Associate in Arts (Transfer Degree)
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Palm Beach Community College’s associate in arts (A.A.) transfer degree is designed for the student who plans to transfer to a Florida public university as a junior to complete a bachelor’s degree. Students spend the first two years at PBCC, where they prepare for hundreds of possible transfer majors, then their last two years at a university.
During their two years at PBCC, students take the same courses that they would take as a freshman or sophomore at a university. That means a student plans his/her program of study around a planned major or career and the state university he/she wants to attend. A student graduates with an A.A. degree from PBCC, transfers to a university, and earns a bachelor’s degree in one of hundreds of different major areas available at the state universities.
A list of popular Associate In Arts pre-majors is found toward the end of this section, and additional pre-majors are listed on the Web.
The A.A. degree requirements include:
- 36 credit hours of general education courses and
- 24 credit hours of university transfer program courses.
It is important that a student select appropriate courses in both the General Education and university transfer program areas. A PBCC advisor can assist with course selection, or students can use the FACTS.org on-line system, as detailed in this catalog section.
Associate In Arts Degree Transfer Programs
State Universities in Florida offer more than 200 different majors that PBCC students can pursue. Before planning a major, students are advised to:
- speak with a PBCC advisor
- consult the catalog or the specific department at the university to which they plan to transfer to confirm which courses they should take at PBCC.
Guaranteed Transfer to the State University System
All Florida community college associate in arts graduates are guaranteed certain rights under the statewide Articulation Agreement listed in Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.024. The Articulation Agreement governs the transfer of students from Florida public community colleges to the state university system. Guarantee of university admission does not guarantee admission to a limited access program. In a limited access program, the admissions requirements are more selective and may include a higher grade point average (GPA), higher test scores, auditions and/or portfolios. Selection for admissions to university limited access programs is competitive. However, community college A.A. graduates have the same opportunity to enroll in these programs as students who began at the university.
Foreign Language Requirement
For undergraduate admission to a state university, students must have earned two credits of sequential foreign language at the high school level. If a student did not complete this requirement while in high school, the requirement can be met through successful completion of eight credit hours in one foreign language, or demonstration of proficiency by passing a CLEP (College Level Examination Program) foreign language test. Satisfaction of this university admission requirement may not satisfy a specific university graduation requirement of foreign language for certain majors. Students are encouraged to determine the graduation requirements for the university they plan to attend.
Choosing the Proper Courses to Satisfy University Admission Requirements
All state universities have provided lists of courses that meet admission requirements for each of its majors. These lists, also known as “common prerequisites,” detail the required courses needed in both General Education and university transfer program courses. In order to have each course at PBCC count towards A.A. graduation and facilitate transfer to the desired major at the university, students should target their desired transfer university and major early in their coursework at PBCC. Once a student has identified the university and program, finding the correct courses to take at PBCC can be accomplished by:
1. Meeting on a regular basis with a PBCC advisor who can track your progress and make sure you are taking the correct courses for your desired university and major;
OR
2. Using the Web site developed by the State of Florida to facilitate student transfer called FACTS.org (Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students), which is detailed at the end of this section.
Other Transfer Opportunities for the Associate in Arts Degree
PBCC has transfer agreements with several private colleges and universities from around the nation. Included are all the members of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). Please consult the PBCC web site for transfer agreement information at www.pbcc.edu/transfer.xml.
Graduation Requirements for the A.A. Degree
Responsibility for understanding and meeting the requirements for graduation rests with the student. Refer to the Graduation Requirements information provided in the Academic Policies section of this catalog http://www.pbcc.edu/catalog.xml.
General Education Requirements
The associate in arts degree contains 36 hours of General Education. Each A.A. student must complete these courses with a “C” or higher to meet graduation requirements. The student must carefully choose the courses that will satisfy General Education requirements. By checking the FACTS.org system, students can determine which courses the university to which they would like to transfer accepts as satisfying program requirements. For example, MGF1106 Liberal Arts Mathematics will satisfy the associate in arts degree requirements in mathematics but will not satisfy entrance requirements for a student who wishes to transfer to an upper division business administration program. It is imperative to check the FACTS.org Web site to find the correct courses, or see a PBCC advisor.
General Education Philosophy
General Education at Palm Beach Community College is the core foundation for lifelong learning. It fosters critical thinking, helps students to develop ethical standards and provides a comprehensive base of the knowledge and skills required to compete effectively in the global workplace.
The learning goals of the General Education curriculum include:
1. critical thinking;
2. comprehensive and critical reading and writing;
3. effective oral communication and critical listening skills;
4. ethical standards;
5. fundamental mathematics comprehension and application;
6. understanding and appreciation of and sensitivity to diversity;
7. understanding and appreciation of arts and humanities;
8. understanding of basic scientific concepts and principles of scientific investigation;
9. understanding and application of holistic concepts of wellness;
10. basic computer competency;
11. information literacy;
12. understanding and appreciation of social, historical, political and global perspectives.
Florida Statute 1007.25 specifies that General Education courses come from five core areas: communications, humanities, mathematics, natural science and social science. In accordance with the state articulation agreement (Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.024), each community college and/or university shall honor the completion of General Education courses if such completion is noted on the student’s transcript. The State of Florida requires all public community colleges and universities to include a specified amount of writing and mathematics in their curriculum to ensure students have achieved substantial competency in these areas as specified in Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule).
To earn an A.A. degree, students must complete 36 hours of General Education courses from the following six areas of General Education. Courses that meet Gordon Rule requirements are listed with "GR" along with the number of words each course fulfills, followed by course credits listed in parenthesis, e.g. (GR 6,000) (3).
General Education courses must be completed with a “C” or higher to apply to any A.A., A.A.S. OR A.S. degree program.
AREA I
COMMUNICATIONS 9 CREDIT HOURS
Select one of the following courses:
ENC 1101 College Composition 1 (GR)(3)
ENC 1121 Honors College Composition 1 (GR)(3)
Select one of the following courses:
ENC 1102 College Composition 2 (GR)(3)
ENC 1122 Honors College Composition 2 (GR)(3)
ENC 1141 Writing About Literature (GR) (3)
Students must take the following course:
SPC 1017 Fundamentals of Speech Communication
(GR) (3)
AREA II
HUMANITIES 6 CREDIT HOURS
Select one of the following courses:
AML 2010 American Literature to 1865 (GR) (3)
AML 2020 American Literature after 1865 (GR) (3)
AML 2600 African American Literature (GR) (3)
ENL 2012 English Literature before 1800 (GR) (3)
ENL 2022 English Literature after 1800 (GR) (3)
LIT 1370 The Bible as Literature (GR) (3)
LIT 2090 Contemporary Literature (GR) (3)
LIT 2110 World Literature before the Renaissance (GR) (3)
LIT 2120 World Literature after the Renaissance
(GR) (3)
LIT 2380 Women in Literature (GR) (3)
Approved Transfer Literature*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
Select one of the following courses:
ARH 1000 Art Appreciation (GR) (3)
ARH 2050 Art History 1 (GR) (3)
ARH 2051 Art History 2 (GR) (3)
MUH 2018 History and Appreciation of Jazz (GR) (3)
MUL 1010 Music Appreciation (GR) (3)
MUT 1001 Fundamentals of Music (GR) (3)
THE 1000 Theatre Appreciation (GR) (3)
Approved Transfer Humanities*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
AREA III
MATHEMATICS 6 CREDIT HOURS
Select two of the following courses:
MAC 1105 College Algebra (GR) (3)
MAC 1114 Trigonometry (GR) (3)
MAC 1140 Precalculus (GR) (3)
MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus (for Business Majors) (GR) (3)
MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry 1 (GR) (4)
MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytic Geometry 2 (GR) (4)
MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytic Geometry 3 (GR) (4)
MAP 2302 Differential Equations (GR) (3)
MAS 2103 Matrix Theory (GR) (3)
MGF 1106 Liberal Arts Mathematics (GR) (3)
MGF 1107 Finite Mathematics (GR) (3)
MTG 2206 College Geometry (GR) (3)
STA 2023 Statistics (GR) (3)
Approved Transfer Mathematics*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
AREA IV
NATURAL SCIENCES 6 CREDIT HOURS
Select two of the following courses:
AST 1002 Descriptive Astronomy (3)
AST 1003 Planetary Astronomy (3)
AST 1004 Stellar & Galactic Astronomy (3)
BOT 1010/BOT 1010L General Botany 1 and Lab (4)
BSC 1005 Concepts of Biology (Non-Science Major)(3)
(Lab BSC 1005L optional) (1)
BSC 1010 Principles of Biology 1 (3)
(Lab BSC 1010L optional) (1)
BSC 1011/BSC 1011L Principles of Biology 2 and Lab (4)
BSC 1050 Environmental Conservation (3)
BSC 2085/BSC 2085L Anatomy and Physiology 1 and Lab (4)
BSC 2086/BSC 2086L Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Lab (4)
CHM 1020 Principles of Chemistry (3)
(Lab CHM 1020L optional) (1)
CHM 1025 Introductory Chemistry (3)
CHM 1045/CHM 1045L General Chemistry 1 and Lab (4)
CHM 1046/CHM 1046L General Chemistry 2 and Lab (4)
ESC 1000 Earth Science (3)
GLY 1000 Descriptive Geology (3)
HUN 1201 Elements of Nutrition (3)
MCB 2010/MCB 2010L Microbiology and Lab (4)
OCE 1001 Introduction to Oceanography (3)
(Lab OCE 1001L Optional) (1)
PHY 1001 Applied Physics (3)
PHY 2048/PHY 2048L General Physics with Calculus 1 and Lab (5)
PHY 2049/PHY 2049L General Physics with Calculus 2 and Lab (5)
PHY 2053 General Physics 1 (4)
PHY 2054 General Physics 2 (4)
PSC 1341 Physical Science for Today’s World (3)
Approved Transfer Science*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
AREA V
SOCIAL SCIENCE 6 CREDIT HOURS
Select one of the following courses:
ANT 2000 Anthropology (GR) (3)
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (GR) (3)
GEA 1000 Principles of Geography & Conservation(GR) (3)
PSY 2012 General Psychology (GR) (3)
SYG 1230 American Minorities Today (GR) (3)
SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology (GR) (3)
SYG 2010 American Social Problems (GR) (3)
Approved Transfer Social Science*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
Select one of the following courses:
AMH 2010 US History to 1865 (GR) (3)
AMH 2020 US History from 1865 to Present(GR) (3)
POS 1001 Introduction to Political Science(GR) (3)
POS 1041 Introduction to American Government(GR) (3)
POS 2112 American State and Local Government(GR) (3)
Approved Transfer Political Science*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
AREA VI
HEALTH and FOREIGN LANGUAGE 3 CREDIT HOURS
Select one of the following courses:
Health
HSC 1101 Contemporary Issues in Health (3)
HSC 2100 Health Concepts and Strategies (3)
HSC 2204 Community Health Education (3)
Foreign Language
FRE 1120 Elementary French 1 (4)
FRE 1121 Elementary French 2 (4)
GER 1120 Elementary German 1 (4)
GER 1121 Elementary German 2 (4)
SPN 1120 Elementary Spanish 1 (4)
SPN 1121 Elementary Spanish 2 (4)
SPN 2200 Intermediate Spanish 1 (3)
SPN 2201 Intermediate Spanish 2 (3)
Approved Transfer Health and Foreign Language*
*(Verify course credit with an advisor.)
Overview of “FACTS” (www.FACTS.org)
The FACTS on-line system is the first of its kind in the nation to provide comprehensive access to information for Florida high school and college students. The system, found at www.FACTS.org, provides the student with access to information on programs and courses at Florida’s 28 community colleges and 11 universities. Students can access transcripts and grades, and they can “degree-shop” to see how effectively their credits can transfer to other colleges and universities. To take an online tour, go to the FACTS.org Web site and click on “Site Tour” from the navigation bar. To fully appreciate the scope and depth of the information provided, you are encouraged to explore this site. Some of the main topics are highlighted below.
Career Planning
FACTS.org provides career planning tools such as Florida Choices Planner and SIGI 3, and "FRED" (Florida Research and Economic Database), which provides detailed information on employers, income and wages, geographic area profiles and economic indicators.
High School Planning
This section of FACTS.org helps high school students to fulfill graduation requirements, helps students choose a college and provides scholarship information.
College/Vocational-Technical Planning
This section of FACTS.org provides comprehensive search capability for finding degree and certificate programs at technical centers, colleges and universities. It also includes links to college catalogs, student services, orientation and information for students with disabilities.
Financial Aid Information
This section of FACTS.org provides information on financial aid availability and the ability to apply online for some types of state and federal financial aid.
Admissions
Using the FACTS online common admissions application, students can apply to PBCC or to multiple participating Florida colleges at one time. The student will only need to enter their personal information once but should keep in mind that most colleges charge application fees. It is important to visit individual Web sites for additional information on specific colleges or universities.
Transfer Services
This section of FACTS.org lists transfer requirements for graduating A.A. degree students, a transfer student bill of rights, and what to do if you have difficulty in transferring any courses. In addition, the site contains a transient student form.
College Advising Tools
Currently enrolled, transferring, or returning students may be able to access their personal information and utilize the following tools:
• Sample Degree Audit, to review requirements of a particular degree program at selected institutions.
• Institutional Degree Audit, to compare the student’s academic record at his/her home institution to the major currently on record.
• Degree Program Shopping, to compare the student’s academic record to the particular degree programs at his/her home institution.
• Remote Degree Program Shopping, to compare the student’s academic record to particular degree programs at another institution.
• Degree Planning, to compare the student’s academic record along with courses he/she may want to take to particular degree programs at selected institutions.
College Transcripts & Grades
Currently enrolled, transferring, or returning students may be able to access their unofficial PBCC transcript through FACTS.org. This transcript is unofficial because it does not contain the official registrar’s seal and may not contain test information, enrollment history, major(s), classification, and degrees awarded. However, an unofficial transcript is an accurate list of courses and grades as recorded by the institution.
Fees & Payments
This link in the FACTS.org system provides access to pay fees online to PBCC.
Records & Registration
This link in the FACTS.org system provides access to records and registration through the PBCC PantherWeb system.
Distance Learning
This section of the FACTS.org system provides information on distance learning opportunities through the Florida Virtual School and the Florida Distance Learning Consortium.
Library Services
This area of the FACTS.org system provides links to electronic library systems such as SUNLINK, the K-12 library system, LINCCWEB, the community college library system, and WebLuis, the university library system, along with library links from all Florida institutions.
Advising Manuals
The Florida Department of Education publishes several official advising documents and manuals on FACTS.org for access by counselors, students and parents. These include the Statewide Articulation Manual, the common prerequisite manual and the Independent Colleges and Universities (ICUF)Articulation Manual.
How to use FACTS.org
Most of the FACTS.org system does not require a log-in or password; however, applying to a college or university online requires a FACTS sign-on. A FACTS sign-on is a self-assigned, unique, log-in/password combination that is associated with all student-based personal information entered on the FACTS Web site. This sign-on is used to send an online application to PBCC or another Florida college or university.
To access their transcripts or run a degree audit, students must use their student ID number and PIN code that they use to register online at PBCC. The FACTS system has online help and a glossary of terms to help users navigate through the system. PBCC student services personnel also can help students learn to navigate the FACTS system. |
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