Bergen Community College

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Bergen Community College
Updated 9/20/11

• Curriculum Requirements and Program Structures

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Pursuant to state regulations in the 1980s and
then to the Statewide Articulation Agreement
developed between 1995 and 2008 between NJ 2-year
and 4-year colleges and universities, students in
associate degree programs must take a broad
distribution of courses in

• Communications (English composition speech)
• Humanities (fine arts, foreign languages,
  history, literature, philosophy, religion)
• Mathematics ( Computer Science) the Natural
  Sciences
• Social Sciences
• AA degrees (at least 45 credits of GE)
• AS degrees (at least 30 credits of GE)
• AAS degrees (at least 20 credits of GE)

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Until 2008, state regulations permitted

• theoretically based" physical education courses
  to be required in a community colleges general
  education program (in the discretion of the local
  college).However, as of the revised
  Comprehensive State-Wide Transfer Agreement of
  9/22/08, physical education courses can no longer
  be offered or required for general education
  credit in NJ community colleges.

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Also as of 2008,

• 30-36 credit (one-year) Certificate programs
  must include at least 6 credits of general
  education, with at least one composition course.

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The law also allows

• 12-18 credit Certificates.
• BCC has adopted a number of such Certificates,
  calling them "Certificates of Achievement."
• These special certificate programs include no
  general education requirements.

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Moreover,

• AA, AS, and AAS degrees must include at least 60
  and no more than 66 credits,
• EXCEPT where program licensure requirements by
  external accrediting agencies cause programs to
  exceed the 66-credit limit.
• At BCC, AA and AS degrees ? and many, but not
  all, AAS degrees ? are limited to 64-66 credits
• some AAS degrees require more than 66 credits
  (per the exception noted above).

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Here is the relevant law on NJ community college
degree programs from Title 9A of the New Jersey
Administrative Code

• 9A1-2.3     Associate degree programs(a)
  Each educational program leading to an associate
  degree shall consist of college courses totaling
  at least 60 but not more than 66 semester credit
  hours or the equivalent in quarter hours,
  courses, or other measurement used by the
  institution.  The 66-credit-hour maximum may be
  exceeded when required for licensure or
  accreditation by a recognized agency or for
  student transfer to full junior status.(b) The
  associate in arts (A.A.) degree nomenclature is
  appropriate for programs in the liberal arts,
  humanities, or fine and performing arts such
  programs are transfer-oriented.  For A.A.
  degrees, general education courses should total
  no fewer than 45 semester credit hours or the
  equivalent.(c) The associate in science (A.S.)
  degree nomenclature is appropriate for programs
  in mathematics, the sciences, business, or in
  allied health fields if the program is intended
  as prebaccalaureate work such programs are
  transfer-oriented.  General education courses for
  the A.S. degree should total no fewer than 30
  semester credit hours or the equivalent.(d) The
  associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree
  nomenclature is appropriate for programs that
  emphasize career preparation in the applied arts
  and sciences, typically at the technical or
  semiprofessional level.  Such programs are
  designed to prepare students for job entry at
  completion of the program, notwithstanding any
  articulation agreements with four-year programs
  that may be in effect for a particular A.A.S.
  program.  General education courses shall total
  no fewer than 20 semester credit hours or the
  equivalent.(e) Specialized associate degree
  programs, such as Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
  and A.S. in Nursing, shall normally require no
  fewer than 20 semester credit hours or the
  equivalent in general education courses.

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The BCC 64-Credit Minimum

• Bergen Community College offers degree programs
  leading to Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in
  Science (A.S.), and Associate in Applied Science
  (A.A.S.) degrees. A student is required to
  complete a minimum of 64 degree credits for
  graduation.--From p. 61 in the current online
  Policies section of the BCC Catalog.
• --Most (perhaps all) NJ community colleges have
  the same 64-credit minimum for an Associate
  degree.

So.
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every BCC degree program

• must contain a minimum of 64 credits
• and a maximum of 66 credits,
• except for the exception allowed by law (as
  stated above).

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Pursuant to and consistent with state regulations
and statewide agreements, BCC offers

• a 2-track AA degree program (in Liberal Arts in
  Fine Performing Arts)
• a 3-track AS degree program (in Natural Sciences
  or Mathematics, in Engineering Science, in
  "Professional Studies)
• Two types of AAS degree programs Basic AAS
  programs and AAS programs in Health Professions
  and Career Technologies
• AFA programs that follow the Basic AAS degree
  format
• a number of 30-36 credit (one-year) Certificate
  programs (currently 31 programs) and
• a number of 12-18 credit Certificates of
  Achievement (currently 30 programs).

(The current curriculum requirements for these
programs are summarized below.)
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There are also optional areas of concentration
("options," "majors") under

• the AA degree program in Liberal Arts (General,
  Cinema Studies, Communication, Economics, Global
  Studies, History, Latin American Studies,
  Literature, Philosophy, Political Science,
  Psychology, Religion, Social Sciences, Sociology,
  Womens Studies, World Languages Cultures)
• the AA degree program in Fine Performing Arts
  (General, Art, Cinema Studies, Music, Theatre
  Arts 4 options)
• the AS degree program in Natural Sciences or
  Mathematics (General Science, Biology,
  Biotechnology), Chemistry, Computer Science,
  Mathematics, Physics) (Engineering Science is
  another AS degree option with a unique
  structure.)
• the AS degree program in "Professional Studies"
  (General, Broadcasting, Business Administration
  7 options, Criminal Justice, Education,
  Exercise Science, Information Technology,
  Journalism, Labor Studies, Social Work)

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AA Degree Programs
Liberal Arts F P Arts Communications
9 9 English Comp.
(WRT101 201) 6 6
Oral Comm. (COM100/102) 3
3 Humanities 15
15 History 6 6
ARTs, LAN, LIT, PHR 9
9 Social Sciences 6
6 Mathematics Computer Science
4-6 4-6 Natural Sciences
8 8 Diversity Requirement
3 3 Total GE (Foundation)
45-47 45-47 Program Program Support
15 14-16 Requirements Fr
ee Electives 2-6 2-6 Total
Program Credits 64-66 64-66




No more than 6 credits in any one field
From two fields
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AS DegreePrograms
Sci Math Engineering Prof.
Studies Communications 9
9 9 English Comp (WRT101
201) 6 6 6
Oral Comm. (COM100/102) 3
3 3 Humanities (from
two fields) 6 6
6 Social Sciences 3
3 3 Math, Natural Sci,
Tech 12 12
11-12 (at least 1 MAT 1 Nat Sci)
(1 MAT 2 Nat Sci) Gen Ed Elective
0 0
0-3 Total Gen Ed
(Foundation) 30 30
30-32 Program Requirements
22-24 33 15-18 Program
Support Requirements 9
0 12
(2 GE Humanities
(3 Humanities

1 GE Soc Sci)
1 Soc Sci

need not be GE) Free
Electives 3 3
3-6 Total Program
Credits 64-66 66
64-66
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AAS Degree Programs

• AAS Programs in Health Professions Career
  Technologies
• Communications
• English Comp. 6
• Humanities 6Social Sciences
• Math, Nat. Sci., Tech. 7-8
• Unassigned GE Credits 0-3
• Total GE (Foundation) 20-22
• Program Program 38-45Support Requirements
• Free Electives 0-6
• Total Program Cr. 64-66

• Basic AAS AFA Programs
• Communications
• English Comp. 6
• Humanities 6
• Social Sciences 3
• Math or Nat. Sci. 3-4
• Unassigned GE Credits 3
• Total GE (Foundation) 21-22
• Program Program 38-45Support Requirements
• Free Electives 0-6
• Total Program Cr. 64-66

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Certificate Programs

• 30-36 cr Certificates
• Communications
• Eng. Comp. I (WRT101) 3
• Unassigned GE Credits 3(to be
  assigned in accordancewith the needs of the
  program)
• Total GE (Foundation) 6
• Other Requirements 24-30
• Total Program Credits 30-36

• Certificates of Achievement
• 12-18 Credits
• Any Array of College-Level Courses
• No GE Requirements

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Thats All, Folks!
(for now)