Degree Requirements

The Board of Trustees grants the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and Associate of General Studies degrees. Requirements for the degrees include the successful completion of a minimum of sixty-four (64) credit hours and a cumulative GPA of 2.0. To be eligible for graduation, students must have earned at least fifteen (15) of their last twenty-four (24) semester hours from NCCC. Requirements for graduation may be completed during any semester. Any change in graduation requirements must be approved by the chief academic officer.

Remedial and developmental courses (those with course numbers lower than 100) will not count toward the sixty-four (64) credit hours required for the associate degrees.

All students who plan to graduate at the conclusion of any given semester must file an Intent to Graduate form no later than the fortieth (40th) day (the end of the eighth (8th) week) of his/her final semester so that his/her records may be checked to ensure that all graduation requirements have been met. Students who do not apply by this date may not be allowed to graduate.

Candidates for the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing have additional requirements for graduation. See the AAS in Nursing on page 58-59 for more information.

Those students choosing to graduate under the Kansas Transfer Articulation Agreement must meet additional course requirements in completing the AS and AA Degrees.


CATALOG COMPLIANCE

Students have six (6) years to complete their associate degree or certificate requirements under the NCCC catalog that was in use at the time of their first date of attendance. Students have the option of following the degree requirement of any subsequent catalog in place after they begin their studies at NCCC. The 2004-2006 catalog will expire at the end of the 2012 summer session.

For example, those students who take their first college course the Fall 2004 semester will have six (6) years to complete his/her degree under this catalog or no later than Fall 2010. Students beginning their college enrollment the fall 2006 semester under this six (6) year provision will have until the summer of 2012 to complete their degrees under this catalog.


DEGREES OFFERED

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

Associate of Arts (AA) Degree

Associate of General Studies (AGS) Degree

Associate of Science (AS) Degree


Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

The Associate of Applied Science degree is designed for individuals who wish to begin a career upon graduation. Students completing this program will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and a two-year certificate in the occupational specialty.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Specialization and Related Courses/Competencies 42-47 hrs
Specialization courses/competencies from major technical specialty
Related courses/competencies from the following: interpersonal skills (employability skills), courses from other disciplines

Computer Literacy Proficiency 1-3 hours
Note: A test-out option is available which forgives the requirement but does NOT replace the needed credit hours

General Education Courses/Competencies 12-25 hours
A. English Composition I and Interpersonal Communication - required
B. Other general education courses selected from: math and science, social or behavioral science, arts and humanities, or physical education.

College Orientation 1 hour
May be waived for transfers with 15 credit hours or more
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Associate of Arts (AA) Degree

The Associate of Arts degree is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English, fine arts, education, history, humanities, language, music or social science.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
Communications 9 hours
English Composition I, English Composition II, Fundamentals of Speech

Computer Literacy Proficiency 3 hours                                                                            Note: A test-out option is available which forgives the requirement but does NOT replace the needed credit hours

Natural Science and Mathematics 10-11 hours
A. Two science courses with one course having a lab component; additionally, one of the science courses must be considered a life science and the other must be considered a physical science; and
B. One mathematics including college algebra or a higher level math course

Social and Behavioral Sciences 9 hours
General Psychology and six credit hours from two of the following areas:
Economics, history, geography, political science, psychology, and/or sociology

Arts and Humanities 9 hours
Choose from three areas: art, drama, language, literature, music and humanities (performance/participation classes do not meet this requirement)

Physical Education 1 hour
Lifetime Fitness recommended (courses satisfying this requirement must be lecture-based – activity classes do not meet this requirement)

College Orientation 1 hour
(may be waived for transfer students with 15+ hours)

Program Emphasis 24-26 hours
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Associate of General Studies (AGS) Degree

The Associate of General Studies degree is a terminal two-year degree designed for individuals who do not plan to transfer.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
Communications 9 hours
English Composition I required, plus English Composition II and Fundamentals of Speech

Computer Literacy Proficiency 1-3 hours
Note: A test-out option is available which forgives the requirement but does NOT replace the needed credit hours

Natural Science and Mathematics 6-8 hours
A. One natural or physical science; and                                                                              B. One mathematics including intermediate algebra or a higher level math course

Social and Behavioral Sciences 9 hours

Arts and Humanities 9 hours

Physical Education 1 hour
Lifetime Fitness recommended (courses satisfying this requirement must be lecture-based – activity classes do not meet this requirement)

College Orientation 1 hour
(may be waived for transfer students with 15+ hours)

The remaining credits may be selected from various program emphasis areas recommended by the student’s academic advisor.
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Associate of Science (AS) Degree


The Associate of Science degree is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business, education, engineering, mathematics, social or behavioral science, natural science, or related technologies

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
Communications 9 hours
English Composition I, English Composition II, Fundamentals of Speech

Computer Literacy Proficiency 3 hours
Note: A test-out option is available which forgives the requirement but does NOT replace the needed credit hours

Natural Science and Mathematics 11 hours
A. Two science courses with both having a lab component; additionally, one of the science courses must be considered a life science and the other must be considered a physical science; and
B. One mathematics including college algebra or a higher level math course

Social and Behavioral Sciences 9 hours
General Psychology and six credit hours from two of the following areas:
Economics, history, geography, political science, psychology, and/or sociology

Arts and Humanities 9 hours
Choose from three areas: art, drama, language, literature, music and humanities (performance/participation classes do not meet this requirement)

Physical Education 1 hour
Lifetime Fitness recommended (courses satisfying this requirement must be lecture-based – activity classes do not meet this requirement)

College Orientation 1 hour
(may be waived for transfer students with 15+ hours)

Program Emphasis 24 hours
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