Degrees and Certificates

Catalog Designation

The catalog in effect upon a student's entry or reentry into Del Mar College determines the degree and/or certificate requirements that must be met for graduation certification. It is the responsibility of the student to know and satisfy, all of the requirements listed under his or her specific catalog if the student intends to graduate from Del Mar College. Since requirements and programs are subject to change, students should be aware of current regulations and requirements at all times.

Catalog designations are made according to the following guidelines:

• Students entering Del Mar College for the first time are assigned to the catalog in effect at the semester of entry. These students must follow the degree requirements as specified in that catalog, as long as the length of time of a student's attendance does not exceed five years.
• Students whose attendance at Del Mar College exceeds five years will forfeit the initial catalog designation. These students must then meet the degree and/or certificate requirements specified in the catalog in effect in the sixth or subsequent year of enrollment.
• Students who are absent for two or more regular (fall or spring) semesters must meet the degree and/or certificate requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of reentry.

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Student Right to Know Graduation and Transfer Rates

In accordance with the Student Right to Know Act, the College annually publishes the graduation and transfer-out rates for first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking students, which are available to all current and prospective students.

Out of the first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking students who entered Del Mar College in Fall 2003, 8.6 percent successfully completed a degree or certificate program at the College and 12.2 percent transferred to other institutions within 150 percent of the normal completion time for their programs.

For additional information about student completion and transfer rates, please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at (361) 698-1207.

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Transfer Degrees

Del Mar College offers degrees designed especially for students planning to transfer to universities. Those degrees are:

The Associate in Arts Degree
The Associate in Science Degree
The Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree

Core Curriculum for Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS) and Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degrees

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopted requirements for a 42-hour core curriculum. Students pursuing an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree are required to complete these curriculum requirements.

The Core Curriculum is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for an educated person to read, write and speak effectively; to use mathematics competently; to exercise critical thinking skills; and to promote a lifestyle of sound well-being. It equips students with the ability to listen and respond to differing views and to work with others to seek, analyze and use information in completing tasks and solving problems. A student who completes the 42-hour Core Curriculum at Del Mar College may transfer the block of courses to any other Texas public college. That college must count it for their Core Curriculum. The student will receive credit for each of the courses transferred. Only if the receiving college has a larger Core Curriculum can the student be required to take additional Core Curriculum courses.

Although Core Curriculum requirements are satisfied, some courses in the Core may not apply to a degree plan at the receiving college or university.

Courses Fulfilling Del Mar College Core Curriculum Requirements for AA, AAT and AS Degrees

COMMUNICATIONS - three courses required

ENGL 1301. Composition I
ENGL 1302. Composition II
Choose one Speech course:
SPCH 1311. Introduction to Speech Communication
SPCH 1315. Fundamentals of Public Speaking
SPCH 1321. Business and Professional Communication

HISTORY/GOVERNMENT - four courses required

Students who have taken a government course at another college or university should contact an advisor or the Department of Social Sciences before enrolling in a Del Mar College government course.

GOVT 2301. American Government I: Federal and Texas Constutitions
GOVT 2302. American Government II: Federal and Texas Topics
HIST 1301. United States History I
Choose one History course:
HIST 1301. United States History I
HIST 2301. Texas History

HUMANITIES - sophomore literature - select any course from:

ENGL 2321. British Literature
ENGL 2322. British Literature I: Beginnings-18th Century
ENGL 2323. British Literature II: 19th and 20th Centuries
ENGL 2326. American Literature
ENGL 2327. American Literature I: Beginnings-1865
ENGL 2328. American Literature II: 1865-Present
ENGL 2332. World Literature I
ENGL 2341. Forms of Literature
ENGL 2351. Mexican-American Literature

KINESIOLOGY - select any two physical activity courses from KINE 1100-1299, KINE 2100-2299, or DANC 1100-1299. KINE 1238 will fulfill both hours of the core requirement.

MATHEMATICS - select any course from:

MATH 1314. College Algebra
MATH 1316. Plane Trigonometry
MATH 1324. Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences I
MATH 1325. Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences II
MATH 1332. Contemporary Mathematics I
MATH 1342. Elementary Statistical Methods
MATH 2312. Precalculus Math
MATH 2318. Linear Algebra
MATH 2320. Differential Equations
MATH 2342. Statistical Methods and Probability
MATH 2413. Calculus I
MATH 2414. Calculus II
MATH 2415. Calculus III

NATURAL SCIENCE - select any two courses (at least one must include a lab) from:

BIOL 1408/1308 (optional lab - BIOL 1108). General Biology, Fundamentals of Cell Biology OR
BIOL 1406. Biological Concepts I

BIOL 1409/1309 (optional lab - BIOL 1109). General Biology, Diversity and Environment OR
BIOL 1407. Biological Concepts II

BIOL 1411. General Botany
BIOL 1413. General Zoology
BIOL 2306 (optional lab - BIOL 2106). Environmental Biology
BIOL 2401. Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2402. Human Anatomy and Physiology II

CHEM 1405. Introduction to Chemistry I OR
CHEM 1411. General Inorganic Chemistry I

CHEM 1407. Introduction to Chemistry II OR
CHEM 1412. General Inorganic Chemistry II

GEOL 1303 (optional lab - GEOL 1103). Physical Geology
GEOL 1404. Earth History
GEOL 1447. Meteorology
PHYS 1303. Stars and Galaxies
PHYS 1305 (optional lab - PHYS 1105). Introductory Physics I OR PHYS 1310. Elementary Physics Methods OR PHYS 1401. College Physics I OR PHYS 2425. University Physics I
PHYS 1401. College Physics I
PHYS 1402. College Physics II
PHYS 1407. Introductory Physics II OR PHYS 1402. College Physics II OR PHYS 2426. University Physics II
PHYS 2425. University Physics I
PHYS 2426. University Physics II

SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE - select any course from:

ECON 2301. Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2302. Principles of Microeconomics
GEOG 1301. Physical Geography
GEOG 1302. Cultural Geography
GEOG 1303. World Regional Geography
HIST 1301. United States History I
HIST 1302. United States History II OR
HIST 2301. Texas History
HIST 2311. Western Civilization I
HIST 2312. Western Civilization II
GOVT 2311. Mexican-American Politics
PSYC 2301. General Psychology
SOCI 1301. Introductory Sociology
SOCI 1306. Social Problems
SOCI 2301. Marriage and the Family
SOCI 2319. Minority Studies I

VISUAL OR PERFORMING ARTS - select any course from:

ARTS 1301. Art Appreciation
ARTS 1303. Art History I
ARTS 1304. Art History II
ARTS 1311. Design I
ARTS 1312. Design II
ARTS 1316. Drawing I
ARTS 1317. Drawing II
ARTS 1325. Drawing and Painting for Nonmajors
ARTS 2316. Painting
ARTS 2326. Sculpture I
ARTS 2333. Printmaking I
ARTS 2346. Ceramics I
ARTS 2356. Photography I
DANC 2303. Dance Appreciation
DRAM 1310. Introduction to Theatre
DRAM 1351. Acting I
DRAM 2361. History of Theatre
DRAM 2363. History of Musical Theatre
DRAM 2366. Development of the Motion Picture I
DRAM 2367. Development of the Motion Picture II
HUMA 1301. Introduction to the Humanities
MUSI 1306. Music Appreciation
MUSI 1308. Introduction to Music Literature
MUSI 1301. Fundamentals of Music: Musical Skills
MUSI 1304. Foundations in Music: Early Childhood

• Courses in bold type are sophomore-level.

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Requirements for the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate of Arts in Teaching Degrees

The Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees at Del Mar College are recommended for students who plan to complete the first two years of a baccalaureate program at the College.

Associate in Arts (AA) - A collegiate degree related and used as the first step to the baccalaureate degree (BA). It contains first and second year courses for a student planning to transfer to a university after graduation from the community college or seeking a community college degree with a special emphasis in the liberal arts.

Associate in Science (AS) - A collegiate degree related and used as the first step to the baccalaureate degree (BS). It contains first and second year courses for a student planning to transfer to a university after graduation from the community college or seeking a community college degree with a special emphasis in the sciences.

Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) - A collegiate degree fully transferable to any Texas public university offering baccalaureate degree programs leading to initial teacher certification.

• It is the responsibility of the students to know the specific requirements of the college or university to which they plan to transfer. This responsibility includes knowing course requirements, number of credit hours accepted and grade-point average for admission.
• Students should consult with their academic advisor at the earliest opportunity after being admitted to Del Mar College and begin developing an Education Plan. Thereafter, they should confer with the advisor regularly each semester while completing the Education Plan toward the Associate degree.
• Where transferability permits, course substitution is permitted on recommendation of advisor and approval of both the dean of the student's major area and the dean over the course in question.
• Students who receive AA, AAT, or AS degrees from Del Mar College must complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours (60 hours for AAT degrees) in college-level, bachelor's-program transfer courses, including the College's 42-hour Core Curriculum.
• At least 18 of the total semester hours must be approved sophomore-level courses. (These courses will not count toward fulfilling the 18-hour sophomore requirement for graduation with an associate degree: MSCI 2371, 2372 and MATH 2313, 2413.)
• Students must demonstrate use of basic computer skills. Some disciplines offer courses which may be used to fulfill the computer literacy requirement. ITSC 1301, 1309 and COSC 1301 may also be used to demonstrate computer literacy skills; however, these three courses are not intended as transfer courses that would apply toward a baccalaureate degree. Please see your advisor for appropriate course identification.
• The curricula for the Interdisciplinary Studies - Deaf Education Emphasis associate degree satisfies the lower division requirements for either secondary or all-level certification. All students intent on teacher certification must pass the THEA Test in reading, writing and mathematics in order to be accepted into education programs at the junior level.
• Students must complete the residency requirement.
• Students must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 overall (some curricula require a grade point average of 2.0 in a specific area).
• Students must return all properties of the College, including library books.
• Students must pay, or make satisfactory arrangements to pay all financial obligations to the College or complete other pertinent record requirements.
• Students must apply for graduation by the deadline.

Education Plan Criteria for Associate in Arts Degree (Excluding Music degree programs)

1. Del Mar College Core
   Curriculum outlined above (42-43 semester hours)
2. Approved course providing basic computer skills (3 semester hours)
   May also be used to meet other degree requirements.
3. Major and/or elective courses (17 semester hours minimum)
   Must be college-level, bachelor's-program transfer courses and must be approved by major advisor.

Minimum total semester hours for Associate in Arts Degree - 62

Education Plan Criteria for Associate in Science Degree

1. Del Mar College Core Curriculum outlined above. (42-43 semester hours)
   Science components must be major's track courses
2. Approved course providing basic computer skills (3 semester hours)
   May also be used to meet other degree requirements.
3. Mathematics (3-6 semester hours)
   Six semester hours of 2000-level MATH plus COSC/ENGR 2304. If a 2000-level MATH course is used to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements, then one other 2000-level MATH course or COSC/ENGR 2304 is required.
4. Sophomore-level science, mathematics or computer science (3 semester hours)
   Must be a course not used to meet other degree requirements.
5. Major and/or elective courses (semester hours as needed)
   Must be college-level, bachelor's-program transfer courses and must be approved by major advisor.

Minimum total semester hours for Associate in Science Degree - 62

Education Plan Criteria for Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (3 curriculum options)

OPTION 1: EC-4 Early Childhood Degree Specialization only

• Del Mar College Core Curriculum outline above (42-43 semester credit hours)
• MATH 1350 and 1351 or equivalent (6 semester hours)
• TECA 1303, 1311, 1318 and 1354 (12 semester hours)

OPTION 2: EC-4 (Except Early Childhood Degree specialization), Grades 4-8, EC-12

• Del Mar College Core Curriculum outlined above (42-43 semester credit hours)
• MATH 1350 and 1351 or equivalent (6 semester hours)
• Science (6 semester hours)
• EDUC 1301 and 2301 (6 semester hours)

OPTION 3: Grades 8-12, Other EC-12

• Del Mar College Core Curriculum outline above (42-43 semester credit hours)
• EDUC 1301 and 2301 (6 semester hours)
• Content Area Teaching Fields/Academic Disciplines (12 semester hours)

Minimum total semester hours for Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree - 60

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Occupational Degrees

Del Mar College offers the Associate in Applied Science degree to students completing some vocational workforce programs.

Courses Fulfilling Del Mar College General Education Requirements for AAS Degrees

The General Education requirements for the Associate in Applied Science degrees include 15 semester credit hours from the following disciplines. These courses are not specific to any occupational field, but rather provide the breadth of knowledge customary in core courses:

Humanities / visual or performing arts - 3
Mathematics or natural sciences - 3
Oral communications* - 3
Social/behavioral science - 3
Written communications - 3
Additional semester credit hours selected from the above disciplines - 3

* For programs that include verified oral communication competencies as part of content courses, any 3 semester credit hours from the other general education categories will be used.

Some AAS degree plans specify particular courses. When a particular course is not specified, students may choose from the following:

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

ENGL 1301. Composition I
ENGL 1302. Composition II

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

All SPCH courses

MATHEMATICS OR NATURAL SCIENCES

MATH 1314. College Algebra (and all higher MATH courses)
All BIOL courses (except BIOL 1371)
All CHEM courses
All GEOL courses
All PHYS courses
COSC 1309. Logic Design (and all higher COSC courses)

HUMANITIES / VISUAL OR PERFORMING ARTS

All ENGL 2300+ Literature courses
All ARTS courses
All DRAM courses
All PHIL courses
All HUMA courses
All MUSI courses
DANC 2303. Dance Appreciation

SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

All ECON courses
All GEOG courses
All GOVT courses
All HIST courses
All PSYC courses
All SOCI courses

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Requirements for the Associate in Applied Science Degree

To graduate with the Associate in Applied Science degree from Del Mar College, a student must:

• be credited with all courses listed in a degree curriculum outlined in the Occupational Education and Technology or Business programs.
• complete residency requirement,
• have a grade point average of 2.0 overall (some curricula require a grade point average of 2.0 in a specific area),
• complete required number of courses at Del Mar College,
• return all properties of the College, including library books,
• pay, or make satisfactory arrangements to pay all financial obligations to the College and complete other pertinent record requirements,
• apply for graduation.

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Requirements for Tech-Prep Enhanced Skills Options

To earn a Tech-Prep Enhanced Skills Certificate in one of the approved Tech-Prep programs, a student must:

• complete all requirements for the Tech-Prep Associate in Applied Science degree for that program,
• be credited with all courses listed in the Enhanced Skills option as outlined in the Bsiness, Professional and Technology Education Division,
• have a 2.0 grade-point average and
• complete pertinent record requirements.

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Requirements for Certificate of Achievement

To earn a Certificate of Achievement in one of the business, industrial, or health science certificate programs at Del Mar College, a student must:

• be credited with the required number of credits for that program,
• have a 2.0 grade-point average and
• complete pertinent record requirements.

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Requirements for Marketable Skills Achievement Award

To earn a Marketable Skills Achievement Award, a student must:

• be credited with the required number of credits for the program,
• have a 2.0 grade-point average and
• complete pertinent record requirements

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Graduate Guarantee for Job Competency

Del Mar College guarantees that recipients of an Associate in Applied Science degree or Certificate of Achievement will have job skills identified by the College as exit competencies in the occupational field for which they have been trained. If the graduate is judged by his or her employer to be lacking in specific technical job skills, the graduate will be provided up to nine credit hours of additional skills training by the College tuition-free. Specific conditions apply to this guarantee. Graduates and their employers should contact the appropriate instructional dean for details of this program.

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Planning for a Bachelor's Degree

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has developed a 42 semester credit hour Core Curriculum which is transferable among all accredited public institutions of higher learning in Texas. The student who plans to transfer should declare an AA or AS degree plan upon registering for the first semester.

With proper planning the student can transfer 66 semester hours, or one-half of the degree requirements, whichever is less, to universities in the state.

All students who plan to earn a bachelor's degree must satisfy the English requirements of the university to which they intend to transfer. Some programs require more than the nine semester hours required at Del Mar College. The State of Texas requires 12 semester hours of English for a teaching certificate.

Students should work out an Education Plan with a faculty advisor in their major so that the right courses may be selected for an associate degree at Del Mar College and for a bachelor's degree at another college.

Students who have taken a government course at another college or university should contact an advisor or the Department of Social Sciences before enrolling in a Del Mar College government course.

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