Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Transfer Degree Plans

Introduction  

This section of the Catalog is devoted to describing the options available to the Lee College students who (1) plan to earn a certificate or associate degree from Lee College, (2) plan to transfer the credits they earn at Lee College to another institution, or (3) both graduate and transfer.  

Coordinating Board approved certificates require from 15 to 59 semester credit hours; associate degrees require 60 to 66 credits. For students considering a career in a technical field, an investment of one to four semesters of study is very reasonable. For students planning to earn certificates or baccalaureate degrees, should realize that over 70% of all jobs require some college.  

Some students, however, may wish to transfer to other institutions without earning a degree at Lee College. Students who plan to transfer to other institutions - with or without a Lee College degree - should obtain a catalog from the institution to which they plan to transfer and work with a Lee College counselor in the selection of their courses. Course options and degree requirements at universities vary from institution to institution and, in many cases, from college to college within institutions. Plan to complete core at Lee College. 

Core Curriculum  

Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.  

Core Objectives

• Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
• Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
• Empirical and Quantitative Skills - to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
• Teamwork - to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
• Personal Responsibility - to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making
• Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities  

Foundational Component Areas

Communication focuses on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. 

• Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience. 
• The core objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and personal responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.   

Mathematics focuses on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. 

• Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate mathematical tools to the everyday experience. 
• The core objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, and empirical and quantitative skills are addressed by each course in this component area.

Life and Physical Sciences focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. 

• Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on human experiences. 
• The core objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, empirical and quantitative analysis, and teamwork are addressed by each course in this component area.   

Language, Philosophy, and Culture focuses on how ideas, values, beliefs and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. 

• Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures. 
• The core objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, personal responsibility, and social responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.   

Creative Arts focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. 

• Courses involve the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art. 
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and social responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.   

American History focuses on the consideration of past events relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas history for a portion of this component area. 

• Courses involve the interaction among individuals, communities, states, the nation, and the world, considering how these interactions have contributed to the development of the United States and its global role. 
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, social responsibility, and personal responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.   

Government/Political Science focuses on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states with special emphasis on that of Texas. 

• Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations. 
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, social responsibility, and personal responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.   

Social/Behavioral Science focuses on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. 

• Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on society and culture. 
• The Core Objectives of critical thinking, communication skills, empirical and quantitative analysis, and social responsibility are addressed by each course in this component area.   

Component Area Option provides individual institutions the ability to address foundational areas that exceed the number of Semester Credit Hours (SCH) required, require courses that exist in multiple component areas, and offer courses that provide essential college level skills and knowledge that prepare students for the rest of their educational experiences and work lives.

• The Core Objectives of critical thinking and communication skills and at least one other state objective are addressed by each course in this component area.

Core Curriculum Options

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The primary purpose of the AA, AS, and AAT degrees are to prepare students to transfer and meet prerequisites for junior level courses. The core curriculum is an essential, state mandated component of these associate degrees. The table below provides course options to meet the general core curriculum requirements and matches those listed for the Associate of Arts (AA) degree. Subsequent degrees, Fields of Study, and Areas of Concentration provide specific modifications to the core curriculum that meet the needs of students transferring in academic concentrations. A course can only be counted once in meeting core curriculum requirements. Course title and descriptions can be found in Course Descriptions .

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The Mathematics and Life and Physical Science are more specific in the Associate of Science degree plans. The table below outlines the requirements.

  

Associate of Arts (AA)
Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)
Associate of Science (AS)

The Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), and Associate of Science (AS) degrees are designed for students who plan to transfer to four year institutions and pursue baccalaureate degrees. AA, AAT, and AS degrees include 60 to 66 hours of freshman and sophomore courses. Degrees are based on the core curriculum developed by the State of Texas and are updated to include Fields of Study as they become available from the state. The AAT degree is designed for teacher preparation and specifically transfers to upper division education programs.

Because of common course numbering and similarity in degree plans, students can easily matriculate to universities with most credits being accepted by public postsecondary institutions in Texas.

Graduation Requirements:

see Admission, Registration, and Enrollment  

Core Curriculum Completion

Lee College recognizes completion of the core curriculum for students seeking AA, AAT, and AS degrees that have completed the entire core curriculum with Lee College with a GPA of 2.0 or better. All students who complete the core curriculum will have it noted on their transcript.

Area of Concentration

Areas of Concentration (AOC) provide structure to the elective courses taken to complete an AA or AS degree. Students focused on a major for Bachelor’s degree work have multiple AOCs to choose from. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the transfer university to obtain its specific course requirements and enroll in appropriate lower division courses.

AA Area of Concentration:

American Studies,Creative Arts, Criminal Justice, English, General Studies, Health, Humanities, Literature, Mexican American Studies, Physical Education, Social Sciences, Social Work, Spanish, Transfer in Allied Health.

AS Area of Concentration:

Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, and Pre-Engineering

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements are specific degree plans agreed upon between Lee College and a 4-year institute of higher education. Articulation agreements have been made with several four-year universities.  Students should contact their assigned advisor for details.

Field of Study Curriculum

Field of study curricula were mandated by the state legislature in 1997. These programs offer transferability to general academic teaching institutions in the state of Texas and guarantee substitution for lower-division requirements for the degree program. Students receive academic credit toward the baccalaureate degree program for the courses transferred, which meet the four-year institute of higher education’s lower-division requirements in the academic program area.

Lee College currently offers coursework in six areas: Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Music, Social Work, and Speech Communications. Course sequencing is an important aspect of the field of study academic plans; communicate with an advisor or content specialist for an efficient and effective plan of action.

Programs

Associate of Arts

• •  Associate of Arts Degree
• •  Music - MU4, AA (Field of Study)

Associate of Science

• •  Associate of Science Degree

Associate of Arts in Teaching

• •  Early Childhood to 6th Grade (Early Childhood Specialization Only) - ED15, AAT
• •  Early Childhood to 6th Grade (Special Educ., ESL, & Bilingual Generalist) - ED 25, AAT
• •  Grades 4th to 8th Generalist - ED35, AAT
• •  Grades 8th to 12th Generalist - ED45, AAT

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