Core Curriculum

CORE CURRICULUM FOR ASSOCIATE OF ARTS AND ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREES

The degree requirements for the Associate of Arts (A.A.) in general studies, the Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.), and the Associate of Science (A.S.) in general studies include a 42-hour core of general education courses emphasizing the need for basic intellectual competencie —reading, writing, speaking, critical thinking—as well as broad intellectual perspectives including historical and political consciousness; multicultural awareness; numerical comprehension and analysis; and concern for ethics, aesthetics, and personal and social values. These courses are designed not only to help students understand and appreciate their heritage, but to prepare them for responsible citizenship in a rapidly changing world. Competency in each of the core components is established by successful completion of the appropriate courses.

The general education courses in the core curriculum for the A.A., A.A.T., and A.S. Degrees are as follows.

AA, AS, and AAT Requirements

Students earning an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree at Ranger College must complete 42 hours of a state mandated Core Curriculum in addition to major courses and electives in their particular area of interest.

Core Curriculum Component Areas

Core Component

Credit Hours
Communication 6
Mathematics 3
Life and Physical Science 8
Language, Philosophy, and Culture 3
Creative Arts 3
American History 6
Government/Political Science 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Component Area Option 6
Total
 42

Allowable Courses Offered at Ranger College within each Component Area

Communication (6 Hours)

Mathematics (3 Hours)

Choose one of the following:

Life and Physical Sciences (8 Hours)

Select two of the following: 

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 Hours)

Choose one of the following:

Creative Arts (3 Hours)

Choose one of the following: 

American History (6 Hours)

Take both of the following:

Government/Political Science (6 Hours)

Take both of the following:

Social and Behavioral Science (3 Hours)

Choose one of the following:

Component Area Option (4 Hours)

Take both of the following:

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

Associate of Arts in General Studies

The Associate of Arts Degree will be awarded to students who meet the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of sixty semester hours of college-level work.
  2. Successful completion of the core curriculum as listed above, which includes the following courses:
    • Six semester hours of Communication.
    • Three semester hours of Math.
    • Eight semester hours of Life and Physical Science.
    • Three semester hours of Language, Philosophy and Culture.
    • Three semester hours of Creative Arts.
    • Six semester hours of American History.
    • Six semester hours of Government/Political Science.
    • Three semester hours of Social and Behavioral Sciences
    • Four semester hours of the Component Area. Either EDUC 1100 or PSYC 1100, plus SPCH 1315.

In addition to the core:

Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree

The Associate of Arts Degree in Teaching Degree will be awarded to students who meet the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of sixty semester hours of college-level work.
  2. Successful completion of the core curriculum as listed above, which includes the following courses:
      • Six semester hours of Communication.
      • Three semester hours of Math. (MATH 1314 or 1342)
      • Eight semester hours of Life and Physical Science (For EC-6 it must be BIOL 1406 & CHEM 1411).
      • Three semester hours of Language, Philosophy and Culture.
      • Three semester hours of Creative Arts.
      • Six semester hours of American History.
      • Six semester hours of Government/Political Science.
      • Three semester hours of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Four semester hours of the Component Area. Either EDUC 1100 or PSYC 1100, plus SPCH 1315.
    • In addition to the core for EC-6:
      • Six additional hours of mathematics: MATH 1350 & 1351
      • Four additional hours of Life and Physical Science (GEOL 1403)
      • Three additional hours of Creative Arts
      • Six hours of EDUC 1301 & 2301
    • In addition to the core for Middle-Level Math:
      • Nine additional hours of mathematics: MATH 1350, 1351, & 1342
      • Three additional hours of science.
      • Six hours of EDUC 1301 and 2301
    • In addition to the core for General Area:
      • Six additional hours of mathematics: MATH 1350 & 1351
      • Three additional hours of science.
      • Six hours of EDUC 1301 and 2301
      • Three hours of content area courses
  3. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college-level courses completed at Ranger College and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all courses presented for graduation.
  4. Successful completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required hours from Ranger College to graduate with the Associate of Arts degree.
  5. Not in excess of fifteen semester hours by correspondence and twelve semester hours by Credit-ByExamination.
  6. Successful completion of all Texas Success Initiative requirements. (Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards graduation.)
  7. Satisfactory settlement of all business accounts.
  8. All disciplinary matters must be resolved with the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.

Associate of Science in General Studies

The Associate of Science Degree will be awarded to students who meet the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of sixty semester hours of college-level work.
  2. Successful completion of the core curriculum as listed above, which includes the following courses:
      • Six semester hours of Communication.
      • Three semester hours of Math.
      • Eight semester hours of Life and Physical Science.
      • Three semester hours of Language, Philosophy and Culture.
      • Three semester hours of Creative Arts.
      • Six semester hours of American History.
      • Six semester hours of Government/Political Science.
      • Three semester hours of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Four semester hours of the Component Area. Either EDUC 1100 or PSYC 1100, plus SPCH 1315.
    • In addition to the core:
      • Three additional semester hours of mathematics OR four additional semester hours of life and physical science.
      • Fifteen hours of electives.
  3. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college-level courses completed at Ranger College and minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all courses presented for graduation.
  4. Successful completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required hours from Ranger College to graduate with the Associate of Science degree.
  5. Not in excess of fifteen semester hours by correspondence and twelve semester hours by Credit-ByExamination.
  6. Successful completion of all Texas Success requirements. (Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards graduation.)
  7. Satisfactory settlement of all business accounts.
  8. All disciplinary matters must be resolved with the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.

Associate of Applied Science (Workforce Programs)

The Associate of Applied Science Degree will be awarded to students who meet the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of an approved program of study.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 on all college-level courses completed at Ranger College and minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all courses presented for graduation.
  3. Successful completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required hours from Ranger College to graduate with the Associate of Applied Science degree.
  4. Not in excess of fifteen semester hours by correspondence and twelve semester hours by Credit-ByExamination.
  5. Successful completion of all Texas Success requirements. (Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards graduation.)
  6. Satisfactory settlement of all business accounts.
  7. All disciplinary matters must be resolved with the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.

Certificate of Completion

  1. Successful completion of an approved program of study.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for courses which apply to the certificate and have been completed at Ranger College. The emergency medical technician program requires an 80% passage rate on all coursework.
  3. Successful completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required hours from Ranger College to graduate with a Certificate of Completion.
  4. Successful completion of all Texas Success requirements, if required. (Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards graduation.)
  5. Satisfactory settlement of all business accounts.
  6. All disciplinary matters must be resolved with the Office of the Vice President for Student Services. 

GRADUATE GUARANTEE PROGRAM FOR AAS OR CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Guarantee for Job Competency

If a recipient of an Associate of Applied Science or certificate of completion is judged by his or her employer to be lacking in technical job skills identified as exit competencies for his or her specific degree program, the graduate will be provided tuition-free credit hours of additional skill training by Ranger College under the conditions of the guarantee policy. This guarantee includes the number of tuition-free credit hours as defined here:

Degree or Certificate Tuition-free Credit Hours: Certificate of completion (15-29 hours) up to 3 credit hours, certificate of completion (30-42 hours) up to 6 credit hours, Associate of Applied Science Degree up to 9 credit hours. Special conditions that apply to the guarantee include the following:

  1. The graduate must have earned the Associate of Applied Science degree or certificate of completion beginning September 1993, or thereafter in a technical, vocational or occupational program identified in the college’s General Catalog.
  2. The graduate must have completed requirements for the Associate of Applied Science degree or certificate of completion with Ranger College as stated in the requirements for graduation in the college’s General Catalog. The degree or certificate must have been completed within three years.
  3. Graduates must be employed full-time in an area directly related to the area of program concentration as certified by the Senior Vice President of Instruction.
  4. Employment must commence within 12 months of graduation.
  5. The employer must certify in writing that the employee is lacking entry-level skills identified by Ranger College as program exit competencies and must specify the areas of deficiency within 90 days of the graduate’s initial employment.
  6. The employer, graduate, department head, job placement counselor, and appropriate faculty member will develop a written educational plan for retraining.
  7. Retraining will be limited to credit hours related to the identified skills deficiency and to those classes regularly scheduled during the period covered by the retraining plan.
  8. All retraining must be completed within a calendar year from the time agreed upon for the educational plan.
  9. The graduate and/or employer is responsible for the cost of books, insurance, uniforms, fees, and other course-related expenses.
  10. The guarantee does not imply that the graduate will pass any licensing or qualifying examination for a particular career.
  11. A student’s sole remedy against Ranger College and its employees for skill deficiencies will be limited to 3, 6, or 9 credit hours of tuition-free education under the conditions described above.
  12. Activation of the “Graduate Guarantee Program’’ may be initiated by contacting the Senior Vice President of Instruction within 90 days of the graduate’s initial employment.

INTENT TO GRADUATE

Students intending to graduate must submit an Application for Degree form, located at https://www.rangercollege.edu/admissions/graduation/index.php#gsc.tab=0 on the Graduation Page. The application must be submitted by the eighth week of the semester upon which the student intends to graduate. The fee to graduate is built into the tuition and fees charged to students, so there is no charge to walk at the ceremony.

Students walking at the graduation ceremony will receive a cap, gown, tassel, and cords (if applicable). Students will also receive a diploma and diploma cover. Each additional diploma costs $10.

ATTENDANCE AT COMMENCEMENT

Candidates for a certificate or degree are expected to attend commencement exercises. In unusual circumstances, a candidate may be excused by the Registrar. Students who receive any form of financial aid or scholarship assistance from Ranger College are expected to participate in commencement exercises. Students will receive a cap, gown, cords (if applicable), and diploma.

Applying online is easy!

How to Apply!