Curriculum Program Requirements and Completion Policy

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Policy Number
4.1
Signature
Board of Trustees
Date Approved
Effective Date
Responsible Division
Instruction and Student Support
Citation
SACSCOC Standard 3.1.b

Carteret Community College designs curriculum instructional programs in accordance with the North Carolina Community College System curriculum standards and education catalog. The College provides educational opportunities for students to acquire relevant credentials, to successfully transfer to other institutions of higher education, and/or to secure meaningful employment. Students earn associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates upon satisfactory completion of all program specific requirements. 

Procedure

Associate Degree Requirements 

The college awards six associate degrees: the Associate in Arts, the Associate in Science, the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, the Associate in Engineering, the Associate in Applied Science, and the Associate in General Education-Nursing. The requirements for degrees are as follows:

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree and Associate in Science (AS) Degree

(two-year degrees designed for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs)

  • Completion of the required program check sheets, totaling a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours.
  • Completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours within the degree program (25 percent of the total) earned in residence at Carteret Community College.
  • Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination.
  • A program Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.

NOTE: The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (2014 CAA) between the governing boards of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the University of North Carolina (UNC System) enables graduates who are admitted to constituent transfer institutions to transfer with junior status. To be eligible for the transfer with junior status under the 2014 CAA, the student must graduate from the community college with an AA or AS degree and have a program GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of "C" or better in all courses that satisfy the degree. Students who do not complete the degree are eligible to transfer credits on a course-by-course basis.  See the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement section of The College Catalog and Student Handbook for more detailed information about the guarantees and rights afforded by the 2014 CAA

Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts (AFA) Degree

  • Completion of the required program courses totaling a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of credit.
  • Completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours of credit within the degree program (25 percent of the total) earned in residence at Carteret Community College. Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination.
  • A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.

NOTE: The Uniform Articulation Agreement (2017 AFAVA to BFA AA) between University of

North Carolina Baccalaureate of Fine Arts Programs and the North Carolina Community College System enables graduates who are admitted to constituent any of seven BFA-granting institutions within the UNC System to transfer seamlessly with junior status. To be eligible for the transfer with junior status under the 2017 AFAVA to BFA AA), the student must graduate from the community college with an AA or AS degree and have a program GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of "C" or better in all courses that satisfy the degree. Students who do not complete the degree are eligible to transfer credits on a course-by-course basis.  

Associate in Engineering (AE) Degree

  • Completion of the required program courses totaling a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of credit
  • Completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours of credit within the degree program (25 percent of the total) earned in residence at Carteret Community College. o       Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination. o A program GPA of 2.5 or higher.

NOTE: The 2015 Uniform Articulation Agreement (Associate in Engineering) between the NCCCS and the five UNC System schools that offer the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) guarantees that students who follow the AE Plan of Study will meet the entrance requirements at all North Carolina public BSE programs; however, admission to those programs is competitive and not guaranteed. To be eligible for transfer of credits from the AE program to a BSE program, students must earn a “C” or better in each course and a program GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Associate in General Education-Nursing (AGE-Nursing) Degree

  • Completion of a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours, as approved by the program director and academic advisors, including any required general education courses, with at least 25 percent of the total earned in residence at Carteret Community College.
  • Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination.
  • An overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and a grade of C or better in all courses.

NOTE: The 2015 Uniform Articulation Agreement (2015 RN to BSN) Associate in Nursing) between the UNC System RN to BSN programs and the North Carolina Community College System promotes educational advancement opportunities for registered nurses moving between NC Community Colleges and constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina in order to complete Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. The AGE-Nursing is designed for students who wish to begin their study toward the Associate in Nursing degree and a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing as based on Blocks 1 through 3 of the 2015 RN to BSN agreement.  

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree

  • Completion of a minimum of sixty-four (64) semester hours of credit (or a greater number if specified by the program of study), including the required general education courses.
  •  Completion of a minimum of sixteen (16) semester hours of credit within the degree program (at least 25 percent of the total) earned in residence at Carteret Community College.
  • Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination.
  • A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.  Specified programs may require a grade of no less than “B” or “C” in some courses as designated in the appropriate program manual.

Diploma Requirements

The college awards diplomas upon completion of a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours and a maximum of forty-eight (48) credit hours in the student's program of study, including general education requirements. The requirements for diplomas are as follows:

  • Completion of the required courses in the student's program of study, including any required general education courses.
  • Completion of a minimum of 25 percent of the total credit hours earned in residence at Carteret Community College.
  • A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Specified programs may require a grade of no less than “B” or “C” in some courses as designated in the appropriate program manual.

Certificate Requirements

Certificates are awarded for programs of study requiring a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of credit to a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours of credit. The requirements for certificates are as follows:

  • Completion of the required courses in the student's program of study.
  • Completion of a minimum of at least 25 percent of the total credit hours earned in residence at Carteret Community College.
  • Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination.
  • A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Specified programs may require a grade of no less than “B” or “C” in some courses as designated in the appropriate program handbook.

Changes in Program Completion Requirements

The College reserves the right to change the requirements for completing a degree, diploma, or certificate program when it is in the best interest of the enrolled students or the academic program, or when mandated by the NC Community College System Office. When such changes occur, the college will work with students to ensure a smooth transition and satisfactory route to completion of the new requirements.

Graduation

The graduation statement will be entered on the transcript of all students who have fulfilled admission requirements and program requirements.  The Registrar’s Office sends eligible students instructions for graduation approximately one month before graduation each semester. Students must complete an application for completion and a graduate survey to graduate, and the completion must be approved by a program chair in the area of study.  

All financial obligations to the College must be cleared before a degree, diploma, or certificate will be released to the student.

Administrative Graduation

After graduation audit requests are processed at the end of each semester, the Registrar’s Office will identify any additional students who have satisfied any program completion requirements. Any student who has completed program requirements may then be administratively graduated, and the earned credential will be noted on the student’s transcript. The student will also receive communications from Registrar’s Office with details on how to obtain a printed diploma and how to participate in the annual commencement ceremony.