An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is an award for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed curriculum of 60 semester credit hours or more intended to prepare individuals for employment in a specific field. It also serves those persons already employed in the field who desire to improve their competencies and achieve an associate's degree. A number of the AAS degrees have been articulated and/or capstoned with four-year institutions for completion of a Bachelor's degree.
Career and Technical Education Programs List
Capstone Options
Some career and technical education programs and/or courses transfer to senior institutions although they are not designed specifically for transfer. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale offers, for example, the Capstone Option allowing students who have earned two-year occupational degrees the option of pursuing a bachelor's degree without losing credits already earned. Students planning to transfer should consult a Richland counselor or advisor for additional information.
Course Prerequisites
Many of the career and technical education 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 career and technical education 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:
- 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.
- 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 Career and Technical Education 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
