It is your responsibility as a student to make sure that you meet all graduation requirements. Your advisor can help you understand the requirements and select the necessary classes. Also, the registrar will provide a “degree audit” at the beginning of fall semester of your last year to help identify any missing pieces. But ultimately you are the one who will or will not graduate. Be sure you understand what you need to do to graduate.
What are the graduation requirements at Hesston?
To earn an associate degree you must:
- Complete at least 60 credits. 20 of the last 30 credits must be earned at Hesston College. Transfer courses can be applied to the other 40 hours as necessary. (Intermediate ESL does not count toward graduation.)
- Earn an overall grade point average of 2.00 (C) or better.
- Complete the prescribed general education and other courses in your program of study.
There are a few specific courses that are required of everyone. In some cases there are options from which you may choose. Some career programs specify the general education courses they want you to take. Check the appropriate section in the catalog for those details.
Note that there are three degree options from which to choose. The Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences (A.A.A.S.) is designed for those who wish to gain entry-level employment skills in aviation, Bible, business, computer information technology, early childhood education, nursing, or pastoral ministries. The Associate of Arts (A.A.) is designed for those who plan to transfer and pursue a baccalaureate degree. Requirements include the general education courses typically taken in the first two years of study at most four-year colleges and universities. The Associate of Science (A.S.) is a transfer degree for those pursuing a four-year degree in the natural sciences, computer science, engineering, pre-medicine, and other science oriented programs. The A.S. requires more courses in math and the sciences than the A.A., but fewer hours in the humanities and social sciences.
What are the specific general education courses I must complete?
Requirements vary some from year to year. Refer to the catalog that was current when you began your studies at Hesston.
How do I meet the math competence requirement?
That depends on which degree you plan to earn—and your advisor can help with that decision.
- For the A.A.A.S. (mostly career programs) you must do one of three things:
- Complete College Algebra or a higher level math course.
- Present one of these minimum scores: ACT Math of 20, SAT Math of 500, ASSET Numerical Skills scaled score of 46 (raw score of 23), or COMPASS scaled score of 64;
- Score 70% or better on the Hesston College Math Comp Exam. The exam consists of 30 multiple choice word problems and is offered four times each academic year. Topics covered on the exam include (but may not be limited to) rate, ratio, proportion, percent, area/volume/perimeter calculations, using formulas, reading charts and graphs, basic statistics, and probability.
- For the A.A. (transfer), you must complete College Algebra or a higher level math course.
- For the A.S. (transfer), you must complete one of these: Precalculus, Elementary Statistics, Calculus I, or a higher level math course.
How do I meet the computer competence requirement?
You can satisfy the requirement for the A.A., A.S., and the A.A.A.S. in either of the following ways:
- Pass the Hesston College Computer Placement Exam. The exam is done at the computer and you are asked to demonstrate the ability to manage files, do word processing, use spreadsheets and PowerPoint.
- Pass Introduction to Computers or a higher level computer class.
Note: The exam is given at the beginning of each term. You must either take and pass the exam at the beginning of your first term or enroll in a computer course during your first or second term.
Is an associate degree from Hesston really necessary if I plan to complete a four-year degree?
No, but there are good reasons to earn the degree.
- The college to which you transfer may exempt you from further freshman / sophomore general education requirements if you have a two-year degree. Without the degree, your work will be evaluated course by course by the transfer school to see if you have met their requirements. See “Transferring to Other Colleges after Hesston.”
- By meeting the graduation requirements, you assure yourself that you are taking a broad range of courses.
- You will have the satisfaction of completing a program of study and of participating in commencement ceremonies along with your classmates.
- And finally, a resume is more impressive if it includes a degree earned rather than simply two years of college courses.
Do I need to declare a major at Hesston?
No. About half of Hesston’s students do pursue specific degrees in aviation, Bible, business, computer information technology, early childhood education, nursing, or pastoral ministries. The other half pursue general programs of study that lead to the associate of arts or associate of science degrees. This group includes many types of students:
- those who are pursuing a four-year degree and need the broad general courses typically required for those degrees,
- those who are unsure about a major or career, or
- those who take a variety of courses which interest them, rather than following a specific program.
Each reason is valid. Keep in mind that most four-year colleges require 40 or more hours of general education courses, most of which you can complete at Hesston. Focusing on a specific major at a four-year school often does not happen until a student is a junior (with perhaps several courses at the freshman/sophomore level). You can keep a variety of career and major options open by not focusing too soon.