ASCCC Spring Plenary April 17, 2008 Major or Area of Emphasis: Approaches to Compliant Degrees Dave DeGroot, Articulation Officer, Allan Hancock College

ASCCC Spring Plenary April 17, 2008

Major or Area of Emphasis: Major or Area of Emphasis: Approaches to Compliant Approaches to Compliant

DegreesDegrees

Dave DeGroot, Articulation Officer, Allan Hancock Dave DeGroot, Articulation Officer, Allan Hancock CollegeCollegeMichelle Pilati, Psychology, Rio Hondo CollegeMichelle Pilati, Psychology, Rio Hondo CollegeAngel Lujan, Counseling, Mt. San Antonio CollegeAngel Lujan, Counseling, Mt. San Antonio CollegeBeth Smith, Math, Grossmont CollegeBeth Smith, Math, Grossmont College


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OverviewOverview Why your degree is suddenly Why your degree is suddenly

“noncompliant” (or why it “noncompliant” (or why it seems that way..)seems that way..)

The “parts” of a degreeThe “parts” of a degree Who should be involved?Who should be involved? Approaches to new degreesApproaches to new degrees


Why Your Degree May Be Why Your Degree May Be NoncompliantNoncompliant

Regulations and legal opinions Regulations and legal opinions mandate the changes.mandate the changes.

Title 5, Title 5, § 55061§ 55061 ““The awarding of an Associate Degree The awarding of an Associate Degree

is intended to represent is intended to represent more than an more than an accumulation of units.accumulation of units. It is to It is to symbolize a successful attempt on the symbolize a successful attempt on the part of the college to lead students part of the college to lead students through through patterns of learning patterns of learning experiencesexperiences designed to develop designed to develop certain capabilities and insights…certain capabilities and insights…



• ……Among these are the ability to Among these are the ability to think and to communicate clearly think and to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in and effectively both orally and in writing; to use mathematics; to writing; to use mathematics; to understand the modes of inquiry of understand the modes of inquiry of the major disciplines; to be aware of the major disciplines; to be aware of other cultures and times; to achieve other cultures and times; to achieve insights gained through experience insights gained through experience in thinking about ethical problems; in thinking about ethical problems; and to develop the capacity for self-and to develop the capacity for self-understanding…understanding…



• … … In addition to these In addition to these accomplishments, the accomplishments, the student shall possess student shall possess sufficient depth in some sufficient depth in some field of knowledgefield of knowledge to to contribute to lifetime contribute to lifetime interest.”interest.”


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More RegulationsMore Regulations

Minimum Requirements for the Minimum Requirements for the Associate Degree (§ 55806)Associate Degree (§ 55806).. Each associate in arts or Each associate in arts or associate in science degree must associate in science degree must include a major of at least 18 include a major of at least 18 semester units or 27 quarter semester units or 27 quarter units of study in a single units of study in a single discipline or related disciplinesdiscipline or related disciplines. .

Note - Old Title 5 section and Note - Old Title 5 section and language.language.


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And Legal OpinionsAnd Legal Opinions

IGETC/CSU GE – Advisory 05-05IGETC/CSU GE – Advisory 05-05 This requirement disallows "majors" with This requirement disallows "majors" with

no discernible focus or majors no discernible focus or majors constructed of loosely structured items constructed of loosely structured items of interest selected individually by of interest selected individually by students. Districts should ensure that students. Districts should ensure that this requirement is observed and that a this requirement is observed and that a well-defined pattern of learning is well-defined pattern of learning is described in connection with each described in connection with each associate degree offered.associate degree offered.


A Key PhraseA Key Phrase

““a well-defined pattern of a well-defined pattern of learning..”learning..”

Implies planning – not Implies planning – not random unit accumulation.random unit accumulation.


What’s in a degree?What’s in a degree?

General EducationGeneral Education Major or Area of EmphasisMajor or Area of Emphasis CompetenciesCompetencies Local requirementsLocal requirements


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Parts of DegreeParts of Degree

A A majormajor may be defined may be defined by the lower-division requirements of a by the lower-division requirements of a

specific major at the University of specific major at the University of California or California State UniversityCalifornia or California State University

18 units in a field or related fields 18 units in a field or related fields selected by the community college selected by the community college


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Parts of a DegreeParts of a Degree

An An area of emphasisarea of emphasis is is considered to be a broader considered to be a broader group of courses and may group of courses and may be defined as 18 units in be defined as 18 units in related fields intended to…related fields intended to…


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Parts of the DegreeParts of the Degree

1.1. prepare for a particular major at prepare for a particular major at 4-year institution or 4-year institution or

2.2. prepare for a particular field as prepare for a particular field as defined by the community defined by the community college. college.

It is not expected that all courses in It is not expected that all courses in an area of emphasis will an area of emphasis will articulate for transfer in a major, articulate for transfer in a major, although they may.although they may.


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Parts of the DegreeParts of the Degree The Area of Emphasis may be as broad The Area of Emphasis may be as broad

as "social sciences" or theme-based as "social sciences" or theme-based interdisciplinary grouping of coursesinterdisciplinary grouping of courses ""American Studies“American Studies“ "International Business“"International Business“ ““Gender Studies”Gender Studies” Etc…Etc…

The option of an Area of Emphasis The option of an Area of Emphasis permits degrees to be created that are permits degrees to be created that are not bound by the requirements of not bound by the requirements of transfer institutions.transfer institutions.


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Who should be involved in Who should be involved in developing new degrees?developing new degrees?

Articulation OfficersArticulation Officers Counseling facultyCounseling faculty Discipline facultyDiscipline faculty Others?Others?


Approaches to New DegreesApproaches to New Degrees

Create certificates to recognize GE Create certificates to recognize GE completion.completion.

Modify existing degrees to reflect the Modify existing degrees to reflect the requirement of a “C” in all courses requirement of a “C” in all courses for the “major”.for the “major”.

Look to developing new degree Look to developing new degree options for students.options for students.


Basic PrinciplesBasic Principles

Academic Integrity Academic Integrity Avoid requiring excess unitsAvoid requiring excess units Collegiality – neither counseling Collegiality – neither counseling

nor discipline faculty working nor discipline faculty working alonealone


Starting Points VaryStarting Points Vary

RHC – nothing close compliantRHC – nothing close compliant Allan Hancock - Allan Hancock - Mt. SAC – close to compliant degreesMt. SAC – close to compliant degrees Grossmont - Grossmont -


RHCRHC

IF RHC is to offer a degree designed IF RHC is to offer a degree designed for transfer, it must be based on for transfer, it must be based on IGETC or CSU BreadthIGETC or CSU Breadth

““Local GE” includes reading, math, Local GE” includes reading, math, and English competencies – and 2 PE and English competencies – and 2 PE activity coursesactivity courses

Approaches?Approaches?


Some possibilitiesSome possibilities

Provide students with 3 GE options – Provide students with 3 GE options – local, IGETC, CSUlocal, IGETC, CSU

Remove the “extras” from RHC GE Remove the “extras” from RHC GE and make them “RHC Graduation and make them “RHC Graduation Requirements” that must be Requirements” that must be completed in addition to GE and completed in addition to GE and major/AoEmajor/AoE


Interdisciplinary Studies w/AoEInterdisciplinary Studies w/AoE

The Interdisciplinary Studies The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed for the degree is designed for the transfer-oriented student who transfer-oriented student who seeks to explore either a general seeks to explore either a general area of study or focus on a area of study or focus on a specific theme. All courses specific theme. All courses required for the degree are required for the degree are transferable.transferable.


Interdisciplinary Studies w/AoEInterdisciplinary Studies w/AoE

Students should meet with a Students should meet with a counselor for academic planning counselor for academic planning and to ensure appropriate course and to ensure appropriate course selection. In order to earn an AA selection. In order to earn an AA in IS, the student most in IS, the student most complete .. and one of the complete .. and one of the following…following…


AreasAreas

Social SciencesSocial Sciences Arts and HumanitiesArts and Humanities Gender StudiesGender Studies Life SciencesLife Sciences Math and ScienceMath and Science American StudiesAmerican Studies


General Studies w/AoEGeneral Studies w/AoE

The General Studies degree is The General Studies degree is designed for the student who designed for the student who does not intend to transfer, does not intend to transfer, but seeks to further their but seeks to further their understanding of a given understanding of a given discipline or theme.. discipline or theme..


““Majors”Majors”

New language permits more New language permits more flexibility – not tied to transfer.flexibility – not tied to transfer.

Consider how courses would work for Consider how courses would work for students..students..


PsychologyPsychology

PSY 101 (Soc Sci GE)PSY 101 (Soc Sci GE) PSY 210 or ANTHRO 101 (Life Sci GE)PSY 210 or ANTHRO 101 (Life Sci GE) PSY 200PSY 200 MATH 130 (Quan Reasoning)MATH 130 (Quan Reasoning) PHIL (Humanities GE)PHIL (Humanities GE) One psychology elective (varies)One psychology elective (varies)


Considerations…Considerations…

Degree with various AoE – for a limited Degree with various AoE – for a limited time, these can be submitted without time, these can be submitted without course outlines – existing degrees would course outlines – existing degrees would be “converted” using a temporary form. be “converted” using a temporary form.

Each AoE needs an overview/justificationEach AoE needs an overview/justification How transcripted?How transcripted? Others?Others?


Mt. SAC Mt. SAC

Currently has broad degrees – but Currently has broad degrees – but they are too broad. they are too broad.

Social & Behavioral SciencesSocial & Behavioral Sciences Fine Arts & HumanitiesFine Arts & Humanities Language Arts & CommunicationLanguage Arts & Communication Natural Science & MathematicsNatural Science & Mathematics


Mt. SAC Mt. SAC

Major Requirement: Major Requirement: A A minimum of 18 units minimum of 18 units chosen from the chosen from the appropriate list of courses appropriate list of courses for the major. for the major.

A list of the courses found A list of the courses found on page 30 of this catalog.on page 30 of this catalog.


What’s the problem?What’s the problem?

Too broad – not consistent Too broad – not consistent with the philosophy of the with the philosophy of the degree. degree.

How can this be fixed?How can this be fixed?


What’s your starting point?What’s your starting point? Discussion/questionsDiscussion/questions


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Important notes..Important notes..

Non-compliant degrees need to be Non-compliant degrees need to be out of catalogues by Fall 2008.out of catalogues by Fall 2008.

Effective Fall 2009:Effective Fall 2009: (a)(2)Grade of C or better(a)(2)Grade of C or better Freshman CompositionFreshman Composition Intermediate Algebra Intermediate Algebra

Documents

ASCCC Spring Plenary April 17, 2008 Major or Area of Emphasis: Approaches to Compliant Degrees Dave DeGroot, Articulation Officer, Allan Hancock College