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Section 2.18.01: Policy/Associate Degrees

SUBJECT: Policy/Associate Degrees
SOURCE: Board Policy 303.06 (Board Minutes 1989-90, pp. 368-369), Board Minutes, 2004-2005)

POLICY

303.06 ASSOCIATE DEGREES

303.0601 TRANSFER DEGREES

All A.A. and A.S. degrees shall be transfer degrees leading to the baccalaureate degree, with the area of study determining which degree is awarded. Other than the distinction between the A.A. and A.S. designation, these degrees carry no indication of the student's area of study (major). Absent the approval of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, no A.A. or A.S. degree program shall exceed 60 semester credit hours (exclusive of physical education activity/basic health, orientation, or pre-secondary education course hours that the institution may require). (BR Minutes, 1986-87, p. 370; December, 1995, p.47; February 2005).

303.0602 CAREER DEGREES

Career degrees include the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and Associate of Science in allied health areas (A.S. in designated fields).

Career degrees may be awarded for the completion of two-year collegiate programs designed to prepare students for immediate employment. Selected courses included in these programs may be used for transfer credit. The following are the minimum requirements for career degrees:

  1. Programs shall include a minimum of 21 semester credit hours of general education. This coursework must include components designed to develop oral and written communication, reading computational skills, fundamental mathematics skills and the basic use of computers. At least one course from each of the following areas is required: the humanities/fine arts, the social/behavioral sciences, and natural sciences/mathematics. (BR Minutes, 1989-90, pp. 368-369)
  2. Students shall fulfill the legislative degree requirements but do not have to fulfill the Regents' Test requirements. (BR Minutes, 1989-90, pp. 368-369)
  3. Institutions may increase or supplement these minimum requirements. (BR Minutes, 1989-90, pp. 368-369)
  4. The A.A.S. degree may designate a specific area of study (e.g., A.A.S. in Criminal Justice) or a broad field of study with or without the designation of a specific area (e.g., A.A.S. in Business, A.A.S. in Business: Accounting Option). (BR Minutes, 1989-90, pp. 368-369) The A.A.S. degree offered on a cooperative basis with State Board of Technical and Adult Education institutes may be awarded only in Business, Health, Services, and Technology. Specific areas of study may be designated as options. (BR Minutes, 1989-90, p. 370) The A.S. in allied health areas shall include a designation of the specific area of study (e.g., A.S. in Nursing, A.S. in Respiratory Therapy). (BR Minutes, 1986-87, pp. 370-371)
  5. Including the technical component, which shall be accepted in transfer as "block credit," all cooperative A.A.S. degrees shall include the equivalent of at least four full-time System semesters of study. (BR Minutes, 1989-90, p. 370)
  6. Cooperative A.A.S. degree diplomas shall include the following wording: (Regents' institution) in cooperation with (State Board of Technical and Adult Education institute)... (BR Minutes, 1989-90, p. 370)
  7. Absent the approval of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, no A.A.S. degree program shall exceed 70 semester credit hours (exclusive of physical education activity/basic health or orientation course hours that the institution may require). (BR Minutes, December, 1995, p. 47).

Last update: 07/25/2005


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