Earning Credits
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.