Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
About this degree
The Associate of Applied Science degree is geared towards students who want to finish their degree and move directly into employment. The AAS prepares you for the workforce in a variety of fields like automotive technology, computer technology, nursing, cosmetology, early childhood development, graphics design, heavy equipment operations and many more. In fact, NPC offers the AAS degree in the 28 different fields listed below.
Our AAS degree programs are based on skills achievement, and many have affiliations with external accrediting agencies and national professional organizations that not only demonstrate the programs’ currency but also increase your employability options. The career benefits of the AAS are significant and can be your path to a solid economic future.
Please note: Not all programs are available at all NPC locations, and may not always be available in their entirety each year. Some courses are offered only on demand. To earn your AAS in the shortest and most efficient manner, work with an NPC academic adviser. An adviser provides you with the accurate and up-to-date information you need to ensure a speedy path to career success.
- Click here to see the easy steps to becoming an NPC student.
NPC Requirements
- The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree generally requires a minimum of 64 hours of course credits with a grade of C or better in all courses and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Note, however, that some programs such as nursing require a higher number of credits for completion.
- The course requirements in each program include general education requirements, core requirements, required electives and, occasionally, unrestricted electives.
- Some courses have placement requirements or prerequisites that must be filled. Completion of these can result in coursework beyond the 64 credits. These courses, too, require a grade of C or better. For accurate information about prerequisites see an NPC academic adviser.
- Depending on the program selected, graduates generally complete 16-19 credits of general education requirements. (A few programs will have general education requirements that exceed this number.) However, all programs will require a minimum of six credits in communication, three to six credits in mathematics, and seven credits from what is known as discipline studies. For these seven discipline studies credits, four are earned from the physical and biological sciences and the other three credits from either the arts and humanities or the social and behavioral sciences.
- Core requirements focus on the skills specific to the program you have selected. They represent the largest portion of the courses you will take for the AAS degree.
- Required electives cover general skills and knowledge related to your specialty. For example software courses are among the choices of required electives for students earning an AAS in business.
- And in some programs you may also have to earn a small number of credits called unrestricted electives. These credits are earned by successfully completing any unduplicated (you haven’t take it before) 100 or higher level course.
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements: (16 to 19 credits*)
* Specific programs may designate or limit course options; general education requirements in certain programs may exceed 16 credits.
Communications • 6 cr.
- ENL 101 College Composition I • 3 cr.
- ENL 102 College Composition II • 3 cr.
- OR -
- ENL 109 Technical Writing • 3 cr.
- OR -
- SPT 120 Public Speaking • 3 cr.
Mathematics • 3-6 cr.
- See specific program for requirement.
Discipline Studies • 7 cr.
Unless noted otherwise in a program description, students must take:
- One course from Physical and Biological Sciences
- AND -
- One course from either Arts and Humanities - OR - Social and Behavioral Sciences
Physical and Biological Sciences • 1 course (4 cr.)
- BIO 100 Biology Concepts • 4 cr.
- BIO 105 Environmental Biology • 4 cr.
- BIO 160 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology I • 4 cr.
- BIO 181 General Biology I • 4 cr.
- BIO 182 General Biology II • 4 cr.
- BIO 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I • 4 cr.
- BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II • 4 cr.
- CHM 130 Fundamental Chemistry • 4 cr.
- CHM 151 General Chemistry I • 4 cr.
- CHM 152 General Chemistry II • 4 cr.
- GEO 111 Physical Geography • 4 cr.
- GLG 101 Introduction to Geology I - Physical • 4 cr.
- GLG 102 Introduction to Geology II - Historical • 4 cr.
- PHY 113 General Physics I • 4 cr.
- PHY 114 General Physics II • 4 cr.
- AND one course from either -
Arts and Humanities
|
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Electives
Elective requirements for the programs listed above are different for each program.
Consult an NPC academic adviser to ensure you meet all requirements.