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Associate of Science Degree

The Associate of Science degree is designed for students who plan to transfer and complete a Bachelors of Science degree at a four-year institution. The degree requirements allow students more flexibility in course selection allowing them to focus on their discipline requirements. NOTE: Completion of this degree does not guarantee that all lower-division General Education requirements have been met for a baccalaureate degree (i.e., this is not a block transfer degree as is the AA-OT). In selecting courses for this degree, students are highly encouraged to consult the specific transfer curriculum pages in this catalog, the faculty advisor, and the institution to which they intend to transfer to determine if it is an appropriate choice.

The Associate of Science degree will be awarded to students who satisfy the following requirements:

1. Complete a minimum of 90 applicable credit hours. See #5 for an explanation (Some majors may require more than 90 credit hours.)

2. Successfully complete all required courses. Progression of classes must be vertical. That is, once a course has been successfully completed, a lower level course may not be taken for credit. Repeated courses may be counted only once toward graduation unless specified in the course description or unless specifically required in a program curriculum.

3. Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher.

4. Maintain a 2.00 GPA for all courses being applied toward the degree and maintain a 2.00 GPA in the core requirements.

5. Successfully complete the following: Courses (except for elective credits) must be selected from the list of approved courses for the Associate of Science (see page 13 of the printed catalog). The list is available on the following pages and in the Admissions and Records Office, the Academic Advising and Transfer Center or from the program advisor.

   1. Computer Literacy/Proficiency
      One quarter credit hour of college level computer-based course-work.

   2. Health and Physical Education
      A minimum of three credits which must include at least one class in Physical Education (PE) and one class in Health Education (HE). Other options: HPE295 Health and Fitness for Life or HPE291 Lifeguard Training or PE285OL (3 credit) satisfies the total HPE requirement. PE285OL Wilderness Survival for two credits may satisfy the HPE requirement by completing one additional credit in either health or physical education. A maximum of 9 credits of PE185 may be applied to the AS degree.
      
      Two (2) credit hours of PE185 credit may be granted toward an Associate degree at Mt. Hood for completion of military basic training. A copy of the DD214 form is required.

   3. Mathematics
      Four quarter credit hours of college level mathematics with a grade of C or better (any mathematics course that has MTH95 or intermediate algebra or a higher course as a prerequisite, except MTH211).

   4. Oral Communication/Rhetoric
      Three quarter credit hours of a speech course with a grade of C or better.

   5. Writing**
      Nine quarter credit hours at a level equivalent to WR121, 122, 123, or 227 with grades of C or better in each course.

   6. Distribution Requirements*/**
      Students must complete a minimum of nine credits in one of the three areas listed below, and a minimum of six credits in each of the remaining areas.
      

      1. Humanities (Arts and Letters):. Only six credits of skill-oriented classes can be used to meet humanities requirements. NOTE: In Arts and Letters, a second year of a foreign language may be included, but not the first year. American Sign Language is considered a foreign language.

      2. Social Sciences

      3. Sciences/Math/Computer Science
         
         * Each course must be at least three credits.
         
         ** The sequence of courses, UNST101, UNST102, UNST103, is an interdisciplinary alternative way for students to earn general education credits. It is designed for students who are intending to transfer to Portland State University and want to complete their freshman inquiry requirement. All three courses must be taken to satisfy the 15 credit requirement. Students who successfully complete will receive credit in writing, social science, science, and humanities.

6. Complete elective courses to reach a total of 90 credits. The courses must be numbered 100 or above. Professional-technical courses may be applied to the Associate of Science degree only if they are part of a current, formal transfer agreement with a four-year institution (see specific catalog transfer pages). Professional-technical courses offered at community colleges in Oregon are identified by specific alpha prefixes, see page 197 of the printed catalog.
   
   A maximum of 15 credits of the highest level of ENL courses (ENL201R, ENL201S, ENL201W) may be applied as electives only toward the AS Degree.
   

7. Satisfactorily earn a minimum of 24 applicable hours of credit at Mt. Hood Community College and be in attendance at MHCC the term in which the degree/certificate is completed. Non-traditional credit (College Level Examination Program, Advanced Placement Program, Challenge, Experience-Based Credit, International Baccalaureate) does not satisfy this requirement. If extenuating circumstances prevent a student from being in attendance the last term, the student may petition to take the remaining credits (maximum of nine) at a regionally accredited college or university. This request must be in writing and indicate the school at which the courses will be completed. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain written approval from MHCC of course acceptance prior to enrollment and to send an official transcript to MHCC upon completion of the coursework.

8. Complete the application process and pay a non-refundable graduation application fee two quarters prior to the quarter of completion (i.e., spring term graduates should apply during fall term).