Description

The Associate of Science (Oregon State University emphasis) degree is intended to give students who are confident they will finish their bachelor’s degree at either OSU-Corvallis or OSU-Cascades a framework to directly meet OSU’s general education (called “baccalaureate core” at OSU) requirements. Those students who are not certain that they will complete their degree at OSU or those who have fewer remaining requirements with the AAOT degree may be better served by the associate of arts degree which guarantees progress toward the general education core requirements at all Oregon public universities.

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 requirements, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met prior to enrollment.

Course Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Baccalaureate Core
Skills
Writing I: 1		4
Writing II: 1		3-4
Speech: 1		3-4
Mathematics (OSU): 1		4
Fitness: 1		3
Perspectives Courses 1,2
Choose one course in each of the following categories:
Physical Science: 1		4-5
Biological Science: 1		4-5
Physical or Biological Science: 1		4-5
Western Culture: 1		3-4
Cultural Diversity: 1		4
Literature and the Arts: 1		3-4
Social Processes and Institutions: 1		3-4
Difference, Power and Discrimination: 1		4
Electives
Choose enough elective credits from the followng list to reach a minimum of 90 overall degree units. 3		44
Total Credits		90-98

1	Select from the appropriate category in the OSU Baccalaureate Core course list.
2	No more than two courses (or lecture/lab combinations) from any one department may be used by a student to satisfy the Perspectives category of the core. GEO courses listed under Physical Science are considered to be from a different department than GEO courses listed under any other Perspective category.
3	Electives must be numbered 100 or higher (with a maximum of 12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) credits).

Advising Notes

Students are highly recommended to include lower division major requirements and their BA/BS requirements in their first 90 credits. Many OSU majors require a significant number of lower division courses, and some programs (such as engineering, computer science and business) require completion of these courses before students may continue to upper division courses. Students who do not complete these requirements in their first 90 credits may find that they cannot complete their bachelor’s degree in two years after completion of this AS degree nor in the minimum total of 180 credits.

This information reflects an accurate picture of OSU requirements at the time of approval, using the OSU catalog, advisors and web resources for consultation. However, degree requirements can and do change. OSU has made no guarantee about the accuracy of requirements in this AS degree; determination of transfer status is made on an individual course basis at the point of admission to OSU.

Timing
OSU recommends the following plan for timing your baccalaureate core requirements.

First Year:

• Complete Writing 1 (WR 121 Academic Composition, C- or higher), Speech and Math (required in first 45 OSU credits)
• Begin Perspectives courses
• Consider a Difference, Power and Discrimination (DPD) or Fitness course

Second Year:     

• Complete Writing II (required in first 90 OSU credits)
• Continue Perspectives courses
• Completed Difference, Power and Discrimination (DPD) and Fitness course requirements           

Notes for majors from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA)
At Cascades campus, this includes majors such as American Studies, Liberal Studies, Psychology and Social Science.

• Generally, double dipping is not allowed.
• CLA majors have a Liberal Arts Core requirement (5 courses, at least 15 credits).
• Students are encouraged to include the BA or BS requirements in their lower division courses.

Requirements for a BA or BS degree, other requirements
Following are considerations for students working on their BA/BS requirement.

• Nearly all degrees at OSU are either BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of Science) degrees.
• Some majors offer both BA and BS options, and some only offer one option.
• BS requirements are included in major curriculum for all degrees that are in colleges outside of the College of Liberal Arts.
• A major will either allow students to “double dip” (use a course to meet two requirements, such as a major requirement and a BA/BS or baccalaureate core requirement) or will prohibit double dipping.
• Usually, majors that allow double dipping will require specific courses that can be used in both the major and the BA/BS or baccalaureate core.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • All courses must be completed with a C grade or higher.

Sample Plan

Sample Plan Grid

First Term		Credits
Biological Science:		4-5
Fitness:		3
Mathematics (OSU):		4
Writing I:		4
	Credits	15-16
Second Term
Elective		3-4
Writing II:		3-4
Physical Science:		4-5
Western Culture:		3-4
	Credits	13-17
Third Term
Cultural Diversity:		4
Elective		4
Speech:		3-4
Physical or Biological Science:		4-5
	Credits	15-17
Fourth Term
Western Culture:		3-4
Literature and the Arts:		3-4
Elective		3
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	17-19
Fifth Term
Social Processes and Institutions:		3-4
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	15-16
Sixth Term
Difference, Power and Discrimination:		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		3
	Credits	15
	Total Credits	90-100