General Studies, AA

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The Program

Sometimes students enter East Central College without knowing what they would like to study or pursue as a career. For these individuals, ECC offers a general studies transfer degree program.

Assuming appropriate placement scores, general studies is a two-year academic plan. It gives students the freedom to explore coursework from multiple disciplines while providing core learning from the general education curriculum block. In addition, ECC offers various student activities, organizations and practicum experiences that both enrich collegiate life and help students explore their future education and career goals.

With their academic advisor, general studies students should choose electives based on their personal interests, educational and professional objectives and the requirements of their desired transfer institution. In addition, they must meet the skill and knowledge area requirements as outlined in the college catalog.

Professional Traits

No matter what degree program they pursue, all ECC students should demonstrate these common learning objectives and qualities:

Be ethical and socially responsible
Communicate effectively in a written and verbal manner
Think critically and creatively to solve problems and advance solutions

Admissions Requirements

To enter the program, students must have completed:

High school diploma or the equivalent (documentation sent to the registration office)
Application for admission
A placement test as specified by the college (please note: some coursework requires minimum placement results)

Transfer Options

Many of the courses associated with this degree are accepted as transfer credits by four-year colleges and universities. These decisions are made solely by the bachelor degree-granting institution, not ECC.

Students seeking to transfer should communicate often with their faculty advisors and the East Central College transfer advisor. They should also make early contact with the four-year institution of their choice regarding the transferability of ECC credits and coursework.

Accreditation

East Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504
800-621-7440

Contacts

Program Contact

Student Services Call Center
636-584-6588
advisor@eastcentral.edu

Program of Study

This program of study is for a full-time student; part-time study is also available. Please contact an academic advisor for full course options. For the most current academic schedule (which is subject to change), visit the college Web site at www.eastcentral.edu.

General Education Requirements

Students must choose the general education skill and knowledge area requirements (in the humanities, social sciences, science and mathematics) in configuration that satisfies the general education criteria of the college. Students should work with an advisor to select elective courses in the general education areas that fulfill both the requirements of ECC (as listed on the program worksheet) and the baccalaureate institution of their choice.

Electives

Students in the general studies associate of arts transfer program may select electives to complete the 64-credit hour requirement. The choice of electives should be based on their areas of interest or the transfer institution’s specific requirements. As students consider their options, they should also keep in mind that the choice of electives is an important opportunity to transfer coursework that fulfills the baccalaureate school’s requirements for the first two years of study.

Year 1

Fall Semester

FS 1000 - Campus Orientation Hours: 0
FS 1001 - Foundation Seminar Hours: 1
EN 1223 - English Comp I Hours: 3 or
EN 1233 - Honors English Comp I Hours: 3
CT 1003 - Oral Communications Hours: 3 or
CT 1103 - Public Speaking Hours: 3
MT 1403 - College Algebra Hours: 3 (or higher math course)
PE Requirement Hours: 1
Elective Hours: 3 *

Total Semester Hours 14

Spring Semester

EN 1333 - English Comp II Hours: 3 or
EN 1343 - Honors English Comp II Hours: 3
CS 1003 - Microcomputer Applications Hours: 3 or
CS 1013 - Survey of Computers & Information Systems Hours: 3
HI 1000 - Constitutions Study Module Hours: 0 or
PS 1000 - Constitutions Study Module Hours: 0
History or Pol. Science Requirement Hours: 3
Social Science Requirement Hours: 3
Humanities Requirement Hours: 3
Elective Hours: 3 *

Total Semester Hours 18

Year 2

Fall Semester

SC 1000 - Laboratory Safety for Students Hours: 0
Life or Physical Science Requirement (with lab) Hours: 5 **
Social Science Requirement Hours: 3
Humanities Requirement Hours: 3
Elective Hours: 3 *
Elective Hours: 3 *

Total Semester Hours 17

Spring Semester

Life or Physical Science Requirement (with lab) Hours: 3 **
Humanities Requirement Hours: 3
Elective Hours: 3 *
Elective Hours: 3 *
Elective Hours: 3 *

Total Semester Hours 15

AA program (64 credit hours)

** Students must take one life or physical science course with a lab and the opposite science without a lab. They should contact an academic advisor for suggested program electives.

* See the general education worksheet at www.eastcentral.edu for the full list of elective courses. The categories are listed below.

Knowledge Areas		Skill Areas
	Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Humanities & Fine Arts (HFA) Life & Physical Sciences (LPS) Mathematics (MTH)		Global (GBL) Writing (WRT) Valuing (VAL) Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Managing Information (MAI)