Section 92-41-010 - Authority to Offer Associate Degree Program010.01 The Commissioner shall give consideration to an application for an authority to offer a program that leads to an associate degree. Such school may provide both non-degree and associate degree courses of instruction. A school is not required to offer an associate degree program.010.02 An accredited school shall make a separate application for each program to the Commissioner for authority to award the associate degree. Such application shall clearly indicate the course of instruction for which the degree will be awarded. The application shall be accompanied by a fee as found in Appendix A. In addition, the school shall provide information sufficient to indicate conformance with the appropriate standards of instruction as set forth herein. 010.02A Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree program, requires at least forty-five (45) quarter credit hours or thirty (30) semester credit hours of general education courses plus forty-five (45) quarter credit hours or thirty (30) semester credit hours of liberal arts courses. The objective of the school will be to instruct the student in subjects that have a liberal arts emphasis with the intention to be offered exclusively for transfer to baccalaureate programs offered by senior colleges and universities.010.02B Associate of Science (A.S.) degree program requires at least forty-five (45) quarter credit hours or thirty (30) semester credit hours of general education courses plus forty-five (45) quarter credit hours or thirty (30) semester credit hours of science courses. The objective of the school will be to instruct the student in subjects that have a science emphasis with the intention to be offered exclusively for transfer to baccalaureate programs offered by senior colleges and universities.010.02C Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program requires at least eighteen (18) quarter credit hours or twelve (12) semester credit hours of general education courses plus eighteen (18) quarter credit hours or twelve (12) semester credit hours of basic courses clearly related to the field of major interest, and fifty-four (54) quarter credit hours or thirty-six (36) semester credit hours in the technology or job-related courses of instruction. The objective of the school will be to instruct students with the intention exclusively of preparing them to enter full-time skilled and/or paraprofessional occupations at the end of two (2) academic years of full-time study.010.02D Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) degree program requires at least twenty-four (24) quarter credit hours or sixteen (16) semester credit hours of general education courses plus sixty-six (66) quarter credit hours or forty-four (44) semester credit hours of job-related courses of instruction. The objective of the school will be to instruct the student in both general education and job-related subjects, and the school will require proficient performance by the student in both areas of study. Each school proposal for an A.G.S. program is required to state in the catalog that it will require each student to develop, in consultation with, and with the approval of, counselors and/or faculty advisors, a written statement of objectives and courses needed to satisfy those objectives.010.02E Associate of Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree program, in addition to the minimum total credits of ninety (90) quarter hours or sixty (60) semester credit hours, requires only that the school justify each such program to the Commissioner in terms of a logical sequence of courses which will assure adequate preparation for entry level employment in a particular occupational field.010.03 Admission A student admitted to a degree program of instruction shall be a high school graduate or upon appropriate evaluation of study and experience be found to possess the equivalency of education usually required for the awarding of a high school diploma.
010.04 Curriculum The curriculum in the appropriate associate degree program of study shall consist of subjects of instruction in the general education courses and/or the occupational education area as established hereunder.
010.05 Instructors Instructors teaching general educational courses shall hold at least a baccalaureate degree, including adequate preparation in areas the instructors are assigned to teach. Instructors teaching only general educational courses are exempt from and do not require vocational credentials.
010.06 Library A library is maintained which is supervised by a trained librarian or a competent staff member. The library shall include holdings appropriate to the courses of study along with standard works of reference.
92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 41, § 010