Section III

Policies on Curriculum Development

1. The number of semester credit hours in an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree program is 60. (See Section V, 5.0.1.3)
   The degrees consist of a core transfer component of 33 credit hours; additional general education requirements of 6 credit hours; and 21 additional credit hours of elective credit, for a total of 60 credit hours. Students are advised to choose elective hours to satisfy additional general education and pre-major requirements at the transfer institution.
2. The minimum number of semester credit hours in an Associate in Fine Arts degree program is 60. (See Section V, 5.0.1.3)
   The minimum degree requirements consists of a general education requirement of 24 credit hours, a fine arts core of 18 credit hours, and 18 additional credit hours of concentration.
3. The Associate in Applied Science degree program shall be 60 to 68 semester credit hours in length. The maximum credit requirement will not limit a student's ability to apply articulated credits toward an Associate in Science degree as specified by the articulation agreement.
   An exception to the total credit hour limit may be made by the KCTCS Board of Regents if a program has external degree requirements which must be met necessitating an exception request. Documentation (such as specialized accreditation requirements and/or the results of a detailed industry validation of a specialized curriculum) must be submitted to the KCTCS Board of Regents with the request for an exception to the total credit hour limit.
   Exception requests will be within 69-76 total credit hours.
4. Diploma programs shall be 36 to 60 credit hours in length. The total number of credit hours for the diploma must not exceed those required for a degree in the same program of study.
5. Certificate programs should:
   1. Have a primary purpose of providing marketable skills that are readily identifiable by a unique label.
   2. Qualify students to take external licensure, vendor-based, or skills standards examinations in the field. If standardized external exams are not available in the field, proposals must include compelling evidence that the program prepares students to the skill level of a job in-demand in the local economy. 
   3. Range for 12 to 30 credit hours in length. Exceptions for programs less than 12 hours or greater than 30 credit hours will only be granted when the proposal includes a compelling rationale for either a shorter or longer program.
   4. Be relevant to the requirements of a diploma or associate of applied science degree in the same or a related field of study.

These guidelines only apply to new certificate programs or programs undergoing modification after Fall 2014.