Description

For students who are not pursuing specific transfer or Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, the Associate of General Studies (AGS) degree provides an alternative to pursue a broad general education and accomplish personal educational goals. It is important for a student to work closely with an advisor in designing a course plan for this degree. 

Learning Outcomes

Arts & Letters

1. Interpret and engage in the Arts & Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and

2. Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues. 

Cultural Literacy

1. Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.  

Health

1. Explain the relationship between human behavior and health.

Mathematics

1. Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems; and

2. Recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario, apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results.

Science or Computer Science

1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models and solutions and generate further questions;

2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner; and

3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment. 

Social Science

1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior; and

2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Speech/Oral Communication

1. Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals;

2. Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts; and

3. Build and manage relationships.

Writing and Information Literacy

1. Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences;

2. Recognize and articulate the need for information, and then locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize that information to communicate effectively; and
3. Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.

Entrance Requirements

While this program has no formal entrance requirement, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met prior to enrollment.

Course Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
General Education/Foundational
Digital Literacy:
CIS 120	Computer Concepts (or pass competency exam)	0-4
Health:
Choose 4 credits 1		4
Math:		4
Choose one course from either the general education mathematics list or the related instruction computation list. 2
Oral Communication:
Choose one course		3-4
Writing:
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
Choose one of the following: 3		3-4
BA 214	Business Communications
WR 122	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition
WR 227	Technical Writing
General Education/ Discipline studies
Arts and Letters:
Choose one course from the disciplines studies list		3-4
Physical/Biological Lab Science:
Choose one course from the disciplines studies list		3-5
Social Science:
Choose one course from the disciplines studies list		3-4
Cultural Literacy:
Choose one course from the disciplines studies list		3-4
Electives
Choose any course numbered 100 or above that brings the total credits to 90 quarter hours.		60
Total Credits		90-101

1	HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated.
2	Choose one math course from either the general education mathematics list or the related instruction computation list.
3	WR 122 Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition and WR 227 Technical Writing are designed as a sequence to follow WR 121 Academic Composition. Consult with an advisor to determine the best selection between BA 214 Business Communications, WR 122 Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition, and WR 227 Technical Writing.

Advising Notes

Advantages
• The AGS awards a degree for completion of college-level coursework in core skills and general education and allows students flexibility to customize more than half of the degree’s required number of credits. It can be used to enhance employment, meet sponsoring agency requirements and/or meet unusual baccalaureate requirements.
Considerations
• The AGS degree is not transferrable as a whole and does not meet certification requirements for any Career and Technical Education (CTE) area.
• The AGS degree does not guarantee that a student will meet all lower-division general education and major requirements; however, with careful academic advising and in consideration of transfer institution requirements, the AGS degree may be designed to do so.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:

  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • All general education courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Plan

Sample Plan Grid

First Term		Credits
Health (4 credits of HHP or HHPA prefix)		4
Elective		4
Math course		4
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
	Credits	16
Second Term
Choose one from the following:		3-4
BA 214	Business Communications
WR 122	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition
WR 227	Technical Writing
CIS 120	Computer Concepts	4
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
	Credits	13-16
Third Term
Discipline Studies Physical/Biological Lab Science		3-5
Discipline Studies Cultural Literacy		3-4
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	14-17
Fourth Term
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
Oral Communication:		3-4
	Credits	15-16
Fifth Term
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	16
Sixth Term
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	90-97