Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Degree Plans and Requirements



Academic Programs 

 

Associate of Arts Degree

Students seeking a transfer credential from East Central College will traditionally study in an Associate of Arts (AA) degree program. Each AA degree program is comprised of a 42 credit hour block of general education coursework coupled with a minimum of 18 credit hours of elective coursework, typically in the academic discipline chosen.

Each of the AA degree areas listed specifies coursework in a semester by semester arrangement

Degree Requirements

Candidates for an Associate of Arts degree must meet the following degree requirements:

  • Completion of a minimum of 60 college semester credit hours (a combination of the general education requirements and elective coursework), excluding developmental coursework (coursework numbered below 100) or continuing education coursework
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college credit earned
  • Satisfaction of the college residency requirement (a minimum of 15 hours must be completed at East Central College)

Missouri CORE 42 General Education Requirements

Students must complete the 42 credit hour minimum skills and knowledge requirements for general education. Completion of this requirement will enable students transferring to a Missouri public four year college or university to enter having satisfied the lower level general education requirements and enter at the junior level.

Degree Options

East Central College offers students a variety of Pathways in the Associate of Arts degree. These options reflect departmental and discipline based requirements. For all Associate of Arts degree options, students should carefully consider transfer institution and baccalaureate degree requirements. The following list is accurate as of publication. Students should discuss elective options in the Associate Arts degrees with an academic advisor and/or the transfer institution.

In each of the following degree listings, the semester by semester plans include the following information:

  • Plans assume students are entering and starting at the college level courses in English and mathematics; for students needing prerequisite coursework, the planning of their degree will differ.
  • General Education core coursework must be completed from the Missouri Transfer CORE 42 Knowledge Areas
  • Information on the AA degree options is provided at the Academic Programs   section. In some of the areas listed, different degree options are available.

 Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

Students seeking a program to prepare for entering the workforce directly will typically study in an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program. Each AAS degree is comprised of a block of general education coursework (a minimum of 20 hours) coupled with a minimum of 40 credit hours of program based coursework, totaling a minimum of 60 credit hours. While the AAS is a career preparation degree, many institutions may consider the degree in transfer. Certificate options are also available in many of the career fields offering the AAS degree.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for an Associate of Applied Science degree must meet the following degree requirements:

  • Completion of an approved program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 college semester credit hours (a combination of the general education requirements and program requirement coursework), excluding developmental coursework
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college credit earned
  • Satisfaction of the college residency requirement (a minimum of 15 credit hours must be completed at East Central College)

General Education Requirements

Students must complete the 20 credit hour minimum requirements for general education as detailed for the specific AAS degree.

Degree Options

East Central College offers students a variety of options in the Associate of Applied Science degrees. These options reflect departmental and program based requirements. For all degree options, students should carefully consider workforce preparation and, if under consideration, transfer institution requirements. Students should discuss elective options in the AAS degrees with an academic advisor.

Information on the AAS degree options is provided in the Academic Programs  section. In some of the areas listed, related certificates are available.

 Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Degree

The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree is the institutional transfer degree for students preparing to study in teacher education programs. Each AAT degree is comprised of the general education block (a minimum of 43 credit hours), tailored to the specific needs of education majors, coupled with elective options in the area of teacher preparation, totaling a minimum of 65 credit hours. Students completing the AAT degree and transferring to a public baccalaureate institution in Missouri offering teacher preparation programs will enter the transfer institution at the junior level; all lower division general education coursework will be satisfied and the core block of teacher education courses will transfer. Students interested in study in this program must complete an application for study in the AAT.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree must meet the following degree requirements:

  • Completion of an approved program of study, consisting of a minimum of 65 college semester credit hours (a combination of the general education requirements and program requirement coursework), excluding developmental coursework
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on all college credit earned
  • Satisfaction of the college residency requirement (a minimum of 15 redit hours must be completed at East Central College)

General Education Requirements

Students must complete the specific coursework for general education as detailed in the AAT degree plan.

Click here  for information on the AAT degree plan.

 Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) Degree

The Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) Degree is the institutional fine arts degree, with options in studio art and music. A specifically articulated degree with specific Missouri baccalaureate institutions, the AFA degree is comprised of a general education core tailored to students interested in study in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program and the necessary fine arts coursework to prepare students for that study. Students may choose from a variety of elective coursework appropriate for the specialized areas of studio art and music.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for an Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree must meet the following degree requirements:

  • Completion of an approved program of study, consisting of a minimum of 60 college semester credit hours (a combination of the general education requirements and program requirement coursework), excluding developmental coursework.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college credit earned
  • Satisfaction of the college residency requirement with a minimum of 15 credit hours taken at East Central College.

General Education Requirements

Students must complete the specific coursework for general education as detailed in the AFA degree plan.

 Visit Fine Arts, AFA   Music, AFA   

 Associate of Science (AS) Degree

The Associate of Science (AS) degree is the institutional pre-engineering degree. A specifically articulated degree with specific Missouri public baccalaureate institutions, the AS degree is comprised of a general education core and the necessary coursework to prepare students for a course of study in engineering, totaling a minimum of 60 credit hours. Students may choose from a variety of elective coursework appropriate for the specialized area of engineering of expressed interest.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for an Associate of Science (AS) degree must meet the following degree requirements:

  • Completion of an approved program of study, consisting of a minimum of 64 college semester credit hours (a combination of the general education requirements and program requirement coursework), excluding developmental coursework.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college credit earned
  • Satisfaction of the college residency requirement (a minimum of 15 of the last 30 credit hours must be completed at East Central College)

General Education Requirements

Students must complete the specific coursework for general education as detailed in the AS degree plan.

Information on the following AS degree option is provided at the link below:

Transfer Engineering