When planning out your studies, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. So here are some questions to ask yourself to help you decide what steps to take:
How long will it take for me to get my degree?
To get an Associate’s degree it will take 60-65 course hours… If you look at the courses, they are typically 1-4 hours a piece, and a full-time student takes 12-20 hours a semester. So typically, for a full-time student it will take 2-3 years to complete an AS, depending on their course load. If a student decides to go part-time, then it could take a bit longer.
To get a Bachelor’s degree it typically takes somewhere around 120 course hours depending on the program and school requirements. This usually takes students 4-5 years to complete.
So how should I plan?
Keep in mind – your life’s demands. When would it be better to take fewer or more classes? Should you go part time, or maybe take some summer classes to make up time?
Plan Early, and create flexibility – remember classes could fill up before you can take them or they could not make, so have options in mind…
If you are planning on transferring start looking at possible four year schools your freshman year at El Centro, so that you know application deadlines and school requirements for places you are interested in attending.
REMEMBER to look early at higher level courses to see what prerequisites will be needed… You don’t want to get caught your Junior and Senior years without the basic courses required to get into your higher level courses.
For an Associates Degree:
If you are a student who maybe wants to start by getting their associates, then try out the work force or just want to take it one degree at a time before you decide whether you would like to transfer, then this part is specifically for you!
Here is a general list of what you will need for an Associates of Science:
*Note – Some of these groups have many options, and certain Science course combination may not be used for the CORE. For a more Specific list, click here
| Core Courses Required: | HRS 21-24 | Core Courses With choices: | HRS 21-24 | Electives: For an Assoc. of Science |
HRS 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English: (Grade: C or better) English 1301 English 1302 |
6 | Speech or Language:
SPCH 1311 OR Foreign Language |
3 | You will need 6 Hours from one of the following areas – they cannot have been taken as part of your CORE requirements:
|
6 |
| History:
History 1301 History 1302 |
6 | Wellness:
One Course Required |
1-3 | Then the other 12 hours may be satisfied with any other elective courses. | 12 |
| Government:
Govt 2301 Govt 2302 |
6 | “Self & Society”:
One course Required |
3 | ||
| Mathematics:
One math course is required & you must receive a C or better in this course. |
3-5 | Humanities:
Two Courses Required |
6 | ||
| Scientific Discovery & Sustainability:
Two Courses Required |
8 |
For Transfer to a Four Year University or College
Typically you will need to take the same pre-requisite courses for most science, Engineering, and Mathematics degrees, however; when you decide what area you want to go into, you can look to see specifically what is required. Also, if you are planning on transferring to a four-year University or College, then you will want to look at various degree plans in the area you are interested in to see what is typically required. EVERY SCHOOL is different, so look and see what the schools you are looking into require.
*Remember to start looking at schools early for application deadlines and school requirements – this will make your life MUCH easier*
*Only 2 semesters are required, however if you are going to major in Science, you will need to take more because these will serve as pre-requisites for your upper level courses in your major*
| Sciences | HRS 32 |
Core Courses Required: | HRS 18 |
Core Courses With choices: |
HRS 18 – 33 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology 14061 | 4 | English 1301 | 3 | Mathematics:3
(only 3 hours are required to get an AA or AS Degree – HOWEVER, many four- year schools require Calculus I & II for a degree in the Sciences) |
3-8 |
| Biology 14071 | 4 | English 1302 | 3 | Communications:
|
6
3 |
| Chemistry1 | 4 | History 1301 | 3 | Social/Behavioral Sciences Either:
|
3 |
| Chemistry1 | 4 | History 1302 | 3 | Visual & Performing Arts:
|
3 |
| Physics 14011,3 | 4 | Government 2301 | 3 | Humanities:
AND:
|
3
And 3 |
| Physics 14021,3 | 4 | Government 2302 | 3 | For an AA or AS –
|
3-4 |
| (Geology)2 | 4 | Physical Education 1164 | |||
| (Geology)2 | 4 |
*If you are transferring, it is also important to look to see how many courses you can transfer*
- For a degree in Biology or Chemistry, you will need to take your core classes along with 2 semesters of Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics.
- For a degree in Geology, Geography, Environmental Science, or other science you would still take the core, but the other requirements vary quite a bit from school to school. Typically you will need to take 2 courses in Geology, which are 4 hour courses, but you may not need to take all of the Biology, Chemistry, or Physics… Therefore check with the schools or with your academic advisor for more information on course choices in the sciences.
- For a degree in either Math or Engineering you will need to take the core classes, and you will most likely need the 2 semesters of physics, but instead of the other sciences listed, you will need to add either higher level Mathematics or Physics courses. It is important to look at the 4-year school’s requirements as prerequisites for higher level courses that you will take your Junior and Senior year.
