Degrees and Certificates

 SLCC offers the following degrees:

Associate of Arts
Associate of Science
Associate of Pre-Engineering
Associate of Applied Science

SLCC also offers the following certificates:

Certificate of Completion
Certificate of Proficiency
Certificate of Achievement

Each of the following definitions includes the applicable requirements from Utah State Board of Regents policy R401.

Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) Degrees

Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees are programs of study approved by the Board of Regents that are primarily intended to encourage exploration of academic options and prepare students for upper-division work in baccalaureate programs and/or for employment. A minimum of 61 total credits, including a minimum of 34 credits of general education coursework and 27 credits of other coursework, are required for completion of these degrees at SLCC. Individual programs may specify in their catalog entries whether general education credits beyond the 34-credit minimum can be counted toward the 61 credits of coursework necessary to earn the associate’s degree; where not specified, excess general education credits can be counted. The Associate of Arts degree requires successful completion of any language course at the 1020 level or higher as part of the 27 credits beyond general education. Associate’s degrees are no more than 63 credits in length unless an exception has been granted by the Board of Regents. Pre-majors, which consist of recommendations for specific courses to take at SLCC in preparation for a particular baccalaureate major, are defined in a variety of areas as outlined in this catalog.

The Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees are called “transfer” degrees because they satisfy the lower division general education requirements and select pre-major requirements for a baccalaureate degree at all public institutions of the Utah System of Higher Education. However, completion of an AS or AA degree at SLCC does not guarantee automatic acceptance into a specific major when transferring; some four-year programs are restricted and may require a special application, a competitive GPA, or other admission requirements.

SLCC continually strives to articulate course offerings with other colleges and universities in Utah and elsewhere so that a course taken at SLCC is counted equivalently at other institutions. SLCC academic advisors and advisors at a student’s intended transfer institution can assist students with specific course articulation information. For further information about transferring, see the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.

Associate of Pre-Engineering (APE) Degrees

Associate of Pre-Engineering (APE) degrees are programs of study approved by the Board of Regents that are intended to prepare students to initiate upper-division work in baccalaureate engineering programs. APE degrees require significant specialized coursework and general education requirements that may be less extensive than in AA or AS degrees. Because students might not fully complete SLCC’s general education requirements while completing a specialized associate’s degree, they are expected to satisfy remaining general education requirements in addition to upper-division baccalaureate requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree. Generally, graduates of SLCC’s Associate of Pre-Engineering programs transfer seamlessly into engineering majors at public institutions of the Utah System of Higher Education. In some cases, students must select specific courses at SLCC depending upon where they intend to transfer; see engineering program descriptions for specific program requirements.

Completing an APE degree does not guarantee automatic acceptance into an engineering major at other colleges and universities. Most four-year engineering programs are restricted and require a special application and a competitive GPA.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degrees

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees are programs of study approved by the Board of Regents that are primarily intended to prepare students for entry-level careers. A minimum of 63 and a maximum of 69 credit hours are required for completion of these degrees. At SLCC, the AAS degree requires a minimum of 14 credits of general education coursework (11-14 credits in core academic skills and 3-6 credits in distribution courses). Many of the courses contained in AAS degrees will transfer to other institutions due to articulation agreements. Check with individual department coordinators or academic advisors for specific transfer information. Some Utah institutions will also accept credits from certain AAS degrees and apply them toward baccalaureate degree programs. Students who complete an AAS degree may complete additional general education courses to obtain an AS degree from SLCC.

An AAS Emphasis indicates a specific subject or focus area within a defined AAS program. The emphasis requirements fulfill the requirements for the AAS degree and are indicated as an emphasis of the AAS degree on a student’s transcript and diploma, e.g., “Associate of Applied Science in Architectural Technology/CAD and Computer Graphics Emphasis.”

Certificates of Completion

Certificates of Completion are programs of study approved by the Board of Regents that consist of a coherent sequence of courses typically one year in length (30-33 semester credit hours or 900-990 clock hours). Based on compelling reasons, exceptions to the maximum credit hour requirement may be granted by the Regents. Certificates of Completion may be entry-level or may require prerequisites of related industry experience and/or previous course work or degree attainment. Certificates of Completion include clearly identifiable instructional components in communication, computation, and human relations. These components can either be standalone general education courses or embedded within other program courses.

Certificates of Proficiency

Certificates of Proficiency are programs of study approved by the Board of Regents that consist of a coherent sequence of courses typically less than one year in length (16-29 semester credit hours or 600-899 clock hours). Certificates of Proficiency may be entry-level or may require prerequisites of related industry experience and/or previous course work or degree attainment. Certificates of Proficiency are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Certificates of Achievement

Certificates of Achievement are programs of study not requiring approval by the Board of Regents that result in a certificate issued by an individual department/division/school and not under the authority of the Board of Regents. These are typically designed to meet immediate workforce training or community education needs. Certificates of Achievement are not recorded on an SLCC transcript, do not become part of a student’s permanent academic record, and are not eligible for federal financial aid. A Certificate of Achievement has no minimum or maximum length requirements or minimum general education requirements.

General Education Certificate of Completion

The Certificate of Completion in General Education meets the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) general education requirements as outlined in Board of Regents Policy R470. The Certificate provides verification to all USHE institutions that the student has satisfied the lower division general education requirements of an AS or AA degree. The Certificate of Completion in General Education is awarded when a student completes all of the general education requirements for an AA or AS degree as described below. Students must complete 9 credit hours or 25% of the required credits directly from SLCC, must hold matriculated status, and must earn an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. This Certificate of Completion is not a stand-alone program; students seeking a degree should enroll in their program of choice.

Stackable Credentials

Just as an AA or AS degree can be used to fulfill some of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree, certificates can be used to fulfill requirements of many degrees. In some cases, two or more certificates can be “stacked” together to fulfill the requirements for an AA, AS, or AAS degree. In other cases, certificates are meant to be “stacked onto” other degrees to give a student additional skill sets. Check with the appropriate program advisor for additional information.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Career and Technical Education (CTE) includes a wide range of programs, either credit or non-credit, specifically designed to prepare students to enter the workforce immediately upon completion. Every AAS degree, Diploma, and Certificate program at SLCC is a CTE program. Students in CTE programs are highly recruited by business and industry. SLCC has relationships with many employers in the community and can help CTE graduates enter a career upon graduation. Industry leaders serve on the 48 Program Advisory Committees that advise SLCC’s CTE programs on curriculum and workforce preparation issues. In some cases, students may be hired before they graduate and are able to complete their education at an employer’s expense. Many CTE and university graduates return to SLCC for recertification or continuing education throughout their careers.

SLCC partners with more than 30 local high schools and allows students to begin CTE training during high school through SLCC’s concurrent enrollment program. Concurrent enrollment allows students to earn high school and college credit at the same time, expediting their entry into the workforce.

To learn more about SLCC Career and Technical Education opportunities go to www.slcc.edu/cte.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship students attend class two times a week in the evening and work in a paid industry position during the day. Students must be employed in a qualifying trade and (in most cases) sponsored by their local trade union. Total completion of an Apprenticeship program may take three to five years depending upon the trade. High School Concurrent Enrollment is available in some trades.

Apprenticeship Department
Taylorsville Redwood Campus
Construction Trades Building, Room 274
(801) 957-4066
www.slcc.edu/apprenticeship

Continuing Education

Continuing Education (CE) focuses on programs designed to meet the needs of community members, business, industry, agencies, and working professionals. Programs range from on-going career oriented programs to customized training focused on development of a particular skill. CE also delivers on-site programs and courses for many employers.

Division of Continuing Education
Miller Campus
9750 S 300 W
Sandy, UT 84070
(801) 957-5303
www.slcccontinuinged.com

School of Applied Technology

The School of Applied Technology offers a variety of non-credit CTE courses and programs ranging from 10 to over 1200 clock hours in length at five SLCC campuses/centers. It also offers classes in Adult Basic Education (Reading, Writing, and Math), GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL) and other vocational preparation basic skills courses. All programs are VA eligible and most programs 600 clock hours in length or longer are eligible for federal financial aid.

School of Applied Technology
South City Campus
1575 South State Street, Room 1-061
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115-1610
(801) 957-3354
www.slcc.edu/sat