91¶ÌÊÓƵ

A minimum of 10 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits and credits awarded by department decision do not qualify for residential hours (91¶ÌÊÓƵ PPM 4-1.3.A). Undergraduate certificates must meet a minimum of 16 total credit hours. Course work for certificates is designed in a specific area for career and technical education purposes or for professional development. At the discretion of the department, credits earned as part of a Certificate program may be applied to a degree.

Students enrolled in Certificate programs may need to meet additional credit hour requirements in order to qualify for financial aid and should check with the Financial Aid Office.

2.2.1 – Undergraduate Certificates

• 2.2.1.1 – Certificate of Proficiency. A program of study that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. Less than one year in length of full-time study. Requires 16 to 29 semester credit hours. Does not require but may include general education courses (BOR401-3.1.1).

  • 2.2.1.1.1 – Entry-Level CTE Certificate of Proficiency. Meets Perkins eligibility requirements and federal financial aid requirements, and consists entirely of lower-division courses (BOR401-3.1.1.1).

  • 2.2.1.1.2 – Mid-Level Certificate of Proficiency. Provides students with a specific set of skills. May meet Perkins eligibility and/or federal financial aid requirements. Made up of courses selected from undergraduate programs, with or without prerequisites (BOR401-3.12.1.2).

  • 2.2.1.1.3 – Institutional Certificate of Proficiency. Less than one year in length (less than 30 semester hours) ending in a certificate issued under the authority of the institution do not require approval by the Regents.

  • 2.2.1.1.4 – A Certificate of Proficiency will be reflected on the transcript.

  • 2.2.1.1.5 – Students enrolled in a Certificate of Proficiency may need to meet additional credit hour requirements in order to qualify for financial aid and should check with the Financial Aid Office.

• 2.2.1.2 – Certificate of Completion. A program of study consisting entirely of lower- division courses. Intended to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. Typically more than one year and less than two years in length of full-time study. Requires a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 33 semester credit hours. General education requirements are less extensive than in AA and AS degrees, generally 9 credit hours in Composition, Computation, and Human Relations. Certificates requiring more than 36 semester credit hours must show how the certificate can lead to an associate’s degree within the normal credit hour requirements for that degree. When appropriate, transfer agreements should be included in the program proposal (BOR 401-3.12.2).

  • 2.2.1.2.1 – A certificate of completion will be reflected on the transcript.

  • 2.2.1.2.2 – Students enrolled in a Certificate of Completion may need to meet additional credit hour requirements in order to qualify for financial aid and should check with the Financial Aid Office.

2.2.2 – Graduate Certificates

• 2.2.2.1 – Graduate Certificate. A program of study, less than one year in length, made up of undergraduate- and/or graduate-level course work, with a pre- requisite of at least a bachelor’s degree. These may include the Post- Baccalaureate or Post-Master’s certificate as defined in Regent Policy (BOR401).

  • 2.2.2.1.1 – Post-baccalaureate Certificate. A program of study requiring less than 30 semester credit hours and composed of undergraduate and/or graduate courses. The program requires a bachelor’s degree for admission. A Post-baccalaureate Certificate will be reflected on the transcript.

  • 2.2.2.1.2 – Post-master’s Certificate. A program of study less than 30 semester credit hours and composed entirely of graduate-level courses. The program requires a master’s degree for admission. A Post-master’s Certificate will be reflected on the transcript.

2.4.1 – Associate of Arts (AA) & Associate of Science (AS) Degrees

Programs of study primarily intended to encourage exploration of academic options that provide a strong general education component, and prepare students for upper-division work in baccalaureate programs or for employment and for responsible citizenship. Typically two years in length of full-time study (BOR 401-3.12.4).

For information related to Specialized Associate’s Degrees and Pre- Majors please see Board of Regents policy 401-3.12.4.1 and 401-3.12.4.2.

2.4.2 – AA & AS Requirements

• 2.4.2.1 – Requires a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 63 semester credit hours, which includes general education coursework. Exceptions for the maximum number of program hours are allowed if accreditation issues require a set number of courses within a given program.

• 2.4.2.2 – A minimum of 20 hours in residence.

• 2.4.2.3 – At least a 2.0 91¶ÌÊÓƵ grade point average (GPA).

• 2.4.2.4 – Completion of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ general education and diversity requirements.

2.4.3 – Foreign Language or American Sign Language Requirements

The Associate of Arts Degree must include a foreign language or ASL (American Sign Language) requirement which may be met by one of the following:

• 2.4.3.1 – Documentation of a proficiency level of "Novice High" or better through an examination administered by the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Foreign Language Department or through an examination by a recognized testing agency.

• 2.4.3.2 – Completion of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ foreign language course 1020 with a grade of "C" of higher, or comparable transfer credit.

• 2.4.3.3 – Completion of any 91¶ÌÊÓƵ foreign language course at a level beyond the first year with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit. Documentation of three years of the same language completed in high school with a minimum grade of "B".

• 2.4.3.4 – Documentation of a minimum proficiency level in American Sign Language through an examination administered by the American Sign Language/Interpreting program at SLCC. The signer must "demonstrate proficiency in temporal aspect, spatial agreement and in describing things around her/him and the deaf culture."

• 2.4.3.5 – Completion of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ American Sign Language course 1020 with a grade of "C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.

2.6.1 – Master of Arts (MA) & Master of Science (MS) Degrees

Graduate-level programs of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. Typically more than one and less than two years of full-time graduate study. Requires a minimum of 30 and maximum of 36 semester credit hours of coursework (BOR 401- 3.12.8)

2.6.2 – Professional Master’s Degrees

Professional master’s degrees such as the Master of Business Administration or Master of Social Work may require additional course work or projects. May exceed the maximum of 36 credit hours to meet accreditation requirements. Professional degrees often lead to third-party licensure. (BOR 401.3.12.8).

2.6.3 – Degree Requirements

Credit hour requirement. A minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree is required for any 91¶ÌÊÓƵ master degree. Additional course work or projects may be required due to graduate program accreditation standards, or for specialized professional master degrees.

At least two-thirds of the credits in any master degree program (including thesis or project) must be received from 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

• 2.6.3.1 – GPA Requirement. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for successful completion of a graduate degree. The sponsoring department determines individual course grade requirements.

• 2.6.3.2 – Time Limit for Degree Completion. All degree requirements must be completed within six years from the semester of entry into a 91¶ÌÊÓƵ graduate program. A graduate student's catalog will be the catalog in effect the Fall Semester of the academic year when he or she enrolls in the graduate program following formal admission into that program. Graduate programs may impose an age limit on graduate credits completed prior to entry into a program. The graduate program must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

• 2.6.3.3 – Thesis / Non-Thesis Degree Options. Master's degree programs may include a "thesis option" and/or a "non-thesis option." The Master's thesis should be evidence of the graduate student's ability to carry out an independent investigation and to present the results in clear and systemic form.

  • 2.6.3.3.1 – The overall level of achievement for the Master's degree should be the same whether the option chosen requires completion of a thesis or not.

  • 2.6.3.3.2 – The thesis option should include at least 6 semester credits of thesis research. The semesters during which a student registers for thesis credit should correspond as closely as possible to the semesters in which the thesis work is done and faculty supervision is provided.

  • 2.6.3.3.3 – The non-thesis option will instead include a major project, paper, presentation, and/or a comprehensive examination.