Associate in Science Degree

General Education Requirements

The general education requirements for associate degrees at Florida Gateway College are consistent with the College philosophy which states that each student who attends the College shall be assisted in acquiring learning as a lifelong pattern. Specifically, students in career-oriented areas should be able to communicate, to calculate, and to understand the social and scientific implications of the world around them. Students seeking transfer to a baccalaureate program should complete a general education requirement which is broad in scope and requires an in-depth level of inquiry.

The College recognizes that student learning goals may change during a lifetime; therefore, the general education requirement for all degrees is collegiate in nature and, as such, should provide an academic foundation for lifelong learning. It is designed to meet students at their levels of ability and assist them in attaining collegiate levels of performance. Not all students come to the College prepared for this level of endeavor. Developmental education courses, therefore, are provided to assist the student in gaining the requisite skills necessary to be successful in a work or collegiate setting.

Florida Gateway College requires students in all associate degree programs to demonstrate computer competency. Competency is defined as the ability to use computer technology to access data, transform the data into information, and communicate that information to others. Students declaring the Associate in Science degree effective fall 2014 and thereafter (or students who have not been enrolled for at least one semester for every year of enrollment), are required to prove competency by one of the following ways prior to graduation: providing evidence of appropriate computer coursework on an official high school transcript; satisfactory completion of a collegewide proficiency test of computer competence; earning a grade of C or better in SLS 1501The College Experience ; taking any course with the prefix CGS, COP, or EME, before graduation; or successfully completing a college Internet course.

Florida Gateway College requires students in all associate degree programs to demonstrate oral communication competency. Competency is defined as the ability to perceive, interpret, evaluate, organize, and demonstrate effective oral presentation. Students who were admitted for first time registration for the summer of 2001 and after (or students who have not been enrolled for at least one semester for every year of enrollment), are required to prove competency by passing one of the following courses before graduation: ORI 2000 Fundamentals of Oral Interpretation , SPC 1017 Oral Communications , SPC 1061 Introduction to Academic and Professional Speaking , or SPC 2608 Public Speaking .

General Learning Outcomes

Listed below are the FGC General Learning Outcomes to be mastered by all students who complete an Associate in Arts program or an Associate in Science program. The curriculum in these courses will be mapped to confirm coverage of the competencies and the course examinations will be designed to assess mastery of the competencies.

1. Communications: Demonstrate the ability to understand and be understood through effective reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
   
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to understand and respond to college level reading assignments through the application of effective reading skills.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to understand and to produce effective writing.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to apply effective listening skills.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to understand and produce effective speaking.
2. Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to evaluate carefully and apply reasoning to differentiate between facts, inferences, assumptions and conclusions.
   
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to question and evaluate information (data, ideas or concepts) for accuracy, objectivity and quality.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to analyze information (data, idea or concepts) in context to draw appropriate and well supported conclusions.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to synthesize ideas from a variety of sources producing an original product.
3. Quantitative Reasoning: Demonstrate the ability to use numerical, geometric and measurement data in computations and reasoning to draw logical conclusions and make well-reasoned decisions.
   
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to make necessary numeric conversions from measurements in both the US and Metric Systems.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to interpret mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables, and to draw inferences from them.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to estimate and check answers to problems in order to determine reasonableness, identify alternatives, and select optimal results.
4. Scientific Reasoning: Demonstrate the ability to apply empirical evidence to describe, understand and predict natural phenomena.
   
   • Student will demonstrate an understanding of fundamental scientific principles and their application to scientific research and to society.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to utilize and apply technological data to understand natural phenomena.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to apply these steps of the scientific method to solve problems by:
     
     1. Observation of natural phenomena
     2. Interpretation of the natural phenomena through formulation of a hypothesis which is a tentative explanation of the observed phenomena.
     3. Acquisition of scientific data through experiment or continued observation.
     4. Formulation of a conclusion to explain the results obtained and be able to modify that conclusion when new data is collected.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to integrate ideas and concepts from different disciplines.
5. Information Literacy: Demonstrate the ability to locate, comprehend, evaluate and use information effectively and ethically.
   
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to locate relevant resource materials available in the library or through the Florida college system in either electronic or print format.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to differentiate between reliable and unreliable Web sites and relevant subject databases provided through the library, and utilize reliable electronic web resources to support their beliefs, position, and/or argument.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to use information derived from a variety of sources in accordance with the laws and guidelines of “Fair Use” and intellectual property rights.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to gather information by using an internet search engine.
6. Cultural Awareness: Demonstrate an awareness, understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness of cultures within and across local, regional, state, national and global communities.
   • Student will acquire an awareness of cultural differences and/or interconnections based upon multiple perspectives of either culture outside their own or the interconnections of cultures, languages and/or nations at various levels, including international.
   • Student will demonstrate the ability to reflect upon cultural differences and/or interconnections, resulting in the formulation of their own responses to the culture or global issue and be able to relate such reflection through written or spoken analysis, contrast/comparison and informed deliberation.
   • Student will begin to develop greater tolerance and appreciation of cultural differences and/or interconnections and by extension begin to develop a global perspective, through the identification of positive elements in different cultures.

General Information

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is designed for the student seeking training in business, health, technical, industrial, or public service fields.

A student interested in the Associate in Science degree is required to meet all general admission requirements and special program admission requirements and achieve acceptable scores on the college placement exam.

A student should check with an advisor to determine which courses, if any, may transfer.

A student wishing to apply to an Associate in Science program should consult the admission section of this catalog for information about general college admissions. However, a student is cautioned that acceptance into selective college programs is done officially by the specific instructional department and not the admissions office.

A student must complete a general admission application to the College and may also be required to submit a supplemental application to the instructional program.

Many of the Associate in Science degree programs have limited or special admissions requirements. A student should not assume guaranteed admittance because he or she has completed recommended or required prerequisites. A student will be officially notified, in writing, of his or her acceptance into a particular Associate in Science program.

The Associate in Science degree student is required to complete a placement exam as prescribed by State Board Rule.

A student who does not achieve minimum scores will be required to take developmental education classes in English, math, reading, and SLS 1501 The College Experience . Developmental education classes will not count toward completion of an academic degree.

Nursing and Health Sciences Programs Clinical Agency Requirements

In order to meet clinical agency requirements where student training will take place, all students in Nursing and Health Sciences Programs must now meet state and federal regulations as described by Florida Statutes S. 400.211. An in-depth background screen is required. In addition, students must establish that they are drug free by voluntarily submitting to a drug screening analysis.

Florida Gateway College Student Guarantee Program

Any Associate in Science graduate, who is judged by his/her employer to be lacking in the technical job skills identified in the exit competencies for his/her specific degree program will be provided up to twelve (12) tuition-free credit hours of additional skill training, under the conditions of the guarantee policy.

Special Conditions:

• The graduate must have earned the A.S. degree, beginning 1999 or thereafter, in an occupational program identified in the College catalog.
• The graduate must have completed the A.S. degree at FGC (with a majority of the credits being earned at FGC) and must have completed the degree within a four-year time span.
• Graduates must be employed full time in an area directly related to the area of program concentration.
• Employment related to the degree area must commence within twelve (12) months of graduation.
• The employer must certify, in writing, that the employee is lacking entry-level skills identified by FGC as the employee’s program competencies and must specify the areas of deficiency within ninety (90) days of the graduate’s initial employment.
• The employer, graduate, faculty, and Division Chair are to develop a written education plan for retraining. The plan is to be approved by the appropriate Vice President.
• Retraining will be limited to twelve (12) credit hours related to the identified skill deficiency and those classes regularly scheduled during the period covered by the retraining plan.
• All retraining must be completed within eighteen months from the time the educational plan is agreed upon.
• The graduate and/or employer is responsible for cost of books, insurance, and uniforms.
• The guarantee does not imply that the graduate will pass any licensing or qualifying examination for a particular career.
• If the student has passed a national or state licensing exam (i.e.: NCLEX; Microsoft certification) the College has no obligation to retrain.
• The student’s sole remedy against FGC and its employees for skill deficiencies shall be limited to twelve (12) credit hours of tuition-free education (fees included) under conditions described above.

Graduation Requirements

All students must:

1. Complete the program requirements as outlined in the program section of the catalog,
2. Demonstrate competence in reading, math, and language,
3. Complete at least 15 hours of general education requirements as part of an A.S. program,
4. Meet Florida Gateway College’s residency requirement by completing a minimum of 25 percent of the program in residence at FGC before graduation from Florida Gateway College,
5. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher,
6. Demonstrate computer and oral communication competency,
7. Pass the College’s Communication/Computation Rule (Gordon Rule) classes with a 2.0 GPA for each class.

A student who owes an obligation to the College will not receive a diploma or transcript until the obligation is resolved.

A student is strongly encouraged to contact the instructional program department concerning the guidelines and requirements for full acceptance into the Associate in Science degree program.

Associate in Science Programs