Program of Study
Students are urged to declare their program of study as early as possible in their academic career. Those who are undecided should visit with an academic advisor prior to the end of their first year of enrollment. A program of study may be declared or changed through WebAdvisor.
Tarrant County College (TCC) offers degrees for students whose goal is to transfer to an upper level college or university to complete a baccalaureate or higher degree:
Associate of Arts (AA) – A collegiate degree providing liberal arts curricula in university parallel and the pre-professional areas related to the baccalaureate degree. This is not generally a degree with a declared major but is a program of first- and second-year courses, which will generally transfer to a four-year college or university. The Associate of Arts degree requires 60 semester credit hours.
Associate of Arts in Music (AA) – A collegiate music degree that is consistent with the first two years of most university music degrees. This degree includes studies in piano, music theory, ear training, sight singing and music literature as well as an emphasis on performing solo and ensemble repertoire on a primary instrument or voice. This degree fulfills the transferable Field of Study in Music and not the TCC Core Curriculum . The Associate of Arts in Music degree requires 60 semester credit hours.
Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) – A collegiate degree that will satisfy the lower division requirements for a bachelor’s degree leading to initial teacher certification. The Associate of Arts in Teaching degree requires 60 semester credit hours.
Associate of Science (AS) – A collegiate degree related to the baccalaureate degree providing curricula in university parallel and pre-professional areas to students with a major in a science or a related discipline. The Associate of Science degree requires 60 semester credit hours.
Associate of Science in Engineering (AS) – A collegiate degree aligned with the Tuning Texas Engineering Degree Pathways and leading to a baccalaureate degree in an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited engineering program. The Associate of Science in Engineering degrees are Civil Engineering, Electric Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The Associate of Science in Engineering degree requires 60 semester credit hours.
Field of Study (FOS) – Senate Bill 148 of the 75th Texas Legislature (1997) mandated Field of Study curricula. The Field of Study curricula, along with core curricula, are intended to facilitate transferability of courses among Texas public colleges and universities. All public four-year institutions are required to accept Coordinating Board approved Field of Study courses in fulfillment of lower-division requirements for bachelor’s degrees in majors that correspond to the Field of Study.
Degrees and certificates are also offered in occupational/technical areas:
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) – A degree in a workforce field designed for students who wish to begin a career after completing a program of study.
The curricula is designed to enable the graduate to enter an occupation with a marketable skill, an acceptable level of competency and the ability to communicate intelligently. The curricula provide highly specialized courses to develop technical skill and general education courses to enable students to be effective members of society. Several AAS degree programs provide a foundation for transfer to a four-year institution offering Bachelor of Science degrees in occupational programs.
The AAS degree requires 60 semester credit hours (SCH). The Sign Language Interpreting (65 SCH), Dental Hygiene (68 SCH), Diagnostic Medical Sonography (65 SCH), Physical Therapist Assistant (66 SCH), Radiologic Technology (64 SCH), and Respiratory Care (66 SCH) degrees have been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to exceed the 60 SCH limit.
Certificates – A program of study that varies in length and is designed to prepare the student for occupational employment. It is awarded upon completion of specific courses that have been industry validated and sequenced for the purpose of developing and upgrading skills in an occupation.
TCC offers the following types of certificates:
- Occupational Skills Award: 9 to 14 semester credit hours
- Level 1 Certificate: 15 to 42 semester credit hours, exempt from TSI requirements
- Level 2 Certificate: 30 to 51 semester credit hours, subject to TSI requirements
- Enhanced Skills Certificate: 6 to 12 semester credit hours, subject to special admission
- Advanced Technical Certificate: 16 to 45 semester credit hours, subject to special admission
The enhanced skills certificate is attached to an associate degree that provides the student with skills beyond career entry as identified by business and industry.
The advanced technical certificate has a specific associate or baccalaureate degree (or, in some circumstances, junior-level standing in a baccalaureate degree program) as a prerequisite for admission, and is focused and clearly related to the prerequisite degree.
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