General Catalog 2005-2006

Graduation Requirements

Associate in Science (AS)

Description

The Maricopa County Community College District Associate in Science degree requires 60-64 semester credits for the program of study. The degree includes the following components:

I. General Education: Arizona General Education Curriculum for Science (AGEC-S)
    MCCCD Additional Requirements
II. General Electives

Purpose of the Degree

The Associate in Science degree is designed for students planning to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. In general, the components of the degree meet requirements for majors with more stringent mathematics and mathematics-based science requirements. The degree will transfer as a block without loss of credit to Arizona's public universities and other institutions with district-wide articulation agreements.

The semester credits used to satisfy the MCCCD Associate in Science will apply to university graduation requirements of the university major for which the Associate in Science is designed. Information regarding the articulation of the Associate in Science with majors at the Arizona public universities can be accessed via the following website: http://az.transfer.org/cas/atass/student/modpath.html.

Academic Policies that Govern the Associate in Science Degree

• Completion of the Associate in Science or the AGEC-S provides for exemption from Arizona public university admission requirements for Arizona residents who have a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0 on a 4.0=A scale and a minimum 2.5 on a 4.0=A scale for non-residents.
• The graduation policies within the general catalog must be satisfied for completion of the Associate in Science degree.
• A minimum of 60 semester credits in courses numbered 100 and above to be completed with a grade of "C" or better;
• The General Education Requirements for AGEC-S may be completed in 35 semester credits with the following stipulations
  o Courses can satisfy a Core Area and one or two Awareness Areas simultaneously
  o A courses cannot be used to satisfy more than one Core Area
• General Education Courses can satisfy multiple areas within the degree simultaneously (AGEC-S Core Area, AGEC Awareness Area, MCCCD Additional Requirements, or lower-division courses applicable to the major).
• Effective Fall 2000, the course evaluation and/or general education designation as listed in the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide (CEG) within the Arizona Course Applicability System (AZCAS), is valid for the term in which the student is awarded credit on the transcript. A course evaluation and/or general education designation may be subject to change. Students do have the option to petition for general education evaluations and/or general education designations upon transfer.
• Courses completed at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges to meet AGEC-S requirements must be listed in the Course Equivalency Guide within the Arizona Course Applicability System as an equivalent course, departmental elective credit (XXXXDEC), or general elective credit (Elective) at all Arizona public universities. The course's evaluation and/or general education designation is valid for the term in which the student is awarded credit on the transcript. See the list titled MCCCD Courses That Can Be used to Satisfy MCCCD AGEC-A, AGEC-B, and/or AGEC S for specific course information via the following website: http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/academic/curric/
• Courses completed at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges to meet the General Electives requirement must be listed in the Course Equivalency Guide (CEG) within the Arizona Course Applicability System (AZCAS) as an equivalent course, departmental elective credit (XXXDEC), or general elective credit (Elective) at all Arizona public universities. For appropriate course selection, students should consult with an advisor.
• Courses transferred from another regionally accredited institution to one of the Maricopa Community Colleges will be evaluated by the college for inclusion in the AGEC-S or Associate in Science Degree.
• Courses and their modular equivalents will satisfy AGEC-S and Associate in Science requirements.
• If a course is cross-referenced with one or more other courses, then only one of the cross-referenced courses will be accepted to meet requirements.

Degree Requirements

The 60-64 semester credits required for the Associate in Science follow. See the list titled MCCCD Courses That Can Be used to Satisfy MCCCD AGEC-A, AGEC-B, and/or AGEC S for specific course information via the following website: http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/academic/curric/ This list identifies the courses in alpha-order by prefix as well as the Core Areas and Awareness Areas where the course will apply. For purposes of clarifying requirements in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences areas on the list and the AGEC requirements, an A, B, and/or S character may follow the [MA], [SQ], [SG] general education designations and refers to the specific AGEC.

I. MCCCD General Education

The MCCCD General Education includes two areas: MCCCD AGEC-S and MCCCD Additional Requirements.

MCCCD AGEC S

1. Core Areas: 35

a. First-Year Composition (FYC) - 6
b. Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] - 3
c. Mathematical Studies [MA/CS] - 6

To complete the Mathematical Studies requirement, select one course to satisfy Mathematics [MA] S and a second course from Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS].
1) Mathematics [MA] S (3 credits)
Select a calculus course MAT220 or MAT221, or any mathematics course for which MAT220 or MAT221 is a prerequisite. AND
2) Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3 credits)

d. Humanities and Fine Arts [HU] - 6

Students are encouraged to choose course work from more than one discipline for a total of six semester credits.

e. Social and Behavioral Sciences [SB] - 6

Students are encouraged to choose course work from more than one discipline for a total of six semester credits.

f. Natural Sciences [SQ/SG] - 8

To complete the Natural Sciences requirement:
Select eight (8) semester credits of either general chemistry CHM151 & CHM151LL, and CHM152 & CHM152LL OR
Eight (8) semester credits of university physics PHY115 & PHY116, or PHY121 & PHY131 OR
Eight (8) semester credits of general biology, BIO181 & BIO182 appropriate to the major.

2. Awareness Areas:

Students must satisfy two Awareness Areas: Cultural Diversity in the United States [C] and either Global Awareness [G] or Historical Awareness [H]. However, it is not necessary for students to exceed thirty-five semester credits to complete the Awareness Areas because courses can satisfy a Core Area and one or two Awareness Areas simultaneously. Therefore no additional semester credits are required to satisfy the two Awareness Areas.

Cultural Diversity in the United States [C] AND
Global Awareness [G] OR
Historical Awareness [H]

3. MCCCD Additional Requirements 0-6

Students must satisfy Oral Communication and Critical Reading areas. However, it is not necessary for students to exceed the thirty-five semester credits required in order to complete the MCCCD Additional Requirements because courses can satisfy a Core Area and MCCCD Additional Requirements simultaneously. Therefore no additional semester credits are required to satisfy Oral Communication and Critical Reading.

a. Oral Communication

A total of three (3) semester credits is required for Oral Communication. However, if students select a communication course that satisfies both the Oral Communication area and an area within the Core, then the Oral Communication requirement has been satisfied and additional electives may be taken.

Select from the following options:
COM100 [SB] (3 credits) OR
COM100AA & COM100AB & COM100AC [SB] (3 credits) OR
COM110 [SB] (3 credits) OR
COM110AA & COM110AB & COM110AC [SB] (3 credits) OR
COM225 [L] (3 credits) OR
COM230 [L] [SB] (3 credits)

b. Critical Reading

A total of three (3) semester credits is required for the Critical Reading area. However, if students complete CRE 101 and apply it to AGEC-S Core Requirements or if the students demonstrate proficiency through assessment, then the Critical Reading requirement has been satisfied and additional electives may be taken.

CRE101 [L] OR
equivalent as indicated by assessment

II. General Electives

Select courses to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits.

For students who have decided on a major that articulates with the AS, but who are undecided on the university to which they will transfer, courses satisfying the General Electives area should be selected from the list of Common Courses, Arizona Transfer Pathway Guides, and/or University Transfer Guides in order for the courses to apply in the major upon transfer.

The list of Common Courses for each major is included in the Arizona Transfer Pathway Guides. University Transfer Guides are also available for the Arizona public universities. These guides, both statewide and institutional, are accessible on the following web site: http://az.transfer.org/cas/students/transfer_guides.htm

Students must select MCCCD courses that are acceptable as an equivalent course, departmental elective credit (XXXXDEC), or general elective credit (Elective) at all Arizona public universities according to the Arizona CEG within the AZCAS. For appropriate course selection, students should consult with an advisor.

For some majors, students must demonstrate 4th semester proficiency at the 202 course level to satisfy the Non-English Language Requirements. Students should consult the Arizona Transfer Pathway Guides and/or the University Transfer Guides to determine this requirement for the major at the university to which they intend to transfer. If required, it is recommended that students choose Maricopa courses as electives to meet this requirement as part of the Associate in Science degree.

Students who are undecided on a major or university should consult an advisor. Not all majors have common courses, so it is recommended that students consult with an advisor for a list of common courses or assistance with selecting appropriate electives.

Associate in Science Total Credits: 60-64

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