IV. H. Structure of Associate Degree, Diploma, and Technical Certificate of Credit Programs

Fundamental to the Mission of the State Board is to encourage students to achieve their potential in occupational programs requiring credentials below the baccalaureate degree.

As the level and quality of instructional offerings of Georgia's Technical Colleges reach standards recognized by appropriate regional accrediting commissions, students are entitled to earn credentials offered by the system including not only the traditional diploma and technical certificate, but also the Associate in Applied Science degree.

Associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs shall be available in approved occupational areas.
Individual Technical Colleges shall determine, based on the needs and desires of students and business and industry, the appropriate credential or credentials needed.

The structure of associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates offered at the Technical Colleges shall conform to the following standards and shall be subject to annual program evaluation.

The Commissioner shall develop implementation procedures for the submission, review, and approval of new program requests and for annual review and evaluation.

Associate Degrees

Associate Degree programs must be approved by the State Board, either as a new addition to the System or to the individual Technical College. The range of quarter credit hours required for graduation is 90 to 110.

With special approval of the State Board, certain associate degree programs may be extended to meet requirements of (1) formal cooperative arrangements (combining course work and on-the-job training), (2) certification, (3) licensure, (4) accreditation, or (5) unique situations for which training at the associate degree level is appropriate. With State Board approval, the range of quarter credits may be extended to 144 hours.

Associate degree programs shall be organized to conform to systemwide models developed through the program standards phases and approved by the State Board. Compliance with the models shall ensure minimum standardization of associate degree programs within the Technical College System of Georgia. The models shall require associate degree programs to be organized in general education and occupational courses.

Associate degree programs shall be composed of courses listed in the systemwide Catalog of Courses. Only courses numbered 100 or above shall be credited toward degree requirements.

Each associate degree program shall require a minimum basic core of 25 quarter credit hours in general education courses. Components of this core must include at least one course from each of the following areas: humanities; social/behavioral sciences; and natural sciences or mathematics. The components of the core must be drawn from each of the areas specified in the applicable institutional accreditation criteria.

A minimum of 60 quarter credit hours shall be required in technical areas.

Diploma Programs

Diploma programs must be approved by the State Board, either as a new addition to the System or to the individual Technical College. The range of quarter credit hours required for graduation is 60 to 90.

With special approval of the State Board, certain diploma programs may be extended to meet requirements of (1) formal cooperative arrangements (combining course work and on-the-job training), (2) certification, (3) licensure, (4) accreditation, or (5) unique situations for which training at the diploma level is appropriate. With State Board approval, the range of quarter credits may be extended to 160 hours.

Diploma programs shall be organized to conform to system wide models developed through the program standards phases and approved by the State Board. Compliance with the models shall ensure minimum standardization of diploma programs within the Technical College System of Georgia. The models shall require diploma programs to be organized in general education and occupational courses.

Diploma programs shall be composed of courses listed in systemwide Catalog of Courses. Only courses numbered 100 or above shall be credited toward diploma requirements.

Each diploma program shall require a minimum basic core of 11 quarter credit hours in general education courses. Components of this core must include at least one course from each of the following areas: humanities; social/behavioral sciences; and mathematics. A minimum of 47 quarter credit hours shall be required in occupational courses.

Technical Certificate of Credit Programs

Technical certificate of credit (TCC) programs must be approved by the State Board, either as a new addition to the System or the individual Technical College.

The State Board authorizes one exception to this requirement. If a college requests a new TCC program which:

(1) relates directly to an existing certificate, diploma, or degree program offered by the college (and)

(2) all of the credit courses contained in the TCC program are offered by the college

the State Board authorizes the DTAE Instructional Support Services division to administratively approve the TCC application on behalf of the board.

The range of quarter hours required for graduation is 15-59.

Technical certificate of credit programs shall be organized as a coherent set of competencies that correspond to identifiable exit points which match positions in a field of work, and the credential issued as a technical certificate will describe this area of specialization by a name which is clearly descriptive of the area of specialization. The technical certificate may used to provide programs in areas of specialization that do not require study of sufficient length to award a diploma or degree or to add on areas of specialization after the completion of a diploma or degree. Technical certificates of credit may require any combination of general core courses, fundamental occupational courses, specific occupational courses, or approved elective courses. Up to 20 percent of the course of study may be unspecified elective courses.

Technical certificate of credit programs shall be composed of courses listed in the systemwide Catalog of Courses, including elective courses developed specifically for a certificate program. A Technical College is limited in the courses it may offer in certificate programs to the level of accreditation it holds, i.e., diploma or degree. Only courses numbered 100 or above shall be credited toward technical certificate requirements.

Adopted: May 4, 1989 Revised: July 2, 1992; January 7, 1993; September 5, 1996; May 7, 2001, Revised September 7, 2006, May 3, 2007 Code: 04-02-13 Approved