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Instructional Programs

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE

The Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree is the freshman and sophomore years of a four-year bachelor's degree. The A.A. degree is specifically designed for the student who plans to transfer as a junior to a Florida public university.

The Associate in Arts degree requires a minimum of 60 college-level credit hours including 36 hours in general education and 24 hours of electives. Many majors at the universities require that specific courses be taken as part of the A.A. degree, both within general education and within the electives. Florida's state universities have identified common prerequisites to be taken during the lower division by all students who plan to enter a particular major within the university system.

Students who plan to transfer to a Florida state university should take the courses required in their major fields of study. This should be done with counsel from an academic adviser.

For clarification, a university is composed of colleges. Each college is composed of a number of academic departments. Each academic department includes various academic majors. The A.A. degree guarantees admission to a state university but not necessarily admission to a specific program of study within a college. Certain majors have admission requirements in addition to earning an A.A. degree. These majors are called "limited access programs," and the requirements may include completion of certain courses, a minimum grade point average in all course work, an audition, and submission of a portfolio. These requirements are given in the state university transfer manuals. See a GCCC adviser or counselor.

Although the A.A. degree does not guarantee admission to a private and/or out-of-state institution, a student can find out the institution's lower division requirements and include as many of them as possible in the A.A. degree.

Graduation Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree

1. Complete a minimum of 60 hours of acceptable college-level credits.
2. Complete the 36 credit hours of general education courses.
3. Complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of A.A. designated electives.
4. Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00, including all transfer credits and courses attempted at GCCC. In addition, a student must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on all courses taken at GCCC.
5. Complete 25 percent of college-level credit hours at Gulf Coast Community College (minimum of 15 credit hours).
6. Satisfy the College Level Academic Skills Program requirements by taking and passing the four components of the College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) or document satisfaction of the CLAST requirement by a state-approved alternative method.
7. Submit an application for graduation to the dean of students' office by the published deadline. See college catalog calendar for dates. It is in the best interest of the student to have a graduation evaluation performed before submitting a graduation application. A graduation evaluation can be requested in the Office of Admissions and Records.
8. Fulfill all financial obligations to the college.

Note: For a five-year period from the date you begin taking courses in a degree program at GCCC, students have the right to follow the catalog course requirements under which they entered. Exceptions may be otherwise provided by law or policies of the District Board of Trustees.

Associate in Arts Degree Course Requirements

The Associate in Arts degree requires a minimum of 60 college-level credit hours including 36 hours in general education courses and a minimum of 24 hours of acceptable electives.

Community College Associate in Arts Transfer Guarantees

Community College Associate in Arts graduates are guaranteed certain rights under the statewide Articulation Agreement 6A-10.024. This Articulation Agreement governs the transfer of students from Florida public community colleges to the state university system.

1. Community College A.A. degree holders will be granted admission to one of ten (10) universities, but not necessarily to limited access programs.
2. Upon transferring to a state university, A.A. degree graduates will be awarded at least 60 credit hours towards the baccalaureate degree.
3. The university catalog in effect the year the A.A. degree student first enrolled at the community college will remain in effect for the student's program, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment as defined in that catalog.
4. Once completion of the general education core requirements is noted on the transcript, regardless of whether or not an A.A. degree is awarded, no other state university or community college to which the student may transfer can require additional courses to the general education core.
5. When transferring among institutions participating in the statewide course numbering system, a receiving institution must accept all courses taken at the transfer institution, if the same course with the same course number is offered at the receiving institution.
6. Credits earned through acceleration mechanisms (CLEP, AP, PEP, early admission, international baccalaureate, and dual enrollment courses) within the A.A. degree at the community college will be transferable to the state university.

Should any of these guarantees be denied, the student has the right to file an appeal. Each state university has established appeal procedures. Students may contact the state university articulation officer for information about these procedures.

Students without an A.A. degree who are seeking admission to a state university do not have all the protection provided by the articulation agreement and may be denied admission or lose credit when transferring. In most cases students without an A.A. degree will have to meet freshman admissions standards.

College Level Academic Skills Program (CLASP) and Test (CLAST)

Florida Statutes and Rules of the State Board of Education require students in the following categories to demonstrate proficiency in communication and computation:

• Those seeking the Associates in Arts degree.
• Those seeking the Associate in Science degree who will transfer to a state university.
• Those who will transfer to a state university with 60 or more hours.

The College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is one method to demonstrate competency. An alterative method has been approved for those students who meet specific guidelines. See the Testing Office or the Office of Admission and Records.

To be eligible for CLAST, students must have successfully completed a minimum of 18 hours of college-level work.

CLAST Alternative. Students may be eligible to meet the English, reading, and essay portion and/or the mathematics CLAST requirements for the A.A. degree by one of the following options:

1. Earn a cumulative 2.5 GPA in ENC 1101 and ENC 1102 and/or a cumulative 2.5 GPA in two college-level mathematic courses.
2. Earn CLEP, AP, AICE, or IB credit in ENC 1101 or in college-level mathematics.
3. Score a minimum score in subject areas on ACT and SAT.

For further information, contact your academic Adviser.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

General Education Core Outcomes for Associate Degree Students

The following General Education Core outcomes should be met in the 15 credits required of all Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), and Applied Associate of Science (AAS). Students will be able to:

Communication. Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate control of grammar and the standard rules of written English.
• Write effective essays.
• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and evaluate information (Information Literacy).

Cultural Appreciation. Students will be able to:

• Describe the cultural forces affecting the traditions of visual art, theatre, or music.

Critical Thinking. Students will be able to:

• Analyze complex situations, solve problems, and assess actions.

Collaboration. Students will be able to:

• Describe their roles as members of a broader community.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a group member.
• Demonstrate control of the standard rules of spoken English.

Associate of Arts Transfer Core Outcomes

The Associate of Arts Transfer Core outcomes will be accessed within the 36 credits required of all A.A. degrees from those students who have completed a minimum of 40 credits in their degree.

Communication. Students will be able to:

• Compose an effective essay consisting of 500+ words.
• Demonstrate the ability to access, interpret, and evaluate information (Information Literacy).

Global Socio-cultural Responsibility. Students will be able to:

• Accurately synthesize and evaluate complex information regarding an enduring question of human existence.

Critical Thinking. Students will be able to:

• Describe and analyze relationships between individuals or groups of people and three different types of institutions (governmental or other political entities, religious, social, educational, cultural, etc.).
• Accurately select formulas for, interpret, write (in words and symbols), and solve mathematical equations.

Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning. Students will be able to:

• Explain a scientific or mathematical idea (law/theory/hypothesis/model/classification scale) by providing accurate facts, justifying how these facts support the idea, and providing one application of this idea in science or math.
• Analyze biological processes such as cellular respiration, protein synthesis, DNA replication or cellular reproduction.

Developmental Outcomes

Students will take developmental courses in English, reading, or mathematics as determined by the score made on the college placement test (CPT).

English. Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate competence in prewriting, writing, and editing of a variety of written assignments.
• Manage basic research writing methods and skills.

Reading. Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate effective reading comprehension skills.

Mathematics

• Employ college-level math concepts, methods, and skills.

Critical Thinking. Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate critical thinking, study, communication, and time management skills necessary for success at college-level academic coursework.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION

The Developmental Studies Program is designed to help students achieve a level of academic competence that will enable them to work successfully in college-level courses. Developmental education includes sequential tracks in English, reading, and mathematics. Placement is assigned through the College Placement Test. Additionally, any student enrolled in a developmental course is registered, at no cost, for the Success Center (the college tutorial program located in the Student Union West). Developmental Studies advisers are available to assist students in the program in all matters related to their academic lives. For further information on support services, see "Student Services."

Developmental courses are college preparatory reading (REA 0001 and REA 0002), English (ENC 0002 and ENC 0021), and mathematics (MAT 0002 and MAT 0024).

Developmental Studies Policies

Requirement in College-Preparatory Reading. If students place into college preparatory reading courses, they must (1) enroll during their first semester in either the course or the Success Center Reading Laboratory and (2) continue with a reading course or the lab until they have completed the reading requirement or tested out of developmental reading.

Requirement in One College Preparatory Course (English or Math) Other Than Reading. If students place into college-level reading but college preparatory English or math, they must enroll in at least one of the required college-preparatory courses during their first term and must continue in that discipline each term thereafter until they have completed the requirements.

Requirement in Two College-Preparatory Areas.
Each semester students place into two college preparatory areas, including reading, they must address the reading deficiency by enrolling either in a college preparatory course or the Success Center Reading Laboratory. Each semester students place into two college-preparatory areas, excluding reading, they must enroll in at least one college-preparatory class.

Requirement in Three College-Preparatory Areas.
Each term students place into three college preparatory courses, they must enroll in a reading course or the Success Center Reading Laboratory and at least one other college preparatory course.

Sequence of Courses.
Once students enroll in a college preparatory course in reading, English, or math, they must continue to enroll in that discipline until they have satisfied their college preparatory requirements for that area.

For more information regarding developmental program requirements and support for developmental students, please contact Lynn Wallace, Director of Developmental Studies, SUW 334, 769-1551 (ext. 4821).

THE HONORS PROGRAM

The Honors Program emphasizes development of critical thinking skills in an environment that is unique and challenging. Honors courses are designed to be a different approach to teaching and learning. Honors classes are small, generally fewer than 20 students per class. Emphasis is placed on individuality, originality, and participation. Honors students have opportunities to participate in unique research and special classroom activities not usually available in the regular classes for these courses. The 16-hour curriculum is designed to fit every Associate in Arts program the college offers. The honors courses will fulfill most of the general education requirements for any A.A., degree.

Students who complete the program while maintaining the required grade point average will be classified as "Honors Graduates." These students will receive special recognition during graduation, receive the seal of Honors on their diploma and will have the designation as "Graduate of the Honors Program" on all transcripts. Participants in the program may be eligible for additional scholarship opportunities, membership in Phi Theta Kappa International Honorary Society, nomination to the Academic All-USA Team, and Brain Bowl.

In order to participate in the Honors Program, students must:

• Have a 3.5 or better weighted high school GPA (transcript required), or
• Have completed 15 credit hours from GCCC with a 3.5 GPA or better.

Students are then expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all coursework in order to remain in the program. Students who fail to maintain this minimum GPA will not be permitted to enroll in additional honors courses until the GPA is improved to 3.0. Students must complete all honors coursework and have an overall 3.5 GPA or better to graduate from the program.

Curriculum: To graduate from the program, a student must complete 15 hours of core courses. In special cases, the honors director may be able to substitute courses.

*The topic addresses in the Honors Symposium changes each semester and the course may be taken more than once if desired. Symposium addresses important and timely issues and offers participants the opportunity to participate in lively discourse.
**Contractual course arrangements permit any course within the student's major to become an honors course by contract. Students enroll in the regular class but contract with the professor for special projects or studies that expand the course to an honors level. The object is to provide additional opportunities for interaction between professor and student. For additional information, contact the honors director, Dana Dye, at 769-1551, ext 2843.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Believing that collegiate education is fortified through the vigorous and unfettered presentation and exchange of ideas, the District Board of Trustees of Gulf Coast Community College staunchly upholds the tenets of academic freedom. No external coercion shall be permitted to interfere with sober pursuit of truth and knowledge within the context of properly constituted courses and programs of study. The District Board of Trustees has developed procedures by which curricula and syllabi are developed and modified in keeping with the mission of the institution.

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