Associate in Science Degrees with Embedded Technical Certificates
Associate in Science degree programs are designed to prepare students for immediate entry or advancement into employment requiring specialized skills. The programs consist of at least sixty (60) credits in two basic areas. One area is specialized courses in the career area, and the second is General Education courses. General Education courses help students become well-rounded individuals capable of thinking and acting as mature, educated, and enlightened citizens.
Students working toward an Associate in Science degree are not necessarily preparing for transfer to a university. Earning one of the degrees prepares students for a career that requires study beyond high school, but does not require a four year degree. Students who have earned an Associate in Science degree may be qualified to enter into a bachelor’s degree program at Pensacola State College. Students deciding to attend a university may be required to do additional work at the freshman or sophomore level. Students are encouraged to discuss career plans and seek advising assistance from a program contact or department head identified for each program.
Technical Certificates (or College Credit Certificates) consist of courses embedded in an Associate in Science degree and prepare a student for immediate employment. These certificates are listed with the associated Associate in Science degree.
General Education Requirements
Minimum Grades
The Associate in Science student must maintain an overall average GPA of 2.0 or higher in work completed at Pensacola State College and must earn a minimum grade of C or better in each course meeting a general education communications requirement and in each mathematics course meeting the general education requirement. If any work has been attempted at any other institution of higher education, the grades earned at the other institution(s) combined with those grades earned at Pensacola State College must also result in a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Additionally, some individual programs require a minimum C grade in specific general education courses.
Non-Traditional Credits
The Associate in Science student may not earn more than 9 of his or her general education course credits through non-traditional means. Non-traditional credits include: credits earned through CLEP, departmental exemption exams, or PLA, and all other credits described in Non-Traditional Credits section.
Course Requirements
The student pursuing an Associate in Science degree must complete 15 college credits of general education coursework as indicated in the following table. The basic general education requirements for Associate in Science degree programs are listed below; however, certain degree programs have specified courses required to meet the general education requirements. Please refer to the degree plans on the following pages for more information.
| General Education Category |
College Credits Required |
| Communications |
3 cc |
| Humanities |
3 cc |
| Mathematics |
3 cc |
| Natural Sciences |
3 cc |
| Social Sciences |
3 cc |
General Education Courses for Associate in Science Degree Programs
Communications (3 cc)
Required Communication Course
Humanities (3 cc)
Choose one course.
Mathematics (3 cc)
Choose one course.
| MAC 1105 |
College Algebra |
3 cc |
| MAC 2311 |
Analytic Geometry and Calculus I |
4 cc |
| MGF 1106 |
Mathematics for Liberal Arts I |
3 cc |
| MGF 1107 |
Mathematics for Liberal Arts II |
3 cc |
| STA 2023 |
Elementary Statistics |
3 cc |
| MAC 1114 |
Plane Trigonometry |
3 cc |
| MAC 1140 |
Precalculus Algebra |
3 cc |
| MAC 1147 |
Precalculus Algebra/Trigonometry |
4 cc |
| MAC 2233 |
Calculus with Business Applications I |
3 cc |
| MAC 2312 |
Analytic Geometry and Calculus II |
4 cc |
| MAC 2313 |
Analytic Geometry and Calculus III |
4 cc |
| MAP 2302 |
Differential Equations |
3 cc |
Natural Sciences (3 cc)
Choose one course.
| AST 1002 |
Descriptive Astronomy |
3 cc |
| BSC 1005 |
Introduction to Biology |
3 cc |
| BSC 1010 |
Principles of Biology |
3 cc |
| BSC 2085 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
3 cc |
| CHM 1020 |
Introduction to College Chemistry |
3 cc |
| CHM 1045 |
General Chemistry I |
3 cc |
| ESC 1000 |
Earth Science |
3 cc |
| EVR 2001 |
Introduction to Environmental Science |
3 cc |
| PHY 1020 |
Introduction to Fundamentals of Physics |
3 cc |
| PHY 1053 |
General Physics I |
3 cc |
| PHY 2048 |
Physics I with Calculus |
4 cc |
Social Sciences (3 cc)
Choose one course.