApplicationLogOnModel

, assign the requested results to a variable in ApplicationLogOnModel

and return the result.

private ApplicationLogOnModel GetScanningLogOnSettings()
   {
       var mesEntity = new MESEntities();
       var departments = from dept in mesEntity.ScanningDepartments
                         select dept.Department.ToList();

       ApplicationLogOnModel depts = new ApplicationLogOnModel()
       {
           Department = departments
       };

       return depts;
   }

      

        
        
        
      

    

This gives me:

"Can not implicitly convert type 'System.Linq.IQueryable<System.Collections.Generic.List<char>>

to'System.Collections.Generic.List<Models.Department>'

Tried converting to lists and I have a little problem.