Enrollment Options & Degree Requirements
All students, upon application for admission to the College, must indicate a major and their intention to seek or not to seek the associate degree. By written notification to the Admissions Office, students may, at any time, change their major or change their status from degree-seeking to non-degree-seeking or vice versa, recognizing that change may require taking more credits or spending more time to fulfill different requirements.
The College’s official transcript lists in detail all courses, grades and credits. In addition, it distinguishes among these options:
| Option | Requirements | Reflection on Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| Award of Associate of Arts, Associate of Music, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science. | See Degree Requirements | Occupational or Transfer major specified. Satisfaction of both degree and major requirements recorded. |
| Completion of Major Requirements only. | Varies from major to major. See footnote under the major. | Major specified. Satisfaction of only major requirements recorded. No degree awarded. |
| Award of a Certificate of Completion. | See Degree Requirements | Certificate program specified. Satisfaction of certificate requirement recorded. Award of certificate recorded. |
| Completion of one or more courses. | Course requirements only. | Major specified. |
Degree Requirements
Students newly admitted to the College for classes beginning in a fall semester must meet the degree requirements for the associate degree that are effective for the academic year (beginning of fall semester through the end of summer sessions). These requirements also apply to all students who change their major after the start of the fall semester.
All students admitted before the fall semester have the option of completing the associate degree and major requirements that are effective for the new academic year.
Students who enter their major during the current academic year and do not change their major or elect to follow a subsequent catalog have 6 years to complete the degree requirements in effect for this academic year. Students who do not complete the degree requirements within the 6-year allotted timeframe must follow the degree requirements effective for the next subsequent academic year.*
Students who entered their major between the 2000 through 2006 academic years also have 10 years to complete their degree requirements, before those requirements are retired. View a chart detailing academic years and degree completion deadlines.
*See the section on Deactivated Majors.
Revisions in Major
If revisions occur in a major, the College follows the principle that students will not be required to spend more time taking additional credits to complete the revised major or be hindered in their normal progress toward the completion of the major in which they are already enrolled.
Students changing their major to one with revised requirements must meet the new requirements in effect at the time of their entry into that major, regardless of the date of their admission to the College.
Students already enrolled in a major in which revisions occur may elect to follow the revised major. In this case, students assume the responsibility if they must spend more time taking additional credits to complete their requirements.
Deactivated Majors
From time to time, the College finds it necessary to deactivate certain maColjors. When this occurs, the College makes every effort to notify the students who are currently enrolled in these majors.
Students enrolled in deactivated majors have three (3) academic years to complete degree requirements and graduate before the major becomes obsolete (This may shorten the 6-year degree completion deadline.) Students who do not graduate by the end of the allotted time, must change their major and follow the degree requirements that are in effect at the time.
Earning Credits
Credits may be earned by successfully completing a course, by demonstrating an acceptable level of proficiency via credit by examination where available, through credit for life learning experience, advanced placement, transfer of credits, or through other methods which might be developed by the College.
Earning an Associate Degree
The associate degree will be awarded to each student who has completed these requirements:
- Completion of no fewer than sixty semester credit hours;
- Completion of one of the associate degree programs;
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0;
- Enrollment during the semester the degree is anticipated;
- Completion of no fewer than thirty semester credit hours in graded college-level courses at Bucks County Community College. However, individual academic departments may accept course work from a Bucks non-accredited program as internal credits, if there is an existing articulation agreement with the department. In this case, the student must still complete a minimum of fifteen (15) credits in graded courses at Bucks County Community College; and
- Fulfillment of all financial and other obligations to the College.
Bucks County Community College awards five degrees: Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Music (A.M.), Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.).
Students may complete more than one associate degree program. Please review and follow the guidelines below for completion of a second degree.
- Students may earn only one degree per program/major. For example, a student who graduated from and earned an A.A. degree in Biology cannot receive an A.S. degree in Biology. A student can earn two degrees with the same degree designation. For example, a student can earn an A.A. degree in Liberal Arts and an A.A. degree in Business Administration.
- A second associate degree will require a minimum of 15 credits different from and in addition to those needed to satisfy the first associate degree.
- The second associate degree may use common credits. For example, both Liberal Arts: General Emphasis and Communication Studies programs require COMM110 and COMP110. If a student earned the Liberal Arts: General Emphasis degree and is now in the Communication Studies degree program, Communication Studies will use the previously completed COMM110 and COMP110.
- Course substitutions in a new or second degree program that use previously completed credits will be allowed only in unusual circumstances and require special permission from the school’s dean and the associate provost.
- Students should not alternate back and forth between degree programs/majors. Students should take courses leading to one degree at a time.
- Students receiving financial aid assistance and pursuing a second degree should speak to the Financial Aid Office to understand the ramifications/conditions of satisfactory academic progress and also time, amount limits to grant and loan programs that could affect your eligibility if seeking a second degree.
Associate Degree Requirements
Each associate degree major is built upon the foundation of a common set of educational experiences. The goal of this core curriculum is to unify the educational experience of all students at the College by providing a shared blueprint for achieving the outcomes described in "A Definition of the Educated Person: A Touchstone for the Curriculum at Bucks County Community College."
Students must complete the General Education Program to earn an associate degree from Bucks County Community College. Students complete their General Education requirements as part of the program of study in their major.
While many courses are aligned with the General Education Program, students cannot choose just any course from the list of aligned courses. Rather, the majors are designed so that students will take certain General Education courses that will enhance their learning experience in the major and maximize the number of courses that transfer into the relevant programs at transfer institutions.
Certificate Programs
A certificate of completion is awarded to students who successfully complete a prescribed major. Credits earned in a certificate program may be applied toward an associate degree.
The following procedures govern enrollment and completion of certificate programs:
- A student must fulfill the admissions requirements of the College.
- A student must attain and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00.
- A student must enroll in the certificate program on the application or by submitting a Change of Major form to the Registrar's Office.
- At least 50% of the credits required for the certificate must be completed in graded courses at Bucks County Community College.
- Upon completion of the prescribed course of study, the student must formally apply, via the Registrar's Office, for the awarding of the certificate of completion.
Students Not Seeking an Associate Degree
Students who enroll in a major in order to receive preparation for upper division work for the baccalaureate degree are encouraged to check with the appropriate transfer institution to determine course transferability.
For students who only want to enroll in a major to take specific courses, the degree requirements and the major requirements do not have to be met. In this instance, only a list of courses, grades, and credits will appear on the transcript.