Degree & Certificate Requirements

Degrees Designed to Transfer

McLennan Community College offers the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and the Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees, which are designed to transfer to bachelor's degree programs at senior-level institutions.

Students who plan to obtain a bachelor's degree should plan to take classes at McLennan that meet the requirements of the senior institution at which the degree work will be completed. Students are encouraged to work with advisors to plan their course work.

Texas public senior colleges and universities are required to accept by transfer up to 66 hours — or one-half of the bachelor's degree requirements if that constitutes fewer than 66 hours of credits — earned by a student in a community or junior college. Additional course credits may be accepted in transfer at the discretion of the receiving institution.

  • Transfer Credit

    Students enrolling in 12 or more semester hours or those who have completed 24 semester hours of credit should establish a degree plan with an academic advisor at McLennan Community College. This plan will help ensure that credits will transfer to a particular senior college and will apply toward the selected major course of study at that college. A change in major may result in previously acquired credits not counting toward requirements of the new major.

    Questions or problems relating to course transfer matters should be directed to McLennan's Director of Student Development.

Degree Requirements

  • Requirements for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree
    1. Credit for at least 60 semester hours of college work, excluding developmental courses
      1. Fulfillment of the 42-hour core curriculum as part of the 60-hour total.
      2. At least 25 percent of semester hours must be earned in college-level courses through McLennan.
    2. An overall grade point average of at least 2.0.
    3. Successful completion of the college's Developmental Education Plan for the Texas Success Initiative.
    4. Payment of all financial obligations to the college.
    5. Successful completion of a College Success/Learning Framework course, either PSYC 1100/1300 or EDUC 1100/1300 (this course will also count toward core completion).
  • Requirements for the Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree

    Students wishing to complete the Associate of Science degree will fulfill the same requirements listed for the Associate of Arts degree. The student will also be required to complete at least 15 hours of college-level mathematics and/or science courses.

  • Requirements for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees Including a Field of Study
    1. Credit for 60 hours of college work, depending upon the particular field of study and excluding developmental courses. Such credit shall include the following:
      1. Fulfillment of all course requirements in the particular field of study curriculum.
      2. Partial or complete fulfillment of the core curriculum as specified by each particular degree plan, depending on the number of credit hours required by the field of study curriculum.
      3. At least 25 percent of semester hours must be earned in college-level courses through McLennan.
    2. An overall grade point average of at least 2.0
    3. Successful completion of the college's Developmental Education Plan for the Texas Success Initiative.
    4. Payment of all financial obligations to the college.
    5. Minimum grade of C is required for all courses within the field of study.
    6. Successful completion of a College Success/Learning Framework course, either PSYC 1100/1300 or EDUC 1100/1300 (this course will also count toward core completion).
  • Requirements for the Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) Degree

    The Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-approved collegiate degree program consisting of lower-division courses that transfer to baccalaureate programs leading to initial Texas teacher certification. This degree is awarded to students who complete a minimum of 60 hours of college course work that includes all of the requirements for the A.A.T. degree.

    1. Credit for at least 60 semester hours of college work, excluding any developmental courses. Such credit shall include the following:
      1. Fulfillment of the 42-hour core curriculum as part of the total hours.
      2. MATH 1350 and 1351, along with MATH 1314 as a prerequisite.
      3. EDUC 1301 and 2301.
      4. At least three additional semester hours of science.
      5. At least 25 percent of semester hours must be earned in college-level courses through McLennan.
    2. An overall grade point average of at least 2.0
    3. Successful completion of the college's Developmental Education Plan for the Texas Success Initiative.
    4. Payment of all financial obligations to the college.
    5. Successful completion of a College Success/Learning Framework course, either PSYC 1100/1300 or EDUC 1100/1300 (this course will also count toward core completion).

General Education Core Curriculum

The 75th Texas Legislature mandated that Texas colleges and universities must each develop a core curriculum of classes in "Liberal Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Political, Social and Cultural History that all undergraduate students (except students in specifically designated 'Fields of Study') are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate degree." (Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter S, "Transfer of Credit").

The core curriculum at McLennan contains a variety of courses that encourage breadth of study so that students can reflect upon diverse individual, scientific, political, economic, social, and other cultural aspects of life. The core curriculum represents (1) the first steps students take in pursuit of a broad-based education; (2) the fundamental requirements of the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees; and (3) the commitment of each institution of higher education in Texas to help students transfer their core curriculum courses between schools.

    • Guidelines
      1. The first 42 hours completed in the core curriculum will be designated as such on the student's McLennan transcript.
      2. The core curriculum for McLennan will be evaluated two years before the institution's compliance report is due at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
      3. In fulfilling the Life & Physical Science requirements, the student will take two four-hour lab science courses with six hours satisfying the Life & Physical Science requirement and the additional two hours carrying over to the Component Area Option.
      4. Students who plan to obtain a bachelor's degree should consult with an academic advisor to arrange a program to meet the requirements of the senior college where the degree will be completed.
      5. A D grade earned in a core course at McLennan will satisfy degree requirements for the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science or the Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees. However, students should be aware that some receiving institutions may not accept the D grade for fulfillment of their degree requirements.

McLennan Core Curriculum

Degrees & Certificates Designed for the Workforce

McLennan Community College offers course work designed to prepare students to enter specific occupational areas at the end of a one- or two-year period of specialized training or to continue their education at a four-year institution. Suggested courses of study for each of these options are included in this section, which focuses on workforce programs that lead to a certificate or an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Each student should, however, see a faculty advisor or program director at the earliest opportunity in order to effectively plan his or her program.

  • Achieve Texas

    Achieve Texas is an education initiative designed to prepare all students (preschool through college) for a lifetime of success. It allows all students to achieve excellence by preparing them for secondary and postsecondary opportunities, career preparation and advancement, meaningful work, and active citizenship.

    This initiative uses the 16 federally defined career clusters of the States' Career Clusters initiative as the foundation for restructuring how schools arrange their instructional programs. A Career Cluster is a grouping of occupations and broad industries based on commonalities. All clusters have been cross-walked to the U.S. Department of Labor occupational classification system O*NET.

    Most McLennan Community College degrees have been linked to a career cluster.

  • General Education Requirements

    Each A.A.S. degree program has at least 15 semester hours of general education with credit hours from each of the following three areas: humanities or fine arts (language, philosophy and culture, or creative arts), social or behavioral sciences (or American history or government), and natural sciences (life and physical sciences) or mathematics/computer science.

  • Requirements for the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree
    1. Credit for a minimum of 60 semester hours of college work excluding developmental courses. Such credit will include:
      • Completion of the required course of study specified in the approved degree plan for one of the workforce curricula or approval by the appropriate dean.
      • At least 15 hours of general education with credit hours in each of the following areas: humanities or fine arts (language, philosophy and culture, or creative arts), social or behavioral sciences (or American history or government), and natural sciences (life and physical sciences) or mathematics/computer science
      • At least 25 percent of semester hours must be earned in college-level courses through McLennan.
      • Successful completion of the college's Developmental Education Plan for the Texas Success Initiative.
    2. A grade point average of at least 2.0 in the workforce curriculum completed.
    3. A minimum grade of C in each major course in the workforce curriculum completed. A major course is a course that has the prefix of the program (e.g., POFT courses are major courses for all of the Office Technology Careers Program degrees or certificates). A minimum grade of C will be required for related courses when specified in the catalog course description as a prerequisite.
    4. A minimum grade of C will be required for courses transferred from another college or for substitution to satisfy degree requirements.
    5. Payment of all financial obligations to the college.
  • Credit-By-Articulation

    McLennan offers a Credit-By-Articulation program, which prepares today’s youth for high-demand technical careers by offering focused, sequenced programs of secondary and postsecondary study consisting of a four-year high school graduation plan and a two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree plan. The Credit-By-Articulation career path is a six-year plan of courses:

    4 years of high school
    + 2 years of college
    6-year program = Associate Degree

    McLennan is actively involved in developing and providing Credit-By-Articulation associate degree programs in cooperation with area independent school districts. Within articulated Credit-By-Articulation programs are articulated courses - high school courses that contain the same course content as an equivalent college course and for which McLennan has agreed to award college credit if the student meets requirements outlined in the course articulation agreement.

    McLennan currently offers Credit-By-Articulation career paths in the following areas: Computer Information Systems (Network Administration, Information Systems & Applications, and Media Communications), Business Programs (Accounting, Business Management, General Business, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Operations, and Real Estate), Paralegal, Visual & Performing Arts (Music Industry Careers - Venue & Talent Management), Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Health Information Technology, and Office Technology Careers (Administrative Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, Digital Publishing Technology, Computer Applications, and Veterinary Technology). Other technical areas will be added as articulation agreements are developed with area independent school districts.

    • Requirements for Credit-By-Articulation Associate Degree
      1. The student must earn a grade of B or higher in the articulated course(s). The student must also fulfill the learning outcome objectives on the completion of the articulated high school course and be recommended as being competent in the subject matter to be recognized for articulated credit at McLennan.
      2. The student must meet all admission requirements to McLennan and enroll within 15 months after high school graduation.
      3. The student must petition for the articulated credit in the Credit-By-Articulation office at McLennan within 15 months after high school graduation.
      4. McLennan will post articulated credit on the college transcript when the student completes six non-developmental college hours at the college with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. This requirement may be satisfied before high school graduation by dual credit or by qualifying AP or CLEP examination scores with a grade point average of 2.0 or better.
      5. The student can articulate a maximum of 12 college hours.
      6. Since a grade of CR (credit) is assigned to articulated courses, the grade does not affect a student's college grade point average but will be included in accumulated college hours attempted and earned.
      7. Articulated credit will be granted only to those students who took the identified course when an official articulation agreement was in place between the school district and McLennan.
      8. McLennan Community College guarantees the acceptance of articulated credit under the conditions specified above. Acceptance of articulated credit to colleges other than McLennan will be subject to approval from the receiving institutions.
      9. McLennan Community College participates in the Advanced Technical Credit Program, which sets common statewide standards for the award of college credit for selected, content-enhanced high school courses. Advanced Technical Credit will be granted only to those students whose school district participates in the Advanced Technical Credit Program, high school teacher is certified in Advanced Technical Credit and credit is approved by the appropriate Division Chair at McLennan.
  • Requirements for a Certificate in Workforce Education
    1. Completion of a required approved plan for a Certificate of Completion, including at least 25 percent of semester hours of credit earned at McLennan or approval by the appropriate dean. Developmental courses may not be used to meet requirements for a certificate.
    2. A grade point average of at least 2.0 in the curriculum completed.
    3. A minimum grade of C in each major course in the workforce curriculum completed. A major course is a course that has the prefix of the program (e.g., POFI, POFL, POFM, and POFT courses are major courses for all of the Office Technology Careers Program degrees or certificates). A minimum grade of C will be required for related courses when specified in the catalog course description as a prerequisite or as specified in the certificate plan
    4. Payment of all financial obligations to the college.