AGC – January 17, 2017

Curriculum Policy

Updated Policy Statement Draft (See Slide 16 of the PowerPoint Presentation)

E. Degrees and program types are integrated to create GRCC academic programs.

  1. Associate of Arts (A.A.) – Must be aligned with the Michigan Transfer Agreement. Thirty credits of general education are required. No program name is specified on the diploma. Pre-Major (2+2) and Articulated Pre-Major (2+2 or 3+1), and Pathway Concentration program types are associated with this degree.
  1. Associate of Science (A.S.) - Must be aligned with the Michigan Transfer Agreement. A minimum of 20 credit hours in the Math and Natural Science distribution areas is required, including two, two course sequences (must be in different subject areas). Pre-Major (2+2) and Articulated Pre-Major (2+2 or 3+1) program types are associated with this degree. No program name is specified on the diploma.
  1. Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences (A.A.A.S.) – Fifteen credits of general education are required including: EN 101 and EN 102 or COM 131 or COM 135; 1 Humanities course; 1 Social Sciences course; and 1 Math or 1 Natural Sciences course. Career, Career (MTA), and Articulated Career (2+2 or 3+1), and Apprenticeship program types are associated with this degree. The program name is specified on the diploma. Curricular “Tracks” may be included.
  1. Associate of Music (A.M.) - Fifteen credits of general education are required including: EN 101 and EN 102 or COM 131 or COM 135; 1 Humanities course; 1 Social Sciences course; and 1 Math or 1 Natural Sciences course. Pre-Professional and Articulated Pre-Professional (2+2 or 3+1) program types are associated with this degree. The name is specified on the diploma for Professional programs. The name is not specified on the diploma for Pre-Professional or Articulated Pre-Professional programs. A “Major” may be included.
  1. Associate of Business (A.B.) - Fifteen credits of general education are required including: EN 101 and EN 102 or COM 131 or COM 135; 1 Humanities course; 1 Social Sciences course; and 1 Math or 1 Natural Sciences course. Professional, Pre-Professional, and Articulated Pre-Professional (2+2 or 3+1) program types are associated with this degree. The program name is specified on the diploma for Professional programs. The name is not specified on the diploma for Pre-Professional or Articulated Pre-Professional programs. A “Major” may be included.
  1. Associate of Nursing (A.N.) - Fifteen credits of general education are required including: EN 101 and EN 102 or COM 131 or COM 135; 1 Humanities course; 1 Social Sciences course; and 1 Math or 1 Natural Sciences course. The program name is specified on the diploma. The Professional program type is associated with this degree.
  1. Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) - Fifteen credits of general education are required including: EN 101 and EN 102 or COM 131 or COM 135; 1 Humanities course; 1 Social Sciences course; and 1 Math or 1 Natural Sciences course. Pre-Professional and Articulated Pre-Professional (2+2 or 3+1) program types are associated with this degree. The program name is not specified on the diploma. A “Major” may be included.
  1. Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) - Fifteen credits of general education are required including: EN 101 and EN 102 or COM 131 or COM 135; 1 Humanities course; 1 Social Sciences course; and 1 Math or 1 Natural Sciences course. There are no “programs” associated with this degree. The degree is listed on the diploma.
  1. Certificate – Must have a minimum of 8 credit hours. If less than 15 credit hours must, be aligned with an external credential or have an external accreditation. The Apprenticeship and Career program types are associated with certificates.
  1. Advanced Certificate – Must have a minimum of 8 credit hours. Students must have earned an associate’s degree prior to enrolling in this program. The Career program type is associated with Advanced Certificates.

Definitions for the Curriculum Policy

Advanced Certificate – These programs are designed to provide students, who already have or are in the process of earning a degree, with enhanced knowledge and skills.

Apprenticeship– Designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skillsnecessary for a particular trade or industry in which they are already employed.

Articulated Career – Designed to prepare students to be qualified for entry into a careerin a specific field and includes the coursework prerequisite to a particular major at aspecific college or university. The GRCC courses stated in the formal articulationagreement are guaranteed to transfer to the college or university if minimum grade andother stated expectations and are met.

Articulated Pre-Major–Designed to fulfill GRCC general educationand MACRAO, whilefocusing on coursework prerequisite to a particular majorat a specific college oruniversity. The GRCC courses stated in the formal articulation agreement areguaranteed to transfer to the college or university if minimum grade and other statedexpectations and are met.

Articulated Pre-Professional – Designed to prepare students for transfer to a college oruniversity while allowing them to begin the coursework requisite for a specialized professional degree, i.e. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Music, andBachelor of Business. These programs may include a major that allows students tofocus on the specific content necessary to prepare them to seamlessly continue in theircoursework at the transfer institution. The GRCC courses stated in the formalarticulation agreement are guaranteed to transfer to the college or university ifminimum grade and other stated expectations and are met.

Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences (A.A.A.S.) – This degree is designed to prepare students for employment in a specific career field.

Associate of Arts (A.A.) – This degree is designed to prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor’s degree. Students earning this degree fulfill MTA requirements.

Associate of Business (A.B.) – This degree is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the business field or prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor’s of Business Administration or another degree in a business related field.

Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) – This degree is designed to prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) – This degree is designed for students who wish to earn an associate degree without following a specific program.

Associate of Music (A.M.) – This degree is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the music field or prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor’s of Music or another performance related degree, thus requiring significant music performance credits.

Associate of Nursing(A.N.) – This degree is designed to prepare students to qualify to take the NCLEX-RN examination to become registered nurses.

Associate of Science (A.S.) – This degree is designed to prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in a science or mathematics related field. Students earning this degree fulfill MTA requirements.

Career – Designed to prepare students to be qualified for entry into a career in a specificfield. Theseprograms may have tracks that allow studentsto specializewithin theprogram. They also may have areas of emphasis, which provide students with moredepth of knowledge or skills in a particular area.

Career (MTA)– Designed to prepare students to be qualified for entry into a careerin a specific field and to fulfill GRCC general education and MTA, focusing oncoursework prerequisite to a particular major at a college or university.

Certificate – This credential is designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skills necessary to enter a career, continue employment, or prepare for transfer to a college or university.

Certificate of Completion (Non-Credit) – This credential is designed to prepare students to enter or continue employment in specialized careers.

Curricular Tracks – An area of curricular focus in a career program with a minimum of 8 credits of coursework.

Major – An area of curricular focus in a pre-professional program with a minimum of 15 credits of coursework.

Pathway Concentration–Designed to help students identify an area of interest. This academic program can be customized to meet an individual student's needs and allows students to fulfill general education and graduation requirements at GRCC for an A.A. degree.

Pre-Major – Designed to fulfill GRCC general educationrequirements and MTA,while focusing on coursework prerequisite to a particular major at a college oruniversity.

Pre-Professional – Designed to prepare studentsfor transfer to a college or universitywhile allowing them to begin the coursework requisite for a specialized professionaldegree, i.e. Bachelor of Music,Bachelorof Business. These programs may include a major that allows students to focus on the specific content necessary to prepare themto seamlessly continue in theircoursework at the transfer institution.

Professional – Designed to prepare students to be qualified for entry into a professions-oriented career,requiring a specializedprofessional degree, i.e. Associate of Nursing,Associate of Music. Professional programs may include a major that allows students tofocus on the specific content necessary to prepare them forwork in the profession.

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