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Associate in Science Degree Requirements

An Associate in Science (AS) degree will be awarded upon completion of the hours specified in the program. The individual must complete a minimum of 15 hours in General Education courses and the remaining courses listed in the program. (The majority of AS degrees at PHSC require 18 hours in General Education courses; however, to learn about the specific General Education requirements in your AS program, please refer to that program description in the Catalog.) Courses designated for technical certificates, except where specific articulation agreements exist, or those below the 1000 or 2000 level, are not applicable to this degree. At least 25 percent of the hours in a student's program, other than by Credit-By-Examination, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Advanced Placement (AP), must be earned in residence in classroom instruction at PHSC. A cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.0 must be achieved prior to graduation.

A grade of "C" or higher is required for all General Education courses whether they are being used to fulfill program or elective requirements.

Note(s): Credit earned in courses not offered by PHSC but awarded via transfer evaluations, examinations, and other external credit mechanisms may also be used to meet program requirements.

The General Education requirements for the AS Degree are:

AREA I.

Communications and Information Literacy: 3 Semester Credit Hours

The following course is required for all students:

ENC 1101English Composition I

3 cr.

Note(s): Students are encouraged to enroll in English Composition I (ENC 1101) during the first term of their enrollment at the College. The credit-hour requirement noted above still must be met as specified in the AS program description.

AREA II.

Mathematics: 3 Semester Credit Hours

Select one of the following courses:

MAC 1105College Algebra

3 cr.
MAC 1114Trigonometry

3 cr.
MAC 1140Precalculus Algebra

3 cr.
MAC 2233Applied Calculus

4 cr.
MAC 2311Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

5 cr.
MAC 2312Calculus and Analytic Geometry II

5 cr.
MAC 2313Calculus and Analytic Geometry III

4 cr.
MAP 2302Differential Equations

3 cr.
MGF 1130Mathematical Thinking

3 cr.
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics

3 cr.
 

AREA III.

Natural Sciences: 3 Semester Credit Hours

Select one of the following courses:

AST 1002Introduction to Astronomy

3 cr.
BSC 1005Introduction to Biology

3 cr.
EVR 1001Introduction to Environmental Science

3 cr.
BSC 1085Human Anatomy and Physiology I

3 cr.
and
BSC 1085LHuman Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory

1 cr.
BSC 1086Human Anatomy and Physiology II

3 cr.
and
BSC 1086LHuman Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory

1 cr.
BSC 2010Biology I

3 cr.
and
BSC 2010LBiology I Laboratory

1 cr.
BSC 2011Biology II

3 cr.
and
BSC 2011LBiology II Laboratory

1 cr.
CHM 1020Chemistry in Your Life

3 cr.
CHM 2045General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis I

3 cr.
and
CHM 2045LGeneral Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis I Laboratory

1 cr.
CHM 2046General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis II

3 cr.
and
CHM 2046LGeneral Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis II Laboratory

1 cr.
CHM 2210COrganic Chemistry I

5 cr.
CHM 2211COrganic Chemistry II

5 cr.
ESC 1000Introduction to Earth Science

3 cr.
GLY 2010Introduction to Geology

3 cr.
MCB 2010Microbiology

3 cr.
and
MCB 2010LMicrobiology Laboratory

1 cr.
OCE 2001Introduction to Oceanography

3 cr.
PHY 1020CFundamentals of Physics

3 cr.
PHY 1053General Physics I

3 cr.
and
PHY 1053LGeneral Physics I Laboratory

1 cr.
PHY 1054General Physics II

3 cr.
and
PHY 1054LGeneral Physics II Laboratory

1 cr.
PHY 2048CGeneral Physics I with Calculus

4 cr.
and
PHY 2049CPhysics II with Calculus

4 cr.
 

AREA IV

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 Semester Credit Hours

Select one of the following courses:

AMH 2010History of the United States I

3 cr.
AMH 2020History of the United States II

3 cr.
ANT 2000Introduction to Anthropology

3 cr.
ECO 2013Principles of Macroeconomics

3 cr.
POS 2041American Federal Government

3 cr.
PSY 1012Introduction to Psychology

3 cr.
 

AREA V

Humanities: 3 Semester Credit Hours

Select one of the following courses:

ARH 1000Art Appreciation

3 cr.
HUM 1020Introduction to Humanities

3 cr.
LIT 2000Introduction to Literature

3 cr.
MUL 1010Music Appreciation

3 cr.
PHI 1010Introduction to Philosophy

3 cr.
THE 1000Theatre Appreciation

3 cr.
 

AREA VI.

Technological Fluency: 3 Semester Credit Hours

The following course is required for all students:

CGS 1100Microcomputer Applications

3 cr.

Note(s): Students are encouraged to enroll in Microcomputer Applications (CGS 1100) during the first term of their enrollment at the college.

Civic Literacy Requirement

Effective Fall 2021, Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, was updated to align with SB 1108 which amends s. 1007.25, F.S. This amendment requires students initially entering an FCS institution in 2021-22 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by completing a course and passing an approved assessment. The civic literacy requirement can be met as outlined below.

Option 1- complete a. (course) and b. (assessment)

a. Complete one of the following:

  • successfully pass POS 2041 American Federal Government with a grade of "C" or above.
  • successfully pas AMH 2010 History of the United States I with a grade of "C" or above.
  • successfully pass AMH 2020 History of the United States II with a grade of "C" or above.
  • successfully pass POS 2041, AMH 2010, or AMH 2020 via credit-by-exam
    Note: If credit by exam is AP or CLEP then see Option 2

b. Achieve Standard Score on the following Assessment

  • Florida Civic Literacy Exam (Passing Score=60)
    Note: Students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school will still be required to pass an approved course once they enter the Florida College System (FCS).

Option 2 - complete one of the following assessments

Meets both the course and assessment requirement

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Test - Government & Politics: U.S. (Passing Score = 3)
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Test - U.S. History (Passing Score = 4)
  • CLEP American Government (Passing Score = 50)
  • CLEP History of the United States I (Passing Score = 50)

Students may also elect to complete POS 2041, AMH 2010, or AMH 2020 as a transient student online at another institution via the FloridaShines transient student request procedure.

Students who have entered PHSC prior to Fall semester 2018 and have maintained consistent enrollment should meet with an Academic Advisor to find out if they are exempt from this requirement.

To whom does the civic literacy requirement apply?

For students entering in: The civic literacy requirement applies to: In the following programs: These students must:
2018-19 - 2020-21 First-time-in-college (FTIC) students

Associate in Arts (AA)

Baccalaureate

 Pass a course OR pass an assessment
2021-22 and thereafter Students initially entering Florida College System (FCS) under 2021-22 catalog year*

Associate in Arts (AA)

Baccalaureate

 Pass a course AND pass an assessment
2022-23 and thereafter Students initially entering FCS under 2022-23 catalog year

Associate in Science (AS)

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

 Pass a course AND pass an assessment

* There is not a state requirement governing policy on catalog year in effect for returning students. Policies and procedures relating to assigning catalog years are left to institutions to determine. 

Dual Enrollment Students and Civic Literacy Competency Requirements

Questions Current Dual Enrollment Students Former Dual Enrollment Students
Are dual enrollment students required to pass an approved course and assessment to demonstrate civic literacy competency? No. Current dual enrollment students are not required to demonstrate postsecondary civic literacy competency while in high school, including those who are working toward an associate degree. However, current dual enrollment students may opt to take the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE).

Yes, under the following conditions:

Former dual enrollment students who matriculate to an FCS or SUS institution will have to demonstrate civic literacy competency if they enroll in the degree programs below.

  • Associate Degree (AA, AS, AAS)
  • Baccalaureate Degree (BA, BS, BAS)
Where should dual enrollment students be guided to take the FCLE?

Public School Students

  • At the public high school*
  • At the FCS institution, if available**

Home Education Students

  • At the FCS institution, if available**

Private School students

  • At the FCS institution, if available**
 At the FCS or SUS institution of enrollment.

*Public high schools are not required to offer the FCLE to dually enrolled students but may choose to do so at their discretion.

**FCS institutions are not required to offer the FCLE to dually enrolled students but may choose to do so at their discretion.

  • For public school dually enrolled students, this would be through a partnership arrangement with the public high school.
  • For home education or private school dually enrolled students, below are items that should be considered when deciding to allow them to take the FCLE:
    • How and where home education/private school students will obtain a FLEID
    • How home education/private school students will be informed where they can test
    • How often the test will be available to home education/private school students
    • Procedures for testing home education/private school students
    • How the score will be recorded on a home education/private school student's record

 

Additional Information

Each program also will include computer competencies, general computational skills, oral communication skills and human relations skills taught in a specific course or courses, based on the curricular needs. Some programs also may require particular courses to meet the requirements in II, III, IV, V and VI above. See the individual program listings for required General Education courses that must be completed.

It is strongly recommended that the first of any required English and mathematics courses be taken within the first 15 hours of course work. If the need for developmental education courses is indicated by placement scores, developmental education courses must be completed by the time the student completes 12 credit hours. The first of any required English and mathematics courses, as applicable, should be taken as soon thereafter as the student demonstrates the necessary skills for these courses.

Effective Fall 2021, Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, was updated to align with SB 1108 which amends s. 1007.25, F.S. This amendment requires students initially entering an FCS institution in 2021-22 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by completing a course and passing an approved assessment. The civic literacy requirement can be met as outlined below.

Option 1- complete a. (course) and b. (assessment)

a. Complete one of the following:

  • successfully pass POS 2041 American Federal Government with a grade of "C" or above.
  • successfully pas AMH 2010 History of the United States I with a grade of "C" or above.
  • successfully pass AMH 2020 History of the United States II with a grade of "C" or above.
  • successfully pass POS 2041, AMH 2010, or AMH 2020 via credit-by-exam
    Note: If credit by exam is AP or CLEP then see Option 2

b. Achieve Standard Score on the following Assessment

  • Florida Civic Literacy Exam (Passing Score=60)
    Note: Students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school will still be required to pass an approved course once they enter the Florida College System (FCS).

Option 2 - complete one of the following assessments

Meets both the course and assessment requirement

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Test - Government & Politics: U.S. (Passing Score = 3)
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Test - U.S. History (Passing Score = 4)
  • CLEP American Government (Passing Score = 50)
  • CLEP History of the United States (Passing Score = 50)

Students may also elect to complete POS 2041, AMH 2010, or AMH 2020 as a transient student online at another institution via the FloridaShines transient student request procedure.

Students who have entered PHSC prior to Fall semester 2018 and have maintained consistent enrollment should meet with an Academic Advisor to find out if they are exempt from this requirement.

To whom does the civic literacy requirement apply?

For students entering in: The civic literacy requirement applies to: In the following programs: These students must:
2018-19 - 2020-21 First-time-in-college (FTIC) students

Associate in Arts (AA)

Baccalaureate

 Pass a course OR pass an assessment
2021-22 and thereafter Students initially entering Florida College System (FCS) under 2021-22 catalog year*

Associate in Arts (AA)

Baccalaureate

 Pass a course AND pass an assessment
2022-23 and thereafter Students initially entering FCS under 2022-23 catalog year

Associate in Science (AS)

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

 Pass a course AND pass an assessment

* There is not a state requirement governing policy on catalog year in effect for returning students. Policies and procedures relating to assigning catalog years are left to institutions to determine. 

Dual Enrollment Students and Civic Literacy Competency Requirements

Questions Current Dual Enrollment Students Former Dual Enrollment Students
Are dual enrollment students required to pass an approved course and assessment to demonstrate civic literacy competency? No. Current dual enrollment students are not required to demonstrate postsecondary civic literacy competency while in high school, including those who are working toward an associate degree. However, current dual enrollment students may opt to take the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE).

Yes, under the following conditions:

Former dual enrollment students who matriculate to an FCS or SUS institution will have to demonstrate civic literacy competency if they enroll in the degree programs below.

  • Associate Degree (AA, AS, AAS)
  • Baccalaureate Degree (BA, BS, BAS)
Where should dual enrollment students be guided to take the FCLE?

Public School Students

  • At the public high school*
  • At the FCS institution, if available**

Home Education Students

  • At the FCS institution, if available**

Private School students

  • At the FCS institution, if available**
 At the FCS or SUS institution of enrollment.

*Public high schools are not required to offer the FCLE to dually enrolled students but may choose to do so at their discretion.

**FCS institutions are not required to offer the FCLE to dually enrolled students but may choose to do so at their discretion.

  • For public school dually enrolled students, this would be through a partnership arrangement with the public high school.
  • For home education or private school dually enrolled students, below are items that should be considered when deciding to allow them to take the FCLE:
    • How and where home education/private school students will obtain a FLEID
    • How home education/private school students will be informed where they can test
    • How often the test will be available to home education/private school students
    • Procedures for testing home education/private school students
    • How the score will be recorded on a home education/private school student's record