Associate in Science (AS-T) Degree Track 1 Degree Requirements

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For science pre-majors in biological sciences, chemistry, environmental/resource sciences, geology, and Earth science

The Associate in Science degree (AS-T) is designed for students who plan to transfer to science programs at four-year institutions after completing the first two years of study at Pierce. The degree enables students to fulfill the undergraduate general education requirements of most four-year science degree programs. Students are responsible for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions in the year prior to transferring.

Degree Outcomes

General Degree Requirements

Minimum of 90 credits earned in courses numbered 100 or above is required to complete the Associate in Science Track 1 degree.
ENGL& 101 English Composition I - required
COLLG 110 College Success required during the first or second quarter of attendance
Earn the lesser of (at least) 20 college level credits or 25% of the credits applicable to the degree or certificate at Pierce College
Cumulative college-level grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher is required
1.5 grade (C-) or higher is required for all coursework, unless stated otherwise
“Pass” (P) grades, independent study and cooperative work experience/work-based learning credits may be used for general elective credits only
Once a course has been successfully completed, credits earned may be used in only one category

General Required Courses (30 Credits)

Communications (5 Credits)

ENGL& 101 requires a 2.0 or higher grade.

ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course.

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills (10 Credits)

Math courses require a 1.5 or higher grade.

MATH& 151 Calculus I (5 credits)
MATH& 152 Calculus II (5 credits)
Note: The math course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following, the transfer institution/degree that you select, and your math placement guidance. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the relevant 5 or 7 credit course(s) based upon co-requisite options.

Humanities (5-10 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 grade or higher. No more than five credits from performance/skills are allowed and no more than five credits at the 100-level in world language.

Must take 5 credits from Humanities, 5 credits from Social Science and 5 credits from either Humanities or Social Science.

Humanities Performance/Skills

Social Sciences (5-10 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 grade or higher.

Must take 5 credits from Humanities, 5 credits from Social Science and 5 credits from either Humanities or Social Science.

Science Pre-Major Requirements (35-38 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 grade or higher. Some baccalaureate institutions require physics with calculus. Sequences should not be broken up between institutions (e.g. the typical three-quarter physics sequence should be taken entirely at one institution).

Select one:

Select one of the following sequences:

Students should check with the receiving institution to determine which sequence is appropriate.

Additional Science Requirements (15-18 Credits)

Requires a 1.5 grade or higher. Courses in physics, geology, organic chemistry, biology or mathematics normally taken by science majors (not for general education), preferably in a two- or three-quarter sequence, chosen with the help of an advisor. Biology majors should select organic Chemistry or physics for this requirement.

Select one series:

General Electives (10 Credits)

College-level courses numbered 100 and above. Remaining credits may include prerequisites for pre-major courses (e.g., pre-calculus), meet additional major coursework, or specific general education or other university requirements, as approved by the advisor. A maximum of three physical activity (PE) credits can be applied to this degree.

COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits) required with a 2.0 or higher grade
Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course.

Total Credits 90-101

Notes

Students completing this Associate of Science Transfer degree will receive the same priority consideration for admission to the baccalaureate institution as they would for completing the direct transfer associate’s degree and will be given junior status by the receiving institution.
Courses taken must come from the current ICRC distribution list in order to count as General Education or General University Requirements (GERs/GURs) at the receiving institution. Additional general educational requirements, cultural diversity requirements, and foreign language requirements, as required by the transfer institution, must be met prior to the completion of a baccalaureate degree.
Students should be advised that some baccalaureate institutions require physics with calculus.
Biology majors should select organic chemistry or physics for the Science Pre-Major Requirements.
Pre-calculus cannot be used to satisfy the mathematics requirement.
Students are responsible for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions in the year prior to transferring.
Sequences should not be broken up between institutions (e.g., the typical three-quarter physics sequence should be taken entirely at one institution).

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