Degrees and Program Objectives

Polk State College offers baccalaureate 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. An Associate in Arts student must also select a transfer major and transfer institution 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 baccalaureate 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.
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 earn an AS in Accounting Technology and an AA in Liberal Arts.

Polk State College offers one Associate in Arts (AA) degree. Each Associate in Arts student selects a transfer major and transfer institution and this guides the General Education and elective selections such that they best fit the requirements for the 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 a student success advisor for guidance in selecting a program and to obtain help with success strategies to stay on track toward degree completion.