2019-2020 Catalog & Student Handbook

Jul 07, 2025

2019-2020 Catalog & Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Associate in Arts (A10100), AA

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Purpose

The Associate in Arts degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit (SHC) of college transfer courses. The Associate in Arts program concentrates heavily on the humanities and social sciences; it is recommended for students who will continue into a Bachelor of Arts or Liberal Arts degree program. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and basic computer use. Courses are approved for transfer through the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA). The CAA enables North Carolina community college graduates of two-year associate in arts programs who are admitted to constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to transfer with junior status.

Community college graduates must obtain a grade of “C” or better in each course and an overall GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to transfer with a junior status. Courses may also transfer through bilateral agreements between institutions. Students are responsible for examining the program major requirements of the four-year institution to which they plan to transfer for completion of their degree.

Admission Requirements and Special Conditions

A high school diploma (or equivalent) and satisfactory scores on college placement tests (or equivalent) in English and mathematics are required. If students have deficiencies in English and/or mathematics, RCC offers pre-college courses to prepare students for the Associate in Arts curriculum.

Program Curriculum

First Semester (Fall)

ACA 122 - College Transfer Success Credit Hours: 1
BIO 111 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 4
or CHM 151 General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
MAT 143 - Quantitative Literacy Credit Hours: 3
or MAT 152 Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 4

or MAT 171 Precalculus Algebra Credit Hours: 4
Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)

Class Hours 8 or 9 | Lab Hours 7 | Credit Hours 14 or 15

Second Semester (Spring)

ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Disciplines Credit Hours: 3
General Education Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
Humanities/ Fine Arts - Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
Social/ Behavioral Science - Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
Natural Science - Elective Credit Hours: 4 (see choices below)

Class Hours 15 | Lab Hours 5 or 6 | Credit Hours 16

Third Semester (Fall)

General Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
General Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
General Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
Literature Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
PE Elective Credit Hours: 1 (see choices below)

Class Hours 15 | Lab Hours 3 | Credit Hours 16

Fourth Semester (Spring)

General Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
General Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
General Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Credit Hours: 3 (see choices below)
PE Elective Credit Hours: 1 or 2 (see choices below)

Class Hours 12-13 | Lab Hours 2-3 | Credit Hours 13 or 14

Universal General Education Courses (UGETC)

English Composition (6 SHC)

The following two English composition courses are required.

ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Disciplines Credit Hours: 3

Humanities/Fine Arts/Communication (9 SHC)

Select three courses from at least two different disciplines

ART 111 - Art Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
COM 231 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
ENG 231 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 232 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3
ENG 241 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 242 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
MUS 112 - Introduction to Jazz Credit Hours: 3
PHI 215 - Philosophical Issues Credit Hours: 3
PHI 240 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3

Social/Behavioral Sciences (9 SHC)

Select three courses from at least two different disciplines

ECO 251 - Prin of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECO 252 - Prin of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
HIS 111 - World Civilizations I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 112 - World Civilizations II Credit Hours: 3
HIS 131 - American History I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 132 - American History II Credit Hours: 3
POL 120 - American Government Credit Hours: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 210 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3

Mathematics (3 – 4 SHC)

Select one course from the following:

MAT 143 - Quantitative Literacy Credit Hours: 3
or
MAT 152 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 4
or
MAT 171 - Precalculus Algebra Credit Hours: 4

Natural Sciences (4 SHC)

Select 4 SHC from the following courses:

BIO 111 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 4
or
CHM 151 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4

Required (31 – 32 SHC)

Additional General Education Hours (13-14 SHC)

An additional 13-14 SHC of courses should be selected from courses classified as general education within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students should select these courses based on their intended major and transfer university.

Natural Science Electives (4 SHC)

AST 151 - General Astronomy I Credit Hours: 3
and AST 151A General Astronomy I Lab Credit Hours: 1
or
BIO 111 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 4
or
CHM 151 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
or
CHM 152 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
or
PHY 110 - Conceptual Physics Credit Hours: 3
and PHY 110A Credit Hours:1

Additional General Education Courses (10 SHC)

Select at least 10 SCH from the following courses:

CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers Credit Hours: 3
COM 231 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
ECO 251 - Prin of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECO 252 - Prin of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ENG 231 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 232 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3
ENG 241 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 242 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
HIS 111 - World Civilizations I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 112 - World Civilizations II Credit Hours: 3
HIS 131 - American History I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 132 - American History II Credit Hours: 3
HUM 115 - Critical Thinking Credit Hours: 3
HUM 130 - Myth in Human Culture Credit Hours: 3
MAT 143 - Quantitative Literacy Credit Hours: 3
MAT 152 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 4
MAT 171 - Precalculus Algebra Credit Hours: 4
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
MUS 112 - Introduction to Jazz Credit Hours: 3
PHI 215 - Philosophical Issues Credit Hours: 3
PHI 240 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3
POL 120 - American Government Credit Hours: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
PSY 241 - Developmental Psychology Credit Hours: 3
REL 110 - World Religions Credit Hours: 3
REL 221 - Religion in America Credit Hours: 3
SOC 210 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 213 - Sociology of the Family Credit Hours: 3
SOC 220 - Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
SPA 111 - Elementary Spanish I Credit Hours: 3
SPA 112 - Elementary Spanish II Credit Hours: 3
SPA 211 - Intermediate Spanish I Credit Hours: 3

Required (13 –14 SHC)

Other Required Hours

The following course is required:

ACA 122 - College Transfer Success Credit Hours: 1
An additional 14 SHC of courses should be selected from courses classified as pre-major, elective or general education courses within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students should select these courses based on their intended major and transfer university.

Physical Education Elective(s) (2 SHC)

Select two courses from the following {it is recommended that students take a 1 credit hour (active) PE first}:

PED 110 - Fit and Well for Life Credit Hours: 2
PED 117 - Weight Training I Credit Hours: 1
PED 118 - Weight Training II Credit Hours: 1
PED 120 - Walking for Fitness Credit Hours: 1
PED 143 - Volleyball – Beginning Credit Hours: 1 - PreMajor

Select from the Following Courses (12 SHC)

ACC 120 - Prin of Financial Accounting Credit Hours: 4
ACC 121 - Prin of Managerial Accounting Credit Hours: 4
AST 151 - General Astronomy I Credit Hours: 3
and AST 151A General Astronomy I Lab Credit Hours: 1
BIO 111 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 4
BIO 112 - General Biology II Credit Hours: 4
BIO 120 - Introductory Botany Credit Hours: 4
BIO 130 - Introductory Zoology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 163 - Basic Anatomy & Physiology Credit Hours: 5
BIO 168 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 4
BIO 169 - Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hours: 4
BIO 275 - Microbiology Credit Hours: 4
BUS 110 - Introduction to Business Credit Hours: 3
CHM 131 - Introduction to Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
and CHM 131A Intro to Chemistry Lab Credit Hours: 1
CHM 151 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
CHM 152 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers Credit Hours: 3
CJC 111 - Intro to Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
COM 231 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
ECO 251 - Prin of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECO 252 - Prin of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ENG 231 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 232 - American Literature II Credit Hours: 3
ENG 241 - British Literature I Credit Hours: 3
ENG 242 - British Literature II Credit Hours: 3
GEL 111 Geology Credit Hours: 4
HIS 111 - World Civilizations I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 112 - World Civilizations II Credit Hours: 3
HIS 131 - American History I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 132 - American History II Credit Hours: 3
HUM 110 Technology and Society Credit Hours: 3
HUM 115 - Critical Thinking Credit Hours: 3
HUM 130 - Myth in Human Culture Credit Hours: 3
MAT 143 - Quantitative Literacy Credit Hours: 3
MAT 152 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 4
MAT 171 - Precalculus Algebra Credit Hours: 4
MAT 172 - Precalculus Trigonometry Credit Hours: 4
MAT 271 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
MAT 272 - Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
MUS 112 - Introduction to Jazz Credit Hours: 3
PHI 215 - Philosophical Issues Credit Hours: 3
PHI 240 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3
PHY 110 - Conceptual Physics Credit Hours: 3
and PHY 110A Conceptual Physics Lab Credit Hours: 1
PHY 151 - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
PHY 152 - College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
POL 120 - American Government Credit Hours: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
PSY 241 - Developmental Psychology Credit Hours: 3
REL 110 - World Religions Credit Hours: 3
REL 221 - Religion in America Credit Hours: 3
SOC 210 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 213 - Sociology of the Family Credit Hours: 3
SOC 220 Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
SPA 111 - Elementary Spanish I Credit Hours: 3
SPA 112 - Elementary Spanish II Credit Hours: 3
SPA 211 - Intermediate Spanish I Credit Hours: 3

Required (15 SHC)

Total (60 SHC)

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree *Required Semester Credit Hours*
UGETC	31-32 SHC
Additional General Education	13-14 SHC
Other Required Hours	15 SHC
Total	60 SHC

Students are responsible for examining the program major requirements of the four-year institution to which they plan to transfer for completion of their degree.

The courses selected to meet the Additional General Education Hours (13-14 SHC) and other Required Hours (15 SHC) requirement should be based on the intended major and transfer university.