Exploratory - Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT)
Description
If a student plans to earn a college degree but has not yet decided on a path, COCC identifies the student as ”exploratory." Exploratory students are assigned the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree in their audit in GradTracks. The AAOT degree is used for exploratory students because it provides a guideline of courses that meet bachelor’s degree general education requirements at Oregon public universities. The AAOT degree does not include all bachelor degree requirements for freshmen and sophomores and it does not include requirements for COCC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. It is important for exploratory students to work actively to identify an educational goal and communicate with their advisor.
Some exploratory students may choose to declare the Associate of General Studies (AGS) degree which allows students to self-design a program to meet individual needs. However, the AGS degree is not designed to waive bachelor’s degree general education requirements as the AAOT degree is, nor does it align with workforce training and skills as do the CTE programs.
Learning Outcomes
Arts & Letters
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Interpret and engage in the Arts & Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and
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Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues.
Cultural Literacy
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Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.
Health
- Explain the relationship between human behavior and health.
Mathematics
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Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems; and
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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
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Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models and solutions and generate further questions;
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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
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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
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Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior; and
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Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.
Speech/Oral Communication
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Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals;
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Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts; and
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Build and manage relationships.
Writing and Information Literacy
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Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences;
- Recognize and articulate the need for information, and then locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize that information to communicate effectively; and
- Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.
Entrance Requirements
While this program has no formal entrance requirements, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met prior to enrollment.
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education/Foundational | ||
| Health: | ||
| Choose 3 credits 1 | 3 | |
| Mathematics: | ||
| Choose one course | 4 | |
| Oral Communication: | ||
| Choose one course | 3-4 | |
| Writing: | ||
| WR 121 | Academic Composition | 4 |
| WR 122 | Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition | 4 |
| or WR 227 | Technical Writing | |
| General Education/Discipline studies | ||
| Cultural Literacy: | ||
| One course from the following categories must be designated as cultural literacy on the Discipline Studies list (credits count once). | ||
| Arts and Letters: | ||
| Choose three courses from at least two prefixes | 9-12 | |
| Social Science: | ||
| Choose four courses from at least two prefixes | 12-16 | |
| Science/Math/Computer Science: | ||
| Choose four courses from at least two prefixes including at least three laboratory courses in biological and/or physical science | 12-20 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose any course numbered 100 or above that brings the total credits to 90 quarter hours. This may include up to 12 credits of Career and Technical Education courses designated by COCC as acceptable. | 39 | |
| Total Credits | 90-106 | |
| 1 | HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated. |
Advising Notes
COCC recommends that students use several strategies to ensure good decisions about educational goals. Many COCC resources are available to assist.
• Take HD 110 Career Planning, a 3-credit course offered every term.
• Visit with the Career Services Coordinator in CAP Services.
• Discuss options with your academic advisor and faculty members in departments that interest you.
COCC uses the AAOT and AGS degrees to provide exploratory students with a framework, but students should change their declared major when they make a decision. Initially, the GradTracks audit will present the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer requirements but students should be aware that these guidelines are preliminary. Students can explore other COCC programs by using the ”What If“ option on the GradTracks menu. Give yourself a timeline within which to make a decision. Many universities require students to declare their major within their first 90 credits, but large majors such as engineering, science and business, should be declared in the first 45 credits. CTE programs that lead directly to employment typically don’t have elective credits, so the earlier students make a decision, the better.
Nearly all bachelor’s degrees are either a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS). Students pursuing a BA usually need to complete two years of a world language (the 200-level language courses may be applied to the arts and letters requirement in Discipline Studies.) Students pursuing a BS should consider taking more math and science courses. Students should refer to the transfer college's degree requirements for details.
Performance Standards
- Academic Requirements:
- Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
- Options for additional standards:
- All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
Sample Plan
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Studies Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Mathematics: | 4 | |
| Oral Communication: | 3-4 | |
| WR 121 | Academic Composition | 4 |
| Credits | 14-16 | |
| Second Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Health (3 credits with HHP or HHPA prefix) 1 | 3 | |
| WR 122 or WR 227 | Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition Technical Writing | 4 |
| Credits | 16-18 | |
| Third Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Arts & Letters | 3-4 | |
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 17-21 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14-17 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14-17 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Total Credits | 90-106 | |
