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Requirements for Associate Degrees

John Jay College awards the Associate in Science degree, which can serve as a useful halfway mark toward the baccalaureate degree.  Credits for all courses taken in fulfillment of the associate degree are applicable toward the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science at John Jay College, although the associate degree is not a prerequisite for the baccalaureate degree.

The associate degree requires a minimum of 60 credits; at least half must be earned in residence at John Jay.  Students who have completed 90 or more credits may not apply for the associate degree.  From 21-35 (exclusive of exemptions) of the credits for the degree are earned in the general education requirements listed as follows.

The Associate in Science degree program offers four concentrations: correction administration, criminal justice, police studies and security management.  Students should note that upon transfer to a baccalaureate degree program at the College, most but not all courses taken to fulfill associate degree requirements will be applicable toward the fulfillment of the requirements in a major.  Accordingly, students should check all requirements before making course selections.

Certain overall prerequisites are listed in the description of each concentration, but be aware that individual courses may have their own prerequisites.  Students should read all course descriptions when they plan their programs and consult with the advisor in their concentration.


Associate Degree General Education Requirements
Candidates for the associate degree must complete 28-38 credits in general education.  The required courses are listed below.  Students are encouraged to complete the English, mathematics, and speech requirements within the first 20 credits of coursework.

 In accordance with the CUNY Board of Trustees Transfer Policy, students who have earned an Associate in Science degree (AS) from John Jay College will be deemed to have automatically fulfilled the lower division general education requirements for the baccalaureate degree.  Students, may, however, still be required to complete one additional course in a discipline required by the College that was not part of the student’s associate degree program.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Credits

I. Skills

Subtotal: 9-13

English 101 or SEEK English 095
(These courses are the prerequisite for all courses at the 200-level.)

3

English 101 or SEEK English 095
(These courses are the prerequisite for all courses at the 200-level.)

3

English 102 or 201
(These courses are the prerequisite for all courses at the 300-level or above.)

3

Speech 113 or SEEK Speech 115 or exemption1

0-3

Mathematics 104, 105, 108, or 141, depending on placement2

3

II. Core Requirements

Subtotal: 6

History 231

3

Literature 230 or 231 or 232 or 233

3

III. Distribution Requirements

Subtotal: 12-19

A. Select two.
Courses must be in two of the following four areas

6

Area I - Ethnic Studies
Ethnic Studies 123 Race and American Society: The African American Experience
Ethnic Studies 124 Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics in American Society
Ethnic Studies 125 Race and Ethnicity in America

Area 2- Fine Arts
Select any course in art or music or drama
(This course may not be used elsewhere to satisfy major or concentration requirements)

Area 3 - Foreign Languages
Select one in any foreign language

Area 4 – Philosophy
Philosophy 231

B. Social Sciences

Select two of the following:

6

Anthropology 101
Economics 101 or 102
Government 101
Psychology 101
Sociology 101
Students should consult their concentration or major prerequisites when selecting these courses

C. Required courses:

1. Natural Science 107 or exemption3

0-4

2. Any course offered  by the Department of Physical Education and Athletics except PED 172 or exemption4

1-3

Total: 28-38



1. Exemption from the speech requirement is granted by the Department of Speech, Theatre and Media Studies based on extensive job-related public or small group speaking experience.  Apply at the Department of Speech, Theatre and Media Studies at any time when classes are in session.  Students who are not fluent in spoken English should enroll in sections of SPE 113 designated for non-native English speakers.  Students who require speech therapy should also apply to the department chair for special placement before they register for SPE 113. 

2. Placement in mathematics is determined by the Testing Office under the guidance of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science based on the CUNY Mathematics Compass Test. 

3. Students who have completed three years of science in high school (9th-year General Science plus two years of New York State Regents credit) are exempt from taking NSC 107. 

4. Students who have received physical education credit for their military training or police, corrections, or fire academy, or other comparable agency training are exempt from this requirement.

 

Remedial and Developmental Courses
Entering students whose scores on the CUNY Skills Assessments Tests and whose assessments by the appropriate academic departments require that they enroll in remedial or developmental courses must do so within the first 20 credits taken at the College.  Students who do not pass these courses are required to enroll in them again during the next semester of attendance.

The following remedial and developmental courses and their SEEK equivalents are offered, among others, at the College:

ENG 100/ENGS 093 and 094
MAT 100/MATS 095
MAT 103
COM 101/COMS 101
COM 102/COMS 102
SPE 101

Students who receive two grades of F, WU, R, or any combination thereof in any of the remedial or developmental courses listed here are not permitted to continue at the College.  Students may not appeal the denial of registration.