Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers three associate degrees: the associate of applied science degree, the associate of science degree, and the associate of arts degree. This foundation demonstrates the College's vision of an informed, literate, and educated person. It also expresses its commitment to developing a dynamic and renewed regional community through the contributions of our graduates.
The Associate of Applied Science Degree (60-65 credits) is designed to be a two-year terminal degree with a primary goal of getting the student ready for entry into the workforce. As such the program requirements-those courses aimed at providing competency in a particular career-related discipline-make up the bulk of the coursework for the AAS degree.
To complete an AAS degree, students must complete the following degree requirements:
- 1 credit FYE 101 - First Year Experience (strongly suggested to be taken during the student's first semester)
- 6 credits English/communication: ENG 105 or ENG 110 and one (1) additional course in ENG or COM
- 3 credits math (MAT)
- 3-4 credits science
- 3 credits technology (CIT 100)
- 3 credits social science/humanities
This is a total of 19 or 20 credits, depending on whether a 3-credit or 4-credit science course is required by the program. In addition to the degree requirements, students must complete 41-46 program credits, depending upon the specific program the student seeks to complete.
The Associate of Science Degree (60-64 credits*) is designed to provide a substantial program experience while optimizing the transferability of the course work for those students who may later decide to seek further education at a baccalaureate institution.
To complete an AS degree, students must complete the following degree requirements:
- 1 credit FYE 101 - First Year Experience (strongly suggested to be taken during the student's first semester)
- 9 credits English/communication: ENG 110 and two (2) additional courses in ENG or COM
- 3 credits math (MAT 145 College Algebra or higher)
- 7-8 credits science, including at least one lab science
- 6 credits social science/humanities
This is a total of 26-27 credits. In addition to the degree requirements, students must complete 34-38 program credits, depending on the specific program the student seeks to complete.
*Some Associate of Science degrees may follow the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) option, which is designed to allow students in transfer majors with more math and science requirements to complete fewer humanities and social science requirements.
The Associate of Arts Degree (60-64 credits) is designed for those students interested in earning a two-year degree while working toward a bachelor's degree. To this end, the degree is designed to optimize transfer by focusing on highly transferable general education requirements while still providing the student with opportunities to work in the major field of interest.
To complete an AA degree, students must complete the following degree requirements:
- 1 credit FYE 101 - First Year Experience (strongly suggested to be taken during the student's first semester)
- 9 credits English/communication: ENG 110 and two (2) additional courses in ENG or COM
- 6-8 credits quantitative reasoning/technology: MAT 116, 126, 145, or higher and one (1) additional MAT course at the aforementioned level OR one (1) technology course (CIT 100 or higher)
- 3-4 credits science
- 9 credits social science/humanities (at least one in each area)
This is a total of 28-31 credits. In addition to the degree requirements, students must complete 32-36 program credits, depending upon the specific program the student seeks to complete.