Certificates

Occupational and Technical Programs List

Basic Certificate

A basic certificate is an award for satisfactory completion of a series of courses totaling 30 semester credit hours or less. Those programs that have only a basic certificate are designed to provide the necessary skills to obtain an entry-level position. For programs that have a basic certificate as part of a degree, the certificate is an award for satisfactorily completing a series of courses.

Advanced Certificate

An advanced certificate is awarded for satisfactory completion of a series of courses or curriculum totaling 50 semester credit hours or less. This certificate is designed to provide the technical skills that would prepare an individual for initial employment in the job setting or for those currently employed and in need of advanced study.

Course Prerequisites

Many of the following programs are designed to serve students with no previous study or experience in the program area.

In order that students who have acquired knowledge in occupational program fields through high schools or whose work experience may benefit from that knowledge, the College recognizes such education through credit evaluation programs.

Students who wish to transfer credit earned at another accredited college or university must request a transcript from the college attended. The transcript should be sent directly from the college or university to the Admissions and Records Office at Richland. The student requesting a transfer of credit must pay any transcript fees.

Approved credit hours will be applied toward the total number of hours needed for the degree or certificate, provided the average grade for all such work is "C" or better.

Transfer credit will not be included in computing the student's grade point average at Richland. Approved credit hours will be recorded on the student's academic record at the request of the student

If any student pursuing an occupational-oriented program has a background that makes any listed course(s) inappropriate, two options are recommended:

  1. The student may earn credit for the course(s) through proficiency examination(s) or advanced placement in an approved sequence; if such proficiency credit is awarded, it will shorten the total time required to complete the program.
  2. If a student needs to complete a sequence of courses so that proficiency credit for one or more courses will not reduce the total time required to complete the pro- gram, he or she is encouraged to earn proficiency credit and enroll in other courses that would increase his or her competencies beyond the minimum requirements for the program.

Group/General Education Requirements for Occupational Certificates and AAS Degrees

Several programs require some study in courses that satisfy certain Group Requirements. These are subdivided into Business and/or General Education:

(Bold print indicates I.A.I. approved general education classes.)

Meets both General Education & Group Requirements

Communications

ENGL101, 102, 110, 114, 220, 222

SPCH101, 110, 120, 140, 210, 230

Humanities

AF AM101, 102, 103, 104, 105

ENGL115, 124, 126, 128, 150, 160, 201, 202, 231, 232, 240, 251, 252

FREN101, 102, 201, 202

GERM101, 102, 201, 202

HIST111, 112, 201, 202, 270

HUMAN100, 201, 280

PHIL100, 106, 110, 120, 200, 210, 215, 220, 230

SPAN101, 102, 198, 201, 202

Fine Arts

AF AM101, 102, 103

ART100, 210, 220, 230, 240

DRAMA150

ENGL140, 240

HUMAN100, 201

MUSIC100, 190

Mathematics

MATH104, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 116, 117, 121, 122, 160, 170, 171, 190, 210, 221, 230, 240

Natural/Life/Physical Science

AGRIC130

ASTRO105

BIOL101, 102, 201, 202, 210, 220

CHEM100, 110, 131, 132, 201, 202

EASCI210, 220, 230

ELTRN110

ECE110 (ECE only)

HORT100

PHY S105

PHYS100, 101, 102, 151, 152, 153

Social Science

ANTHR110, 120, 130

ECON225, 231, 232

ED 100, 101, 102, 105, 107, 108, 199, 200

HIST101, 102, 105

P REL100, 110

POL S 100, 110, 120

PSYCH 100, 110, 130, 145, 150, 200, 210, 220, 250, 260, 280

SOCIO 100, 105, 110, 125, 130, 135, 141, 150, 200, 210, 225

SOC S199, 280

Related terms: