Academic Programs

Program of Study Options

East Central College offers students five degree options: the Associate of Arts (AA), the Associate of Applied Science (AAS), the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), the Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), and the Associate of Science (AS). These degree choices afford students a variety of options based on their academic interest and career choices.

Distance Education

ECC offers a variety of distance education opportunities for students through the campus learning management system, Moodle. The following options for the use of the learning management system to support learning are available to students:

Web On-Line - Course is taught entirely on-line. Other than any required orientations sessions and testing on campus, students will submit all work, including some quizzes/tests and assignments, on-line. No regular campus attendance is required for successful completion of this course. Students should have access to high speed internet.

Web Hybrid - Course meeting time is reduced by a maximum of 50%; remainder of course is taught as an on-line class. Students will be required to attend class meetings on a regular, scheduled basis; scheduled class meeting times will be published in advance. Students will complete a portion of the course as an on-line class. Students should have access to high speed internet.

Web Enhanced - Course will meet at a regularly scheduled class time. Students will be required to use Moodle for resource and course support material; quizzes, discussions and other submissions may be required via Moodle. Students should have access to high speed internet.

The General Education Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree

East Central College offers a 43 hour general education block of coursework that satisfies the Missouri Department of Higher Education general education model. In meeting this standard, students graduating from ECC with an AA degree and transferring to a public baccalaureate institution in Missouri will enter the transfer institution at the junior level and will have satisfied the lower division general education requirement. Students completing their AA degree and transferring to public baccalaureate institutions are assured full acceptance of the general education coursework.

The Associate of Arts general education requirement is detailed below:

1. The General Education Core
   Eleven credit hours:
   • 6 credit hours written communication skills (typically English Composition I and II)
   • 3 credit hours oral communication skills (typically either Oral Communication or Public Speaking)
   • 1 credit hour physical education/health and wellness (PE)
   • 1 credit hour Foundation Seminar
2. The Skill Areas
   • Communicating: Students must choose as part of the Skill Area distribution a minimum of two courses designated as writing (WRT).
   • Higher Order Thinking: Students must choose as part of the Skill Area distribution a minimum of three courses designated as higher order thinking (HOT).
   • Managing Information: Students must choose as part of the Skill Area distribution a minimum of three courses designated as managing information (MIS) or a course from the appropriate list.
   • Valuing: Students must choose as part of the Skill Area distribution a minimum of three courses designated as valuing (VAL).
   • Global: Students must choose as part of the Skill Area distribution a minimum of three courses designated as global (GLB).
3. Knowledge Areas
   • Social and Behavioral Science: Student must choose three courses from at least two different academic areas* in the social and behavioral sciences. One course must meet the state’s constitution requirement. (SBS)
   • Humanities and Fine Arts: Students must choose three courses from at least two different academic areas in the humanities and fine arts. (HFA)
   • Mathematics: Students must choose one course at or above the College Algebra level. (MTH)
   • Life and Physical Sciences: Students must choose one course from the list of life sciences and one from the list of physical sciences. At least one of the science courses selected must have a laboratory course associated. (LPS)

*Unique academic areas are identified by course prefix and academic area affiliation.

Students can obtain additional information on general education requirements and course options from the College website or an academic advisor.