Associate in Science

The Associate in Science degree is designed for the student planning to transfer to a four-year program and for the student who wishes to broaden general knowledge.

The degree stresses mathematics and natural and physical sciences and is designed to prepare students for four-year baccalaureate majors in those fields as well as engineering, pre-med, veterinary medicine, and chiropractic.

Required Courses

Day and Evening Program

Updated 3/31/2017

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Purpose Statement

An Associate in Science (AS) Degree provides students a foundation in the liberal arts and is designed to transfer into a variety of Baccalaureate programs at a four-year institution.

Advisement Information

Program Notes

• This program can be completed on a part-time or a full-time basis.  Classes can be started any semester. 
   
• If a student is not ready to take college-level courses, he or she should enroll in the appropriate developmental or transitional coursework.  These classes must be completed before college-level classes are attempted.
   
• Students and advisors are encouraged to review the Transfer Guides. These guides give institution-specific information about courses required for individual majors, bridge programs, articulation agreements, etc. The "Requirements for Individual Majors" link will outline preferred courses to complete the associate degree while expediting the completion of a bachelor's degree.
   
• With an AS degree, graduates can transfer directly to any state-supported four-year institution in SC. Overall, credits from PTC are accepted at more than 23 institutions in SC and surrounding states. Refer to transfer guide links to see which PTC courses are equivalent to those required by the senior institution the student is planning to attend.
   
• The final decision as to the transferability of courses will be made by the senior institution at the time of transfer. For protection, the student should visit the senior institution and secure approval of all courses.
   
• Students planning transfer to USC, the College of Charleston, Lander University, Newberry College, USC Aiken or Erskine College with an Associate in Arts degree can join the appropriate Bridge program to secure benefits that vary by institution. To enroll in a Bridge program, contact Dr. Kim Neal, AA/AS Transfer Coordinator.
   
• Depending on senior institution, transfer credit of sciences may require completion of a series and may require enrollment in a face-to-face lab (not online). At this time, Lander University will not accept online lab science coursework.  Students planning to transfer to Lander should enroll in traditional lab/lecture format for science courses.

Notes about individual classes

• The first English required for this program is ENG 101.  Students will follow this progression, with their starting point being determined by their placement test scores:  ENG 032/012 and/or RDG 032/012 (or RWR 032/012) > ENG 100 and/or RDG 100 (or RWR 100) > ENG 101.
   
• Every student must take ENG 101 and ENG 102. Students transferring to Clemson need to complete ENG 101 and 102 to gain transfer credit for ENG 103, which is now required of all CU students.
   
• The appropriate math track is highly dependent on where a student plans to transfer and the intended major at the four-year college.  If the student’s future plans dictates that he or she should take MAT 120 or MAT 122, the student will follow this progression, with his or her starting point being determined by their placement test scores:  MAT 032/012 > MAT 152 or MAT 101 > MAT 120 or MAT 122. If the student needs MAT 110, he or she will follow this progression, with the starting point being determined by placement test scores:  MAT 032/012 > MAT 152 or MAT 101 > MAT 102 > MAT 110.
   
• When advising for SPA 101, we strongly recommend that students successfully complete ENG 101 (or have strong placement scores for ENG 101 and have demonstrated competency in English language skills) before attempting SPA 101. SPA 105 is a nontransferable conversational Spanish which could be used as a nontransferable elective before taking SPA 101.
   
• Strong reading and study skills are needed for success in BIO 101 & 102. The pre-requisites for BIO 101 are ENG 100, RDG 100 and MAT 152 or MAT 101 or appropriate placement scores.
   
• Prerequisite for CHM 110 is MAT 102 or appropriate algebra placement score showing readiness for MAT 110. This course requires strong reading skills
   
• Most courses are offered each semester.  Some courses, including BIO, CHM 107/111, and PSY courses, are only offered in fall or spring in live formats.

Contacts

• Note to enrollment advisors: please send the student’s AA/AS academic advisor electronic notification of his or her enrollment. In addition, if the student completes a Bridge Program form, please forward a copy to Dr. Kim Neal.
   
• The Dean of Arts and Sciences is Dr. Bradley Griggs.
   
• You may also contact Dr. Kim Neal, the department Head of Mathematics and the AA/AS Transfer Coordinator for information about this program.
   
• Please email advising@ptcledu if this advising guide needs corrections or updates.

Advisement Information updated/reviewed 9/18/2017.