| |
The governing board
of a community college district shall confer the degree of
Associate in Arts or Associate in Science upon a student who
has demonstrated competence in reading, in written expression,
and in mathematics, and who has satisfactorily completed at
least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of college work.
This course work requirement must be fulfilled in a curriculum
accepted toward the degree by a college within the district
(as shown in its catalog). It must include at least 18 semester
or 27 quarter units in General Education and at least 18 semester
or 27 quarter units in a major as prescribed in this section.
Of the required units, at least 12 semester or 18 quarter
units must be completed in residence at the college granting
the degree. Exceptions to residence requirements for the Associate
Degree may be made by the governing board when it determines
that an injustice or undue hardship would be placed on the
student.
(a) Major Requirements. At least 18 semester or 27 quarter
units of study taken in a single discipline or related disciplines,
as listed in the Community Colleges “Taxonomy of Programs,”
shall be required.
(b) General Education Requirements.
(1) Students receiving an Associate Degree shall complete
a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units of general education,
including a minimum of three semester or four quarter units
in each of the areas (A), (B) and (C) and the same minimum
in each part of (D). The remainder of the unit requirement
is also to be selected from among these four divisions of
learning or as determined by local option:
(A) Natural Sciences. Courses in the natural sciences are
those which examine the physical universe, its life forms,
and its natural phenomena. To satisfy the General Education
Requirement in natural sciences, a course shall be designed
to help the student develop an appreciation and understanding
of the scientific method, and encourage an understanding of
the relationships between science and other human activities.
This category would include introductory or integrative courses
in astronomy, biology, chemistry, general physical science,
geology, meteorology, oceanography, physical geography, physical
anthropology, physics and other scientific disciplines.
(B) Social and Behavioral Sciences. Courses in the social
and behavioral sciences are those which focus on people as
members of society. To satisfy the general education requirement
in social and behavioral sciences, a course shall be designed
to develop an awareness of the method of inquiry used by the
social and behavioral sciences. It shall be designed to stimulate
critical thinking about the ways people act and have acted
in response to their societies and should promote appreciation
of how societies and social subgroups operate. This category
would include introductory or integrative survey courses in
cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history,
political science, psychology, sociology and related disciplines.
(C) Humanities. Courses in the humanities are those which
study the cultural activities and artistic expressions of
human beings. To satisfy the general education requirement
in the humanities, a course shall be designed to help the
student develop an awareness of the ways in which people throughout
the ages and in different cultures have responded to themselves
and the world around them in artistic and cultural creation
and help the student develop aesthetic understanding and an
ability to make value judgments. Such courses could include
introductory or integrative courses in the arts, foreign languages,
literature, philosophy, and religion.
(D) Language and Rationality. Courses in language and rationality
are those which develop for the student the principles and
applications of language toward logical thought, clear and
precise expression and critical evaluation of communication
in whatever symbol system the student uses.
1. English Composition. Courses fulfilling the written composition
requirement shall be designed to include both expository and
argumentative writing.
2. Communication and Analytical Thinking. Courses fulfilling
the communication and analytical thinking requirement include
oral communication, mathematics, logic, statistics, computer
languages and programming, and related disciplines.
(2) While a course might satisfy more than one general education
requirement, it may not be counted more than once for these
purposes. A course may be used to satisfy both a general education
requirement and a major requirement. Whether it may be counted
again for a different degree requirement is a matter for each
college to determine. Students may use the same course to
meet a general education requirement for the Associate Degree
and to partially satisfy a general education requirement at
the California State University, if such course is eligible
under the provisions of section 40405 of this title.
(3) Ethnic Studies will be offered in at least one of the
required areas.
(c) The provisions of this section shall be applicable to
all students who enter a community college on or after July
1, 1983, provided that a governing board may specify an earlier
implementation date pursuant to subsection (b) of Section
55810.
|
