Degrees and Program Objectives

Polk State College offers bachelor degrees, associate degrees, and certificate programs at the college level. Within the degrees there are numerous programs available from which the degree-seeking student selects a program objective for specialization. A student must select his or her program objective when 12 hours of college credits have been achieved. The program objective is an area of study that includes a group of courses and requirements that make up a program and lead to a degree in a specific discipline. The student may obtain more than one degree at the same level in different disciplines or earn different degrees at different levels within the same discipline; however, a student cannot earn two associate degrees or two bachelor degrees in the same discipline. The chart and examples below explain this rule.

 According to the above chart:

1. A student may earn an AS in Business Administration, and a BAS in Supervision and Management with the Business Administration specialization.
2. A student may earn an AS in Accounting Technology and an AS in Business Administration and Management.
3. A student may earn a BAS in Supervision and Management with a Business Administration specialization and a Public Administration specialization. The student earns one BAS degree with two areas of specialization.
4. A student may not earn a BAS in Supervision and Management with a Business Administration specialization and a second BAS in Supervision and Management with a Public Administration specialization.
5. A student may not earn an AAS and an AS in Accounting Technology.
6. A student may earn an AS in Accounting Technology and an AA in Liberal Arts.
7. Polk State College offers one AA degree; in Liberal Arts. Students select a transfer major and transfer institution, which guides the General Education courses and electives selected to best fit the requirements for the student’s intended major. Even if the student completes the requirements for more than one transfer major, he or she earns one AA in Liberal Arts.

The College provides advising and degree audit tools in PASSPORT to assist the student in planning a schedule of courses required by a chosen specialization and degree program. Each student should see an academic advisor for guidance in selecting a program objective and for help with success strategies to stay on track toward degree completion.