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Degrees, Diplomas And Certificates
Definitions
Program: A program is a cohesive pattern of credit courses and experiences leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. Programs are designed to (1) prepare students for advanced study, (2) qualify students for an occupation or range of occupations, and (3) increase students knowledge and understanding in a specific area/discipline. Accomplishment of program objectives requires a set of structured learning experiences in which a student must demonstrate competencies in a wide range of skills and knowledge that constitute a major or is certified by a credential.
Credit: A credit is the unit of measure normally associated with specific courses and experiential learning activities. While credits are the units of measure utilized in this policy, their use in not intended to limit nor reduce opportunities to certify skills and competency attainment through alternative student outcome assessment approaches. The goal of education is the attainment of specific skills and knowledge. Creative approaches to the awarding of credit in response to demonstrated student skills attainment, above and beyond credit for prior learning and credit through examination programs, are both encouraged and desired.
Criteria
Degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded for program completion by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities shall meet the following criteria:
- Certificates
may be awarded for successful completion of a
specialized academic or occupational program of study which certifies a
specific skill attainment. These certificate
programs are between 10 - 30 semester college-level
credits. The program awarding a Specialized Certificate shall have as
its primary objective certifying graduates in the area/skill designated
in the certificate program
title.
- An Occupational Certificate may be awarded for successful completion of a program intended to
provide students with entry-level employment skills.
- An Advanced Technical Certificate may be awarded for successful completion of a program
intended to enhance or raise a student's technical skills. Minimum
standards shall include graduation from an appropriate diploma or
degree program or an appropriate term of related
employment.
- An Advanced Certificate at the pre-baccalaureate level, may be awarded for successful completion of
a program intended to certify a student's knowledge and/or
professional skills in a specific area of knowledge or
practice.
- A Specialized Academic Certificate after or in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree, may be
awarded for successful completion of a program intended to certify
a student's knowledge and/or professional
skills in a specialized area
of knowledge or practice.
- A Specialized Graduate Certificate may be awarded or successful completion of a program
intended to certify a student's knowledge
and/or professional skills
in a specialized advanced area of knowledge or practice. A Specialized
Graduate Certificate shall be awarded
either (a) at the conclusion
of a graduate program or (b) to an
individual already holding a
recognized graduate degree.
- An Occupational Certificate may be awarded for successful completion of a program intended to
provide students with entry-level employment skills.
- Diplomas may be awarded for successful completion of a program intended to provide students with either entry-level employment skills or upgraded employment skills. A diploma shall include 45 -96 quarter or 30 - 64 semester college-level credits. The Chancellor or designee must approve program credit lengths which exceed 96 quarter or 64 semester credits. One-third of the credits shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award of the diploma. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty.
- Associate Degrees
may be awarded after the successful completion of a
program of 60 - 72 semester college-level credits. The Chancellor or designees must approve program credit
lengths which exceed 72 semester credits. Twenty
semester credits shall be taught by the faculty
recommending the award of the degree. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the
faculty.
- An Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree
is designed to constitute
the first two years of a four-year baccalaureate program. During this period, the
student satisfies prerequisite courses for the intended major field of
study, and completes general education requirements. The A.A.
Degree is intended for transfer to senior institutions, and will
fulfill general education distribution requirements at public
universities in Minnesota and some non-public and out-of-state
universities, as well. The Associate in Arts degree has included the Minnesota
Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) since Fall,
1995.
- An Associate in Science (A.S.) degree
may be awarded for
successful completion of a program which transfers to a baccalaureate major in a
scientific or technical field. An Associate in Science program includes
a minimum of 30 semester credits of
general education courses.
At HCC, general education courses are selected from the Minnesota
Transfer Curriculum. Sixteen semester
credits of general education
are distributed as follows: at least four
semester credits must be
completed in each of the categories of Communications, Humanities,
Social Sciences, and Mathematics/Natural Sciences. A majority of the
general education courses are prerequisites to or,
specifically supportive of, occupational
courses.
- An Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree
is awarded for successful
completion of a program of 60 - 72 semester
college-level credits. The
Chancellor or designee must approve program credit lengths which exceed
72 semester credits. An A.A.S. degree is awarded for successful
completion of a program primarily intended to
prepare students for
employment. An A.A.S. program includes a minimum of 25% of total credit to be
general education courses. At HCC, all general education courses
are selected from the Minnesota Transfer
Curriculum and include three
of the ten MnTC goal areas. A majority of
the general education
courses are prerequisites to, or specifically supportive of, occupational
courses. At least 30 semester credits are
program-related occupational
or technical courses.
- An Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree
is designed to constitute
the first two years of a four-year baccalaureate program. During this period, the
student satisfies prerequisite courses for the intended major field of
study, and completes general education requirements. The A.A.
Degree is intended for transfer to senior institutions, and will
fulfill general education distribution requirements at public
universities in Minnesota and some non-public and out-of-state
universities, as well. The Associate in Arts degree has included the Minnesota
Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) since Fall,
1995.
