3.11 Program Completion Policy

I. Degree Requirements

The college awards four degrees:

  1. the Associate in Arts,
  2. the Associate in Fine Arts,
  3. the Associate in Science, and
  4. the Associate in Applied Science.

Requirements for degrees are as follows:

A. Associate in Arts Degree and Associate in Science Degree: Two-year degrees designed for transfer to baccalaureate degree institutions

  1. Official copies of all high school and college transcripts on file at Central Piedmont.
  2. Completion of the required college transfer courses totaling a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 61 semester credit hours.
  3. A minimum of 25% of credits within the degree program must be earned in residence at Central Piedmont.
  4. A program grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
  5. The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the governing boards of the North Carolina Community College System and the University of North Carolina System addresses the transfer of credit from the community college to the baccalaureate degree-granting institution. To be eligible for the transfer of credits under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement, the student must graduate from the community college with an Associate in Arts (A.A.) or Associate in Science (A.S.) degree and have an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of "C" or better in all Comprehensive Articulation Agreement courses. Students who do not complete the degree are eligible to transfer credits on a course-by-course basis.

B. Associate in Fine Arts Degree

  1. Official copies of all high school and college transcripts on file at Central Piedmont.
  2. Completion of the required college transfer courses totaling a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 61 semester credit hours.
  3. A minimum of 25% of credits within the degree program must be earned in residence at Central Piedmont.
  4. A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.

C. Associate in Applied Science Degree

  1. Official copies of all high school and college transcripts on file at Central Piedmont.
  2. Completion of a minimum of 64 semester hours (or a greater number of credit hours if specified by the program of study with a maximum of 76), including the required general education courses.
  3. A minimum of 25% of credits within the degree program must be earned in residence at Central Piedmont.
  4. A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.

II. Diploma Requirements

The college awards diplomas upon completion of a minimum of 36 semester credit hours, or a greater number of credit hours if specified by the program of study with a maximum of 48, of required courses in the student's program of career study, including general education requirements for diplomas are as follows:

  1. Official copies of all high school and college transcripts at Central Piedmont.
  2. Completion of the required courses.
  3. A minimum of 25% of credits within the diploma program must be earned in residence at Central Piedmont.
  4. A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.

III. Certificate Requirements

Certificates are awarded for programs of study requiring a minimum of 12 semester credit hours of credit to a maximum of 18 semester hours of credit. Requirements for certificates are as follows:

  1. Official copies of all high school and college transcripts at Central Piedmont (when this is a certification requirement).
  2. Completion of the required courses in the student's program of study.
  3. A minimum of 25% of credits within the certificate program must be earned in residence at Central Piedmont.
  4. A program GPA of 2.0 or higher.

IV. Changes in Program Completion Requirements

The college reserves the option of changing the requirements for completing a degree, diploma, or certificate program at any time, not inconsistent with minimum and maximum hours established by the State Board of Community Colleges. When such changes occur, students enrolled in the program may either fulfill the original requirements or the changed requirements. However, when a student is not enrolled in program-related courses for three or more consecutive semesters, the requirements for program completion will be based on those requirements in the College Catalog in effect when the student re-enrolls in the program, not those in effect when the student originally entered the program. Exceptions to this catalog year change can be made with the approval of the associate dean.

Related Procedure

Curriculum Program and Course Development and Revision Procedures - Education Programs

Changes

Changes approved by the Board of Trustees on May 6, 2020; July 12, 2023

Changes approved by Cabinet on August 7, 2006; November 28, 2011; March 2, 2015

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