Degree and Certificate Programs

The Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science Degree

Preparation for a Career

Career and technical education programs are designed to prepare students who, at the completion of a program of study listed in this section of the catalog, are planning to enter a chosen career at the semi-professional level. The Associate in Science degree program may also articulate into the bachelor’s degree in a related field of study at a state public university, based on specific program articulation agreements.

Associate in Applied Science degrees are available in some programs, and provide the same career preparation as Associate in Science degrees. Associate in Applied Science programs are not designed to transfer to a four-year institution, but may articulate under special agreements between the College and the university system. For individuals wishing to spend less than two years in career preparation, technical certificate programs are also available in several areas.

The program manager or program chairperson with the approval of the dean of instruction may prescribe deficiency courses, which are necessary for successful completion of the associate in science degree. If students are veterans, a copy of the recommendation must be submitted to the Florida Community College Veterans Affairs Office for certification completion.

The program manager or program chairperson with the approval of the dean of instruction may approve another elective or professional course not listed as an approved elective in the associate in science or associate in applied science degree curriculum, which will apply toward associate in science or associate in applied science degree completion. If students are veterans, it is necessary that such course substitution be submitted to the Veterans Affairs Office for certification completion. A record of the approval will be maintained in their file.

Program Location

Not all of the career and technical education A.S. or A.A.S. degree programs are available at each of the College’s four campuses. However, the General Education Requirements and many of the elective, professional and other required courses are available at all campuses as well as at selected off-campus centers and sites.

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded the associate in science or associate in applied science degree, students must have met the following requirements:

1. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) at Florida Community College in courses eligible toward the associate in science or applied science degree programs (A.S. Florida Community College GPA or A.A.S. Florida Community College GPA).
2. Earned an all-college cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on all courses attempted, including transferred credits. (All college cumulative).
3. Completed at least 25 percent of credit semester hours required for the degree at Florida Community College.
4. Completed a minimum of 60 semester hours, as specified by the degree, of which a minimum of 15 semester hours must be General Education requirements.
5. Earned a grade of at least a “C” in each course used to satisfy the General Education Requirements.
6. Can demonstrate mastery of the Information Literacy Assessment (effective for students entering fall term 2004). Refer to assessment section for more details.

Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.

1. Graduation dates will be the date at the end of the college term in which the students complete the academic requirements for the degree or certificate for which students are applicants. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates, since the grade change is effective as of the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
2. If students expect to complete the coursework under the terms of the catalog in effect during the term of their first registration, they must graduate within five years or they will need to be reassigned to an active catalog. Accordingly, students who enter under this catalog (2004/2005) must graduate by the end of the Summer Term 2009, or they will automatically be reassigned to the 2008/2009 catalog requirements. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the Florida Community College District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
3. The General Education Requirements may be taken on any Florida Community College campus or center.
4. Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite and/or corequisite courses which are listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
5. Students who place into college preparatory courses are required to complete designated college preparatory courses with a grade of “C” or better regardless of program of study.
6. Students enrolling in associate in applied science programs must pass all sections of the placement test before award of an A.A.S. degree, regardless of the degree program’s general education requirements.
7. Degree-seeking students whose native language is not English, who fall below a designated cutoff score on the English as a second language (ESL) entry placement test, will be required to take ESL courses with EAP prefix prior to registering for other college credit classes. The level of these courses will be determined by the entry placement scores. Individual exceptions will be determined by the ESL program manager.

   Degree-seeking students identified as non-native speakers must take an English as a second language (ESL) placement test prior to taking the College’s standard course placement test. Students who place into ESL, as determined by the test, must complete ESL courses before registering for other college credit classes. Non-degree seeking college credit students who plan to take English or reading courses must also meet these requirements. Exceptions to these requirements can be made by the ESL program manager or designee.

General Education Requirements

1.	The general education core for the associate in science and associate in applied science degrees consists of a minimum of 15 semester hours of course work in these broad discipline areas: Communication Mathematics Humanities Social and Behavioral Sciences Natural Sciences
2.	The general education requirements for all associate in science and associate in applied science degree programs consist of a minimum of 3 semester hours in each of the following discipline areas: Communication Category A Humanities Mathematics Social and Behavioral Sciences
3.	The general education core for the associate in science and associate in applied science degrees consists of a minimum of 15 semester hours of course work in these broad discipline areas: Communication Category B Humanities Mathematics Social and Behavioral Sciences Natural Sciences

I. Communication (minimum of 3 semester hours from Category A)

Category A:
ENC 1101	English Composition I
Category B:
ENC 1102	English Composition II: Writing About Non-Fiction Prose
LIT 2000	Introduction to Literature (Fiction)
SPC 2016	Speech Communication for Business and the Professions
SPC 2040	Introduction to Oral Communication
SPC 2600	Fundamentals of Speech Communication

II. Humanities (minimum of 3 semester hours)

HUM 2021	Humanities Forum
HUM 2211	Humanities: The Foundations
HUM 2236	Humanities: Mainstreams of Cultures, 15th to 20th Century
HUM 2250	Humanities: 20th Century Cultural Perspectives
HUM 2410	Humanities of Asia
HUM 2450	Humanities in the Americas
AML 2012	American Literature: Colonial Times to 1900
AML 2022	American Literature: 1900 to Present
ARH 1000	Art Appreciation
ARH 2050	Art History I
ARH 2051	Art History II
ENL 2012	English Literature to 1750
ENL 2022	English Literature Since 1750
FIL 1000	The Movies as Art (Film as Literature)
HUM 2472	Intercultural Explorations
LIT 2100	Great Ideas in World Literature
MUL 1010	Music Appreciation
PHI 2010	Introduction to Philosophy
REL 2000	Introduction to Religion
REL 2300	World Religions
THE 2000	Theatre Appreciation
PHI 2600	Moral and Political Philosophy

III. Mathematics (minimum of 3 semester hours)

*MAT 1033	Intermediate Algebra
*MTB 1314	Mathematics for Information Technology
MAC 1105	College Algebra
MAC 1140	Precalculus Algebra
MAC 1114	College Trigonometry
MAC 1147	Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry
MGF 1106	Mathematics for Liberal Arts I
STA 2023	Elementary Statistics

*May not be used to fulfill the general education requirements for the associate in science degree.
MTB 1314 may be an option for MAT 1033 in some technology programs.

IV. Natural Sciences (individual programs may require a 3 semester hour course in order to fulfill 15 minimum credit hour general education requirement).

Biological Sciences:

BSC 1005	Life in Its Biological Environment
BSC 2085C	Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BSC 2086C	Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BSC 2010C	Principles of Biology I
BSC 2020C	Human Biology
MCB 2010C	Microbiology

Physical Sciences:

CHM 1020	Chemistry for Liberal Arts
CHM 1025C	Introduction to General Chemistry
CHM 1032C	Principles of General Chemistry
CHM 2045C	General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis I
CHM 2046C	General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis II
PHY 1020C	Physics for the Liberal Arts with Laboratory
PHY 2053C	General Physics I

IV. Social and Behavioral Sciences (minimum of 3 semester hours)

DEP 2004	Human Growth and Development
ECO 2013	Principles of Economics I
PSY 1012	General Psychology
SOP 1002	Human Relations
SYG 2000	Introductory Sociology

Selective Access Programs

Dental hygiene, emergency medical services (EMS) technology, emergency medical technology (EMT), health information management, histotechnology, human services (addictions specialization), medical coder/biller, medical laboratory technology, nursing, paramedic, physical therapist assistant, radiation therapy and respiratory therapy programs are selective access programs and have special selection and admission criteria and procedures which may be obtained from the program office as listed in this catalog.

University Transfer

Students who intend to transfer to a state university upper division upon receipt of the associate in applied science degree must satisfy certain additional requirements before being accepted for transfer. These requirements do not affect the award of the associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree by Florida Community College but do affect the ability of the senior institution to accept students with the A.A.S. degree.

Students with A.S.or A.A.S. degrees who plan to transfer to a state university should contact a counselor to determine any additional requirements necessary for transferring.

Co-operative Learning and/or Internship Opportunities Programs

All associate in science, associate in applied science and some certificate programs at Florida Community College require a co-op/internship experience as part of the program of study.

Preparing students for the workplace is the goal of the associate in science and the associate in applied science degree programs at Florida Community College. Not only must students complete degree and certificate programs having mastered occupational skills, but they must also have the interpersonal skills that allow them to contribute and be productive and successful in the workplace. The Co-op and Internship Opportunities Programs allow the student a chance to practice their occupational skills while earning credit towards their degree or certificate.

The internship, which provides the student with real experience in their chosen field of specialization, is an important component in all technical degree programs. Upon completion of these programs, the College is certifying that the student can perform certain job-related skills.

Such certification is not possible unless the student has performed in some type of work environment.

Objectives of the Co-op/Internship Program:

• to gain practical work experience
• to gain insight into the daily functioning of the workplace
• to gain knowledge and understanding of interpersonal dynamics
• to apply the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom
• to exercise ethical responsibilities expected of company personnel
• to personally evaluate these experiences
• to expose the student to the processes involved in acquiring a position

The College does not guarantee employment. Selection of a particular student to fill a job is at the sole discretion of the employer and not within the control of the College. This means the College or any of its representatives cannot guarantee a paid or unpaid co-op/internship placement.