Degree Programs that Prepare Students for Transfer

NorthWest Arkansas Community College offers five degree programs: the Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree, the Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degree, the Associate Degree in General Studies (A.G.S.), the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree, and the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.

For institutional policy, refer to NWACC General Degree and Other Certificate Requirements Policy (3003). Please note remedial/developmental (zero level) courses must be used for placement purposes only and can’t be used to fulfill any degree or certificate requirement.

Associate of Arts & Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Science Degrees

The primary learning outcome of the A.A. and A.S. is to prepare students to be successful in a four-year degree program. These degrees encompass a liberal arts and sciences core. The curriculum does not focus on particular vocational skills; instead, the aim is to give students a breadth of knowledge, basic analysis, and communication skills necessary to succeed in a variety of situations. The curricula also provide increased knowledge of self and the world from three basic perspectives or domains: Arts & Humanities, Social & Behavioral Science, and Natural Science. Faculty have identified primary learning outcomes associated with each domain. Remedial/developmental (zero level) courses must be used for placement purposes only and can’t be used to fulfill any degree or certificate requirement. For institutional policy, refer to NWACC General Degree and Other Certificate Requirements Policy (3003).

Arts and Humanities

Courses in this domain explore the aesthetic qualities that define us as humans and concepts such as beauty, love, hate, truth, hope, and despair. These concepts seem unique to the human experience. Students will understand that the arts are essential to what it means to be human. This exploration provides students with a deeper and richer perception of themselves and the world around them. Students will recognize our interconnectedness and broaden their cultural perspective. Arts & Humanities studies also serve to liberate and awaken one’s own creativity.

Natural Science

Studying the natural sciences will acquaint students with the fundamental principles of the natural world and processes used in science to uncover these principles. Students will gain core scientific knowledge appropriate to freshmen and sophomore years and necessary for success in upper division courses. Science is more than a body of knowledge; it is also a process. Students will gain understanding of the scientific method and principles of inquiry. The knowledge and the process both have relevance to everyday life. Students will recognize the implications of science in making choices on personal, community and global issues.

Social and Behavioral Science

Courses in this domain look at the world from the perspective of human actions and interactions. This perspective can be studied through examining either current issues or past events. Social and behavioral science studies provide students with insight into the complexities of human behavior and culture. Students will learn the methods of inquiry and critical thinking skills that have been used to answer broad-based questions in this domain.

Associate Degree Program Outlines

Transfer Guides can be found at: https://www.nwacc.edu/transferservices/transferguides.aspx

Associate of Arts

Associate of Arts, A.A. - Degree Plan  

Associate of Arts, Child Advocacy Option, A.A. - Advising Sheet  

Associate of Arts, Global Studies Option, A.A. - Advising Sheet  

Associate of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences

Liberal Arts & Sciences, A.S. - Degree Plan  

Liberal Arts & Sciences, Child Advocacy Studies Option, A.S. - Advising Sheet  

Liberal Arts & Sciences, Global Studies Option, A.S. - Advising Sheet  

Associate of Science Degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information

Our Associate of Science transfer programs offer three options; A.S. in Business Administration, Option: Business Transfer (UA Walton College of Business), A.S. in Business Administration, Option: Computer Information Systems Transfer (UA Walton College of Business), and the A.S. in Business, General Transfer. The first two options meet the highest transfer standards, utilizing the same curriculum as the Walton College. The third program is designed around the state business core, which is largely used by the public four-year institutions in Arkansas, outside the University of Arkansas System.

Associate of Science in Business Administration

NWACC offers this Associate of Science degree option for those students wishing to complete the first two years of the baccalaureate program as offered by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in Business Administration. Students may begin this plan, achieve their A.S. Degree in Business from NWACC and then have a smoother transfer to the University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business.

This Associate of Science degree option in Business Administration transfers seamlessly to the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas with Junior Status. Courses should be completed in the required sequence along with completing prerequisites for courses. Students must still meet the GPA requirements of the UA Walton College of Business, to transfer. Current requirements are that a student must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater. Courses should be completed in the required sequence along with completing prerequisites for courses.

NWACC offers this Associate of Science degree option for those students wishing to complete the first two years of the baccalaureate program as offered by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in Business Information Systems. Students may begin this plan, achieve their A.S. Degree in Computer Information Systems from NWACC, and then have a smoother transfer to the University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business. Students must still meet the GPA requirements of the UA Walton College of Business, to transfer. Current requirements are that a student must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

Business Administration, A.S. - Degree Plan  

Business Administration, Business Option, A.S. - Advising Sheet  

Business Administration, Computer Information Systems Option, A.S. - Advising Sheet  

Associate of Science in Business

The College offers this Associate of Science degree option in Business Administration for those students wishing to complete the first two years of the baccalaureate program at NWACC. This degree plan allows the student to complete the basic general education and pre-business degree program requirements. This degree also has the option to be earned entirely online. Students transferring should coordinate their plans with the institution they plan to transfer to and an NWACC academic advisor.

Courses should be completed in the listed sequence along with prerequisites.

Associates of Science in Business (General Transfer) - Degree Plan  

Associate of Science in Agriculture, Food, and Life Science

The Associate of Science Degree in Agriculture, Food, and Life Sciences is a transfer degree designed for the student who wishes to major in agriculture related disciplines. This degree was originally developed by a consortium of colleges and universities. The Arkansas Consortium for Teaching of Agriculture (ACTA) was comprised of ten community colleges (including NWACC) and three universities within the University of Arkansas System: University of Arkansas Fayetteville (UAF), University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). ACTA member institutions affirmed that this A.S. degree is an appropriate degree for students entering the agricultural, food, and life science fields, because it is a science-based transfer degree that also includes introductory agriculture related courses. The AFLS classes at NWACC transfer to the Environmental Science and Hospitality programs.

Students who follow this curriculum should be able to transfer all credits into the agriculture or agriculture-related majors of their choices at state senior four-year universities; among these majors are environmental science, plant science, poultry science, soil science, animal science, aquaculture/ fisheries, horticulture, agronomy, turf management, pest management, feeds and feeding, nutrition or food science, biological engineering, and human environmental science. The requirements for these majors are usually heavily loaded with science and mathematics courses. Students planning to major in one of these areas should follow carefully the curriculum advised by the senior institution to which they will transfer.

Agriculture, Food, and Life Sciences, A.S. - Degree Plan  

Associate of Arts in Teaching

The primary learning outcomes for the Associate of Arts in Teaching is to prepare students to successfully transfer to a four-year degree program in education. This degree includes general education and educational foundation courses.

Associate of Arts in Teaching, A.A.T. - Degree Plan  

Teaching Technical Certificate - Degree Plan  

Teaching Technical Certificate - Degree Plan  

General Studies

This degree program is designed to allow an individual course of study for students to meet personal employment or enrichment goals. The AGS includes transfer courses, technical courses or a combination of both types. The degree will include general education core courses in conjunction with advisor-approved courses that demonstrate mastery of skills and knowledge in at least one specific area or discipline.

General Studies, A.G.S. - Degree Plan  

Certificate of General Studies - Degree Plan  

NWACC/NTI AGS Partnership

NorthWest Arkansas Community College and Northwest Technical Institute (NTI) have a partnership to provide instruction leading to the Associate of General Studies Degree for students interested in career and technical fields. NTI will provide the career and technical component of the degree up to 50% of the credits needed to complete a General Studies Degree. NWACC will provide the general education courses and career and technical elective to make up 50% of the degree. Thirty (30) of the sixty (60) curriculum hours are career and technical classes provided by NTI.

Programs that will articulate:

• Ammonia Refrigeration Maintenance Technology
• Automotive Service Technology
• Automotive Collision Repair
• Diesel Technology
• Medical Office Assistant
• Electronics Technology
• Industrial Maintenance Technology
• Machine Tool Technology
• Surgical Technology

Students must have earned a grade of “C” or higher in all work transferred to NWACC from NTI, for a maximum number of 30 semester credit hours accepted. NWACC courses will include 27-28 hours of general education classes and 2-3 hours of career and technical elective to make up 50% of the hours required for the degree.

NWACC/BIT Partnership

NWACC and Business and Industry Training (BIT) have a partnership to provide instruction leading to the Associate of General Technology Degree for students interested in career and technical fields. BIT will provide the career and technical component of the degree up to 50% of the credits needed to complete a General Technology Degree, from potential courses such as: Electrical Systems, Motor Controls, PLC’s, Thermal Process Controls, Mechanical Drives, CNC, Robotics, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, Safety Training such as CPR/First Aid, ARC Flash, Confined Space, OSHA 10 & 30, etc. NWACC will provide the general education courses and career and technical electives to make up the remaining 50% of the degree. Thirty (30) of the sixty (60) curriculum hours can be career and technical classes provided by BIT that are awarded prior learning credit upon successful completion of the courses. These 30 hours from BIT will only be awarded with evidence of successful completion and a letter requesting prior learning credit from the Dean of Workforce.

Courses that are currently listed in NWACC’s MOU with BIT are:

Associate of Applied Science in General Technology

Students taking specified course work through Business and Industry Training can request prior learning credit from the Dean of Workforce. Per policy, NWACC will only accept 30 hours of prior learning toward and associate degree which requires 60 hours. Only fifty percent (50%) of certificate requirements can be from prior learning.

NOTE:

Students must complete 15 credit hours of coursework at NWACC to earn an associate degree and 25% of the credit hours required for a certificate program.

NWACC will award prior learning credit using the state’s PLC formula from policy 3016 for Business and Industry Training courses upon successful completion of the following courses toward the AAS in Gen Tech, provided students have successfully completed all of the quizzes, tests, and performance profiles and can show evidence of completion in the form of grades, hours, and/or certificates.

State Minimum Core for the Baccalaureate Degree

Arts and Associate of Science degrees require students to complete the state minimum core prior to completing an NWACC degree and transferring to a 4-year college or university.

This core totals 35 semester hours distributed as follows:

• English Composition (6 hours)
• Speech Communication (0-3 hours)
• Math (3 hours)
• Science (8 hours)
• Fine Arts/Humanities (6-9 hours)
• U.S. History or Government (3 hours)
• Other Social Sciences (6-9 hours)

The following list of NWACC courses, approved by ADHE, meet this 35-hour core requirement: