The Associate of Applied Science degree is awarded to students who complete the requirements of a specific career or professional program outlined in this catalog. These programs consist of 60-76 semester hours. Of the total hours in a program, a representative percentage must include courses designed to ensure competency in writing, oral communication, computer applications, and fundamental mathematics, while also satisfying CVCC core requirements. The remaining hours must be taken in the specific area of concentration and may encompass related courses and electives. This area of concentration must consist of 15 semester hours of coursework, with appropriate prerequisites, above the level of elementary courses. Additionally, coursework in the area of concentration must follow a clear and identifiable sequence. Each career-oriented course and program at CVCC aims to prepare students for a productive and successful career after graduating from the College. Each curriculum includes college-level courses relevant to that particular field, alongside general education courses that provide a well-rounded college education. Each program has been designed with input from a community advisory committee made up of professionals currently working in the field who understand job requirements and job potential. Although the primary objective of career programs is early job entry with growth potential, further education options are available after two years of college. An increasing number of colleges and universities now offer specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree, and credits from these curricula may be transferable to such programs. An Associate of Applied Science degree candidate following a specific Associate of Applied Science program, taking courses in the appropriate sequence under the guidance of a designated program advisor, may be considered to be majoring in that program of study. All Associate of Applied Science degrees will include the following General Education core requirements. Not all courses listed will satisfy these requirements in every program; courses should be chosen to ensure they meet the criteria of an approved program.
Degree Requirements
Area I: Written Composition
Area II: Humanities, Speech and Fine Arts
Area III: Natural Science and Mathematics
Students enrolled in health-related disciplines for which the AAS degree is awarded must take BIO 103 as the prerequisite for BIO 201, BIO 202 and BIO 220 to ensure the transfer of courses within parameters of the AGSC Minimum General Education Semester-Hour Distribution requirements to successfully complete the system-wide biology placement examination.
Area IV: History, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Programs in which the AAS represents the terminal award are not required to complete the six-semester-hour History or Literature sequence in Area IV.
Minimum General Education Requirements
Area V: Professional Core, Technical Concentration, and Electives
Courses appropriate to the degree requirements, occupational or technical specialty requirements, core courses, and electives.
Students planning programs of study for which the AAS does not represent the terminal degree and for which national or regional programmatic licensure and certification are required should be encouraged to integrate the “General Studies” transfer courses whenever possible.