Last Updated: Jul 1 2015
Davidson County Community College offers a variety of instructional programs that prepare students to accomplish one or more of the following:
- Prepare for employment opportunities (see Associate in Applied Science)
- Transfer to senior colleges and universities (see College Transfer)
- Achieve personal and professional educational goals
The College’s programs are offered in a variety of delivery methods: traditional face to face; hybrids, which are a mixture of some traditional class meetings with a significant online component; and completely online programs. Advisors are available to assist students in planning their programs to meet their educational goals. Refer to specific programs later in this section for more information.
Associate Degree Programs
Students can generally complete associate degree programs in two years; however, this goal is dependent upon the students’ ability to carry an academic load of 14-16 credit hours each semester the students are enrolled. Students carrying a minimum full-time load of 12 credit hours should plan accordingly.
The College offers two types of associate degree programs: A degree program that has the immediate goal of employment upon completion of the degree (though increasingly students do have other options). This option is the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.). The second associate degree program tends to focus more on guiding students to completing the first two years of a four-year degree and then transferring to complete the bachelor’s degree; these programs include the following: Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), and Associate in General Education (A.G.E.).
Students choosing to enter associate degree programs must meet educational aptitude requirements applicable to the individual program, and those who need preparation for college-level work are provided preparatory education to help them be successful in their chosen program of study.
The associate degree programs consist of three areas of study for students:
- Major course work - courses that guide students toward their “major” focus at the College.
- General education courses - courses in communication arts, social science, humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences that are designed to give a broad experience with the many components of human knowledge and to provide an understanding of our cultural and social heritage.
- Supporting courses - courses that are required for success in the major.
Diploma Programs
Diploma programs are designed to prepare students for employment and can generally be completed in three semesters on a full-time basis. In some curriculum areas, diploma programs are the equivalent of the first three semesters of the associate degree program, and courses earned in completing the diploma count toward the associate degree whether the degree goal is an applied science (A.A.S.) degree or the university transfer degrees (A.A., A.S.).
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are designed to provide students with skills necessary for employment and can generally be completed in one or two semesters on a full-time or part-time basis. In some curriculum areas, the courses earned in completing the certificate program count toward the diploma and/or the associate degree.
Philosophy of DCCC’s General Education Program
The faculty of Davidson County Community College are committed to student learning and believe that the best evidence of their commitment to the College’s service area is the quality of DCCC graduates. A DCCC graduate should combine his/her specialized interest exemplified by the program of study “major” and the general education core, which focuses broadly in skills, behaviors, knowledge, and understanding necessary to be a lifelong learner; an ethical and independent decision maker; a critical and creative thinker; a clear and effective communicator; and a responsible citizen of one’s community and of the world.
The character and abilities of an educated person are more than the sum of course work that leads to the hours required for a credential. Educated individuals are those who are engaged through the commitment of their time and their resources in the process of their education. The College faculty and staff also have a commitment and a responsibility to engage students and to foster the knowledge and sensibility of an educated person. Lastly, the College faculty and staff acknowledge that this commitment to the development of educated individuals belongs to the entire College community, not just to a single department or organizational unit.
General Education Competencies
In the 21st century, post-secondary education must guide the student’s ability to gather, comprehend, and evaluate information and then to communicate this information effectively.
Also, post-secondary education instills the awareness of values that further guide a student’s synthesis of this information into knowledge. Because such skills are important to lifelong learning and to participation in a global culture, DCCC graduates should demonstrate the following general education outcomes:
- Communicate effectively.
- Think critically.
- Demonstrate information literacy.
- Demonstrate interdependence.
To ensure that our students attain these Student Learning goals by graduation, DCCC requires that students:
- complete the general education core requirements listed in the students’ major program of study (see these courses/skills listed in the General Catalog/Student Handbook under the headings of “degree program”) and
- reinforce these goals through a series of courses and learning experiences encountered by our students from their freshman experiences up to their matriculation from the College into their careers or into continued educational opportunities.
Technical Standards
Technical Standards list the skills and abilities that have been deemed essential for students to achieve program and learning outcomes. Technical Standards are available online and through the Admissions Office.
If you have a disability and think that you may require a reasonable accommodation to meet these Standards, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 336.249.8186, ext. 6342 or 6328.
Distance Learning
The purpose of distance education at Davidson County Community College is to provide quality instruction and supplemental learning beyond the location and time-specific formats of traditional classes in various electronic formats that enhance access to programs and services, increase scheduling alternatives, and respond to diversity in learning styles.
Every effort is made to provide comparable services for both distance learning students and on-campus students. Services include but are not limited to: general information, advisement, registration, library resources, Moodle technical support, and tutoring.
Course Delivery Options
In addition to traditional face-to-face courses offered at various campus and off-campus sites, the College offers several course delivery options.
Hybrid Courses
Hybrid courses may include a combination of teaching methods including, but not limited to, online instruction and on-campus classes.
Online Courses
Online courses are conducted over the Internet and typically do not have regular meetings in a physical space. At a minimum, students are required to have regular access to a computer running Windows 7 or a higher version, access to broadband Internet service, Internet Explorer 9 or higher version, Firefox 15 or higher, or Google Chrome 22 or higher, and Microsoft Word. Some online courses may have additional hardware and/or software requirements.
Some courses may require proctored testing or on-campus visits in order to complete portions of the course. Students will have access to a Moodle Orientation course. Moodle is the platform that is used for delivering DCCC’s online and hybrid courses as well as supplemental material for on-campus courses. Most class activities, including most instructor/student communications, are conducted via the College’s Moodle website.
Video Conferencing Courses
Video Conferencing courses consist of two or more sections of the same course being taught at the same time by the same instructor with students participating at different locations. Facilitated by College staff, students at the remote site(s) interact with the instructor and other students by way of audio and video equipment.
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA)
The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) is a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between NC community colleges and NC public universities and has as its objective the smooth transfer of students. The CAA provides certain assurances to the transferring student; for example:
- Assures admission to one of the 16 UNC institutions (Transfer Assured Admissions Policy)
- Enables NC community college graduates of two-year Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs who are admitted to constituent institutions of the university of NC to transfer with junior status.
For more information, view the NC Comprehensive Articulation Agreement webpage.
Articulation with 4-year Institutions
Although the A.A.S. degree prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce, many students are electing to continue their education at senior colleges and universities. An increasing number of senior institutions are allowing graduates of selected A.A.S. degree programs to transfer some or all of their course work into baccalaureate degree programs. Refer to the listing of Associate in Applied Science programs as well as diploma and certificate programs for more information.
Davidson County Community College has entered into formal articulation agreements with some institutions that make it possible for graduates of certain associate degree programs to transfer to the senior institution with junior status. For a listing of current agreements visit https://davidsonccc.edu/articulation-agreements.
In cases where formal articulation agreements do not exist, the senior institution will evaluate the student’s transcript on a course-by-course basis and accept equivalent courses for transfer credit. A.A.S. students have successfully transferred on this basis to Appalachian State University, High Point University, North Carolina State University, UNCWilmington, and other institutions. It is the responsibility of each student to identify the college to which he/she is preparing to transfer and to confirm the transferability of any course in question. Assistance in this process can be provided by DCCC academic advisors, the General Catalog/Student Handbook, and the transfer institution’s catalog and admissions staff.
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