POLICY 03:01:00

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS AND CREDENTIALS AWARDED: CAREER PROGRAMS NOT DESIGNED FOR TRANSFER

1. It is the intent of Pellissippi State Community College that career programs designed primarily for immediate employment will fully comply with the Principles of Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The meeting of minimum degree requirements does not remove Pellissippi State’s obligation to meet any appropriate specific program accreditation requirement. Any course for which a student receives degree credit will presume and not replicate the competencies established by the ACT college readiness benchmarks and standards as what a student needs to know and be able to do upon college entry.
2. Credentials awarded by Pellissippi State Community College designed primarily for immediate employment include the following:
   1. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) – A C.E.U. denotes ten (10) contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. C.E.U.s must adhere to relevant SACSCOC criteria as outlined in the Commission on Colleges’ document, “Guidelines for Awarding the CEU.”
   2. Certificate of Credit – A certificate is awarded for the completion of a designated body of study ranging from 1-32 semester hours and responding to training needs of business and industry or providing a significant and unified portion of the requirements for an associate’s degree. Students pursuing a certificate may be either non-degree seeking or degree seeking.
      1. Non-degree seeking students are not regularly admitted but are seeking personal enrichment or proficiency in a particular area of employment skills. These students are not required to complete general college placement assessment, except where the College stipulates assessment procedures appropriate to accurate placement in the technical area. If the student later decides to become degree-seeking, he or she will be assessed and appropriately placed.
      2. Certificate seeking students are not required to complete general college placement assessment, but the College may stipulate assessment procedures appropriate to accurate placement in the technical area. If the student later decides to become degree-seeking, he or she will be assessed and appropriately placed.
      3. Degree-seeking students who complete the designated courses for a certificate while pursuing an associate’s degree may apply to be awarded the certificate when the slate of courses is completed and will continue with the remaining courses required for the degree.
   3. Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.) – Associate degrees designed primarily for immediate employment are limited to the A.A.S. The following principles apply:
      1. The A.A.S. should be identified with a specialty designation
      2. A.A.S. degree programs must be responsive to the employment needs of business, industry, public agencies, the military, or entrepreneurship
      3. All components of the A.A.S. degree requirements must directly relate to intended student attainment: knowledge, skills, or aptitudes.
      4. A.A.S. degree requirements should consist of a minimum of 60 semester credit hours (excluding learning support credits).
      5. The general education* component of an A.A.S. degree program must be consistent with SACSCOC accreditation criteria: a minimum of 15 semester hours, including one course in each of these areas:English Composition I 3 hrs
         Mathematics or Natural Sciences 3-5 hrs
         Humanities/Fine Arts 3 hrs
         Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 hrs
         General Education Elective 3-5 hrs

         *Courses designated to fulfill general education at Pellissippi State Community College are published in the General Education section of the Catalog & Handbook.

      6. A.A.S. degree curricula may be articulated with four-year institutions through transfer agreements.

Source: TBR Policy 2:01:00:03

Approved: Executive Council, March 4, 1991
Executive Council, June 20, 1994
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, September 18, 1995
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, September 18, 1995
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, November 12, 1997
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, October 10, 2001
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, January 24, 2005
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, December 12, 2005
Editorial Changes: July 1, 2009
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Staff, May 9, 2011
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, May 9, 2011
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, September 26, 2016
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr. September 26, 2016
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, May 23, 2022
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise Jr., May 23, 2022