2020-2021 Academic Catalog

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Curriculum Programs of Study *Presented Alphabetically by Program Title*

Curriculum Programs

Each curriculum offered by Bladen Community College is based upon a system-wide standard approved by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Each standard includes the curriculum title; the highest credential which may be awarded; a program code; a program description; a range of semester hour credits (SHC) required in general education courses, major courses, and other required courses; and total credits allowed for each curriculum.

The standard for each curriculum program shall be based on the following criteria established by the State Board for the awarding of degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

  1. Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
    The Associate in Applied Science Degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 64 and a maximum of 76 semester hours of courses at the 110-199 and 210-299 levels. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers.
    1. The Associate in Applied Science Degree curriculum program shall include a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education courses selected from the Combined Course Library, including six hours in communications, three hours in humanities or fine arts, three hours in social or behavioral sciences, and three hours in natural sciences or mathematics.
    2. The Associate in Applied Science Degree curriculum program shall include a minimum of 49 semester hours of major courses selected from the Combined Course Library. Major courses are those which offer specific job knowledge or skills.
      1. Within the major hours category, each curriculum program shall include identified core courses or subject areas. The required subject or course core shall be comprised of subject areas or specific courses or both which are required for each curriculum program. Core subjects or courses shall be based on curriculum competencies and teach essential skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level employment. The number of credit hours required for the core may vary from title to title but shall not be less than 12 semester hours of credit.
      2. The major hours category may also include hours required for a concentration of study. A concentration of study is a group of courses required beyond the core for a specific related employment field. A concentration shall include a minimum of 12 semester hours, and the majority of the course credit hours shall be unique to the concentration.
      3. Other major hours shall be selected from prefixes identified on the curriculum standard. A maximum of nine semester hours of credit may be selected from a prefix listed, with the exception of prefixes listed in the core or concentration.
      4. Work experience, including cooperative education, practicums, and internships, may be included in an associate in applied science degree curriculum program up to a maximum of eight semester hours of credit.
    3. An Associate in Applied Science Degree curriculum program may include a maximum of seven other required hours to complete college graduation requirements. These courses shall be selected from the Combined Course Library.
    4. Selected topics or seminar courses may be included in an associate in applied science degree program up to a maximum of three-semester hour’s credit.
  2. Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.)/Associate in Science Degree (A.S.)

    The Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degree programs in the North Carolina Community College System require a total of sixty or sixty-one semester hours credit for graduation and are transferable to any UNC institution. The overall total is comprised of both lower-division general education and pre-major courses. This curriculum reflects the distribution of discipline areas commonly included in institution-wide, lower-division general education requirements for the baccalaureate degree. The Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degree programs include general education requirements that represent the fundamental foundation for success and include study in the areas of English composition, communications, humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences. Within these discipline areas, community colleges must include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and basic computer use. Students must meet the receiving university's foreign language and/or health and physical education requirements, if applicable, prior to or after transfer to the senior institution.

    The AA and AS degree programs of study are structured to include two components: –Universal General Education Transfer Component comprises a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit, and –Additional general education, pre-major, and elective courses that prepare students for successful transfer into selected majors at UNC institutions and bring the total number of hours in the degree programs to 60-61 semester hours. To ensure maximum transferability of credits, students should select a transfer major and preferred transfer university before completing 30 semester hours of credit. Additional general education, pre-major, and elective courses should be selected based on a student’s intended major and transfer institution.

  3. Associate in General Education (A.G.E.)
    4. The Associate in General Education degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 64 and a maximum of 65 semester hours of credit from curriculum courses at the 110-199 and 210-299 levels. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers. Diplomas and certificates are not allowed under this degree program. The requirements for the Associate in General Education Degree are as follows:
    1. The Associate in General Education curriculum program shall include a minimum of 15 semester hours of credit from general education curriculum courses selected from the Combined Course Library, including six hours in communications, three hours in humanities/fine arts, three hours in social/behavioral sciences, and three hours in natural science or mathematics.
    2. The remaining hours in the Associate in General Education curriculum program shall consist of additional general education and professional curriculum courses selected from the Combined Course Library. A maximum of seven semester hours of credit in health, physical education, and college orientation or study skills courses may be included.
    3. Selected topics or seminar curriculum courses may be included in an Associate in General Education program up to a maximum of three semester hours of credit. Selected topics and seminar courses shall not substitute for required general education or major core courses. Such curriculum courses shall be listed on a program of study as “Other Major Hours.” Selected topics and seminar curriculum courses shall not be used more than once in a program.
  4. Diploma
    The Diploma shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 48 semester hours of courses at the 100-299 course level.
    1. Diploma curricula shall include a minimum of six semester hours of general education courses selected from the Combined Course Library. A minimum of three hours shall be in communications and a minimum of three semester hours shall be selected from courses in humanities and fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, or natural sciences and mathematics. A diploma curriculum program may include general education courses at the 100-109 level.
    2. Diploma curricula shall include a minimum of 30 semester hours of major courses selected from the Combined Course Library.
      1. A diploma curriculum program, which is a stand-alone curriculum program title, shall include identified core courses or subject areas within the major hours category.
      2. Courses for other major hours in a stand-alone diploma curriculum program title shall be selected from prefixes identified on the curriculum standard. A maximum of nine-semester hours credit may be selected from any prefix listed, with the exception of prefixes listed in the core or concentration.
      3. Work experience, including cooperative education, practicums, and internships, may be included in a diploma curriculum program up to a maximum of eight semester hours credit.
    3. A diploma curriculum program may include a maximum of four other required hours to complete college graduation requirements. These courses shall be selected from the Combined Course Library.
    4. An institution may award a diploma under an approved associate in applied science degree curriculum program for a series of courses taken from the approved associate degree curriculum program.
      1. A diploma curriculum program offered under an approved associate degree curriculum program shall meet the standard general education and major course requirements for the diploma credential.
      2. A college may substitute general education courses at the 100-109 course level for the associate-degree level general education courses in a diploma curriculum program offered under an approved degree program.
      3. The diploma curriculum program offered under an approved associate degree curriculum program shall require a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit from courses extracted from the required subject or course core of the respective associate in applied science degree curriculum program.
    5. Selected topics or seminar courses may be included in a diploma program up to a maximum of three semester hour’s credit.
  5. Certificate
    The Certificate shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 semester hours of courses at the 100-299 course level.
    1. General education is optional in certificate curricula.
    2. Certificate curricula shall include a minimum of 12 semester hours of major courses selected from the Combined Course Library.
      1. A certificate curriculum program which is a stand-alone curriculum program title or which is the highest credential level awarded under an approved associate in applied science degree or diploma program areas within the major hour’s category.
      2. Courses for other major hours in a stand-alone certificate curriculum program shall be selected from prefixes identified on the curriculum standard. A maximum of nine-semester hours credit may be selected from any prefix listed, with the exception of prefixes listed in the core or concentration.
      3. Work experience, including cooperative education practicums, and internships, may be included in a certificate program up to a maximum of two semester hours credit.
    3. A certificate curriculum program may include a maximum of one other required hour to complete college graduation requirements. This course shall be selected from the Combined Course Library.
    4. An institution may award a certificate under an approved degree or diploma curriculum program for a series of courses totaling a minimum of 12 semester hour’s credit and a maximum of 18 semester hour’s credit taken from the approved associate degree or diploma curriculum program.
    5. Selected topics or seminar courses may be included in a certificate program up to a maximum of three semester hour’s credit.

General Education College Level Core Competencies

Each academic program at Bladen Community College (BCC) includes a core of courses that outline the content, skills, and learning outcomes that students have in common, regardless of their major or degree program. In addition to discipline specific content, this core of courses introduces general academic skill to include written communication, oral communication, basic computer usage, problem solving, understanding scientific concepts and applications, and understanding social structure.

The core satisfies the General Education component of degree programs. For associate in applied science degree programs, the core encompasses a minimum of 15 semester hours in the following areas: English, humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural sciences and mathematics.

For the Associate in Arts Degree, the core encompasses 44-45 semester hours. Student competencies in general academic skills are introduced and assessed in the core; however, curriculum major courses also teach these skills embedded in program specific content. It is the reinforcement of these competencies across disciplines and in program specific courses that advance qualified graduates. Therefore, BCC assesses the extent to which graduates have obtained these competencies (SACS CS 3.5.1).