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Academic Services

Introduction

Academic Policies and Rules

Academic Credentials Awarded

General Education Requirements

Miscellaneous

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Academic Credentials Awarded

Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS)

Core Transfer Component:	AA	AS
Writing/Accessing Information	6 credit hours	6 credit hours
Oral Communications	3 credit hours	3 credit hours
Heritage	3 credit hours	3 credit hours
Humanities	3 credit hours	3 credit hours
Social Interaction	9 credit hours1	9 credit hours1
Science	6 credit hours2	6 credit hours2
Mathematics	3 credit hours	3 credit hours3
Subtotal Core Transfer	33 credit hours	33 credit hours
Additional General Education Requirements
Heritage/Humanities/Foreign Language	3 credit hours
Heritage/Humanities/Social Interaction/Foreign Language	3 credit hours
Science/Mathematics	3 credit hours	9 credit hours3
Computer Literacy and/or course(s) to be chosen from the approved general education list	6 credit hours4	6 credit hours4
Subtotal	15 credit hours	15 credit hours
Total General Education Block	48 credit hours5	48 credit hours5

Notes:
¹ At least two disciplines must be represented from Social Interaction courses.
² Must include at least one Science course with a laboratory experience.
³ Mathematics: The AS degree requires a total of 18 hours in Science/Mathematics. Of these 18 hours, at least 4 hours must be in Mathematics/Statistics courses with prefixes MT (courses numbered 150 and above), MA, ST, or STA: and at least 6 hours must be science courses with one laboratory experience. Refer to General Education Requirements for a complete list.
⁴ Computer Literacy: A student must pass an approved three (3) credit hour computer literacy course unless the computer competency exam is successfully completed.
⁵ Cultural Studies: At least one course within the 48 cr. hr. general education block must be selected from the identified Cultural Studies course list.

Other Degree Requirements/Electives	12	12
Students are advised to choose hours to satisfy additional general education and pre-major requirements at the institution to which they are transferring. Students who complete ENG 105 to satisfy the Writing/Accessing Information competencies must complete 15 hours of electives.
Total Credit Hours	60	60

Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees are awarded to students who complete a minimum of 60 hours, including the specified general education requirements, with a grade-point average of at least 2.0.

A course used to fulfill one competency cannot be used to fulfill another competency. Developmental/remedial courses (courses numbered 001-099) cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

General education component:

All SACS* accredited colleges, or colleges that are applying for SACS* accreditation, will assure compliance with SACS* general education criteria.

A student must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours to fulfill the general education requirement. General education credits must meet the following required distribution:

Mathematics	3 credit hours
Science	3 credit hours
Social Interaction	3 credit hours
Heritage/Humanities/Foreign Languages	3 credit hours
Writing/Accessing Information	3 credit hours
Computer Literacy	0-3 credit hours1

¹ Computer literacy must be demonstrated either by competency exam or by completing an approved computer literacy course.

The above are minimum general education requirements; additional hours may be required in specific program curricula.

Technical and Support Component

45 - 61

General Education and Technical and Support Components must be distributed so that programs do not exceed 76 credit hours.

Total Credit Hours

60 - 76

AAS degree programs should incorporate multiple exit points, i.e. awarding certificates and diplomas, when possible.

*SACS refers to Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Diploma

A diploma program is designed to prepare students for technical employment within a one- to two-year period. The total number of credit hours for the diploma must not exceed those required for a degree in the same program of study. A prescribed program of technical and general education courses is designed to prepare students for a specific job title. Diploma programs provide preparation for a specific occupation, credit toward an as-sociate degree, and continued training opportunities for certificate program graduates. The diploma program contains general education courses emphasizing the skills identified in the SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) report that are critical to entry-level workforce success for persons prepared at the diploma level.

1. Diplomas will address appropriate general education competencies.
2. Diploma curricula will be approved through the KCTCS Curriculum process.
3. Diplomas will be applicable toward at least one associate degree. (Courses designated "Diploma Only" on the General Education list will not apply toward an Associate Degree)
4. General education 6-9 credit hour requirement for diplomas in areas 1-3 as follows:

Area 1 = Writing/Accessing Information, Oral Communications, Humanities, or Heritage	3 credit hours
Area 2 = Social Science, Behavioral Science, Natural/Applied Science, or Mathematics	3 credit hours
Area 3 = Computer Literacy course or demonstrated competency	0-3 credit hours

Additional courses could be used for other areas in approved curricula for diplomas but may not meet general education transfer requirements.

The above are minimum general education requirements; additional hours may be required in specific program curricula.

Technical & Support*	30 - 62
Total Credit Hours	36 - 68

*The Technical and Support requirements must include a work experience component of 1-12 credit hours.

Computer literacy must be demonstrated either by competency exam or by successfully completing a computer literacy course as outlined in the program of study.

Certificate

The primary purpose and features of certificate programs of study are to provide marketable, entry-level skills. Certificates qualify students to take external licensure, vendor-based, or skill standards examinations in the field. If standardized external exams are not available in the field of study, certificates prepare students at skill levels expected of employees in an occupation found in the local economy.

1. Certificates will address one or more general education competencies.
2. Certificate curricula will be approved through the KCTCS Curriculum process.
3. Certificates will be applicable toward at least one associate degree.

The above are minimum general education requirements; additional hours may be required in specific program curricula.

Requirements for a certificate are applicable to the requirements of a diploma or associate degree in the same or a related field of study. Requests for exceptions must include appropriate documentation to justify approval. Certificates may contain general education courses emphasizing the skills identified in the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) report that are critical to entry-level workforce success for persons prepared at the certificate level and associated with the diploma or associate degree program. SCANS identified three foundation skills and five com-petencies necessary for success in the workplace.

Foundation Skills

Basic Skills: reading, writing, arithmetic and mathematics, listening, and speaking;

Thinking Skills: thinking creatively, making decisions, solving problems, knowing how to learn, and reasoning;

Personal Qualities: individual responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, and integrity/honesty.

Competencies

Resources: allocating time, money, materials, space, and staff;

Interpersonal Skills: working on teams, teaching others, serving customers, leading, negotiating, and working well with people from culturally diverse backgrounds;

Information: acquiring and evaluating data, organizing and maintaining files, interpreting and communicating, and using computers to process infor-mation;

Systems: understanding social, organizational, and technological systems, monitoring and correcting performance, and designing or improving systems;

Technology: selecting equipment and tools, applying technology to specific tasks, and maintaining and troubleshooting technologies.

Total Credit Hours

12 - 36

Continuing Education Certificate

Students shall be awarded a continuing education certificate when they have successfully completed a continuing education course or set of courses.

Specialized Training

Adult Agriculture

Short-term adult upgrade classes in agriculture are offered at selected sites. These classes are designed to help young and adult farmers, as well as individuals employed in agribusiness, keep up with the constantly changing technology in the field of agriculture. The program provides on-the-farm and on-the-job supervision year-round with organized instructional classes conducted in the late fall and winter.

Apprenticeship program registration is the responsibility of the Kentucky State Apprenticeship Council in cooperation with the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship Training. Application must be made through an employer, a labor union or a joint apprenticeship committee. Verify with the KCTCS college that it provides the minimum 144 hours per year of supplemental related instruction required of the apprenticeship program. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Kentucky Apprenticeship Council or the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship Training.

Continuing Education Courses

Continuing education courses can be either credit or non-credit and are designed to meet the needs of the labor market and persons preparing to enter the workforce. They can also supplement knowledge and skills for initial employment or job advancement. They are developed to meet the lifelong learning needs of the general public by providing short-term training, retraining, or upgrading of skills for employment or job advancement.

Customized Industry Training

At the request of business and industry, Community and Economic Development Coordinators (CED) assist in the development and implementation of customized training for prospective and current employees. A specialized training agreement is developed that specifies the duties and responsibilities of the college and the company and may include the awarding of college credit. Contact the CED Coordinator at the local college.

Fire/Rescue Training

Fire/Rescue Training classes are delivered throughout the state to meet the training needs of fire/rescue and other emergency service personnel and to provide health and safety training programs for industries, institutions, and government agencies. Successful completion of the basic training classes for firefighters qualifies participants for certification as Kentucky firefighters through the Kentucky State Fire Commission. The basic Emergency Medical Technician and First Responder courses qualify students for state certification through the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

Other Training Options

In addition to full-time programs, KCTCS colleges provide short-term training courses to meet specific labor force needs and demands. Contact the local college for a list of short-term training programs and schedules.

Educational Opportunities in Correctional Institutions

KCTCS provides educational opportunities at 13 adult correctional facilities across Kentucky. Services are managed by Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Jefferson Community and Technical College and Maysville Community and Technical College. Each college offers occupational-technical programs where certificates, diplomas and/or associate degrees can be earned. All occupational-technical programs prepare students for high skill, high wage or high demand occupations so that an ex-offender can become an educated, skilled citizen and a member of the Commonwealth's workforce.

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