General Degree Requirements - Bossier Parish Community College (2024)

Bossier Parish Community College fulfills its stated purpose by meeting challenges from business establishments, industrial companies, and medical institutions to provide technical training for their employees. Successful completion of the training qualifies students to receive, in each appropriate case,a certificate, an associate degree, and/or credit to transfer to other institutions where the studies can be completed. The College’s occupational/technical programs include degree programs, clock-hour programs, seminars, and training sessions.

All of the programs are outlined by academic division.Special requirements and courses are listed under each program of study. When pursuing a program of study, students are encouraged to seek academic guidance from advisors. Times of completion vary from program to program. A detailed description of each course is included in this catalog under Course Descriptions.

Program Coordination

Bossier Parish Community College assigns the responsibility for associate degree program coordination to individuals competent in the field, including, but not limited to, faculty members. The following is a list of program coordinators assigned to assure essential curricular program components, monitor program content and pedagogy, and maintain currency in the degree program

Associate of General Studies

Associate of Applied Science

Associate of Arts

Associate of Arts Louisiana Transfer

Associate of Science

Associate of Science Louisiana Transfer

General Education Core Curriculum

Associate Degree

The accrediting (SACS-COC) and governing (Board of Regents) bodies of Bossier Parish Community College have established a set of core courses for students receiving an associate degree at the College. This core curriculum is included in the Associate Degree curriculum that students follow. Graduates of all BPCC associate degrees are required, at a minimum, to take the following courses:

Academic Certificates

Bossier Parish Community College awards the following: the Career and Technical Certificate (CTC), the Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS), the Certificate of General Studies (CGS), and the Technical Diploma (TD). These contain the required coursework as approved by the Board of Regents.

Career and Technical Certificate

A Career and Technical Certificate (CTC)is a series of applied courses that provides students with mastery in a specific technical/vocational area. A CTC includes a demonstrated alignment with, and a process whereby a student’s competencies are verified against, a set of pre-determined standards which lead to and/or prepare an individual to test for an industry-based certification (IBC), state licensure, or state-recognized certification awarded by an independent, third party that is recognized by business and industry and/or the State of Louisiana. The CTC does not possess a general education core requirement.

General Education Competencies

Associate Degree

In addition to the minimum General Education core courses established by the governing body of the Board of Regents and the accrediting body of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), BPCC has established general education competencies which span the entire curriculum and are not limited to any one course. The general education competencies for Associate Degree graduates are reading comprehension, written and oral communication, mathematical computation, critical thinking, research skills, and computer literacy. All Associate Degree recipients from BPCC will have taken general education core courses required by the Board of Regents and SACSCOC in addition to degree-specific course requirements, providing the breadth and depth necessary to develop the following college-level general education competencies:

Reading Comprehension competency is measured by

• Locating and identifying main ideas and important concepts
• Identifying relevant and irrelevant facts
• Paraphrasing and summarizing
• Identifying program-specific terminology
• Answering questions using information gained through reading assignments

Written Communication competency is measured by

• Using appropriate syntax
• Writing clearly using correct grammar and punctuation
• Producing effective, organized materials using recognized patterns of development

Oral Communication competency is measured by

• Clearly conveying ideas verbally and non-verbally
• Adapting the message to specific recipients and occasions to achieve a desired purpose
• Exhibiting effective listening skills by responding appropriately to others
• Employing effective communication techniques and methods without reading from prepared materials
• Researching and creating organized messages to achieve a stated purpose

Mathematical Computation competency is measured by

• Manipulating symbolic expressions
• Solving problems using mathematical strategies
• Illustrating relationships between variables using a formula, equation, graph, table or diagram

Critical Thinking competency is measured by

• Comparing and contrasting evidence-based opposing arguments
• Organizing, sequencing, and evaluating facts and ideas
• Identifying patterns and making logical predictions
• Forming opinions, judgments or decisions using reasoning skills

Research Skills competency is measured by

• Identifying appropriate, reliable, and diverse sources
• Applying the principles of intellectual property
• Citing resources using the discipline specific format
• Locating and reviewing relevant professional literature on a topic
• Translating research data into actionable items

Computer Literacy competency is measured by

• Practicing digital security and ethics
• Sending and receiving digital correspondence
• Navigating digital file systems, the internet and software applications
• Preparing and formatting documents with word processing, presentation and/or spreadsheet software

Academic Certificates

Additionally, BPCC has established the following general education competencies for Academic Certificates. With the exception of the Career and Technical Certificate (CTC), the general education competencies for the Academic Certificate graduates are reading comprehension, written communication, mathematical computation, and skills in chosen occupational fields. Specifically, Academic Certificate graduates must be able to do the following:

• Reading comprehension competency is measured by comprehending, evaluating, and synthesizing information gained by reading college-level material.
• Written communication competency is measured by using basic grammar, mechanics, and composition skills in a variety of rhetorical modes to explain, describe, inform, and analyze.
• Mathematical computation competency is measured by performing arithmetic computations as these are related to certification area.
• Skill competency is measured by demonstrating specific, required ability for current entry-level employment in chosen fields.

Students receiving Academic Certificates from BPCC must show competency in general education. The following measurements have been established to indicate competency:

Reading Comprehension (Competency # 1)

• A minimum ACT score of 16 in reading;
• Placement test results showing READ 099 is NOT needed; or
• Completion of READ 099 with a grade of “C” or higher or a college level English with a grade of “C” or higher.

Written Communication (Competency # 2)

• A minimum ACT score of 18 in English;
• Placement test results showing placement in ENGL 101; or
• Completion of ENGL 099 with a grade of “C” or higher, or completion a higher level English with a grade of “C” or higher.

Mathematical Computation (Competency # 3)

• A minimum ACT score of 17 in mathematics;
• Placement test results showing placement in MATH 099 or higher; or
• Completion of MATH 098 with a grade of “C” or higher or completion of MATH 099, or higher level mathematics with a grade of “C” or higher.

Skills (Competency # 4)

• Skills for entry-level employment are determined by achievement of learning outcomes in Academic Certificate course requirements.

Degree Requirements

1. Associate Degree and Academic Certificates: (General Requirements) - The BPCC academic catalog prescribes the requirements for each associate degree and certificate program as well as services offered by the College. The catalog is published annually and becomes effective with the beginning of the summer semester each year. Former and continuing students must adhere to all changes in policies, rules, regulations, and academic requirements each year that changes are made. The educational programs and academic courses described herein may be altered by BPCC to carry out its stated mission. Students pursuing BPCC Associate Degrees and Academic Certificates are permitted to pursue only one associate degree at a time.
2. Requirements for a Second Associate Degree: In order to qualify for a second Associate Degree, regardless of whether the first was granted by BPCC or another college or university, the candidate must present to the appropriate dean a minimum of 15 additional semester hours earned at BPCC since the completion of the previous degree requirements. These 15 additional hours will not include any semester hours counted in fulfilling any previous degree requirements or those hours earned prior to the date of certification of the last degree. The candidate must also fulfill all academic major requirements and College requirements for the second degree. The 15 hours of an approved curriculum for a second Associate Degree must be taken in residence at BPCC. Note: Students are not allowed to pursue more than one BPCC Associate Degree simultaneously.
3. Official Certification of Degree/Certificate Completion: The official documentation of degree/certificate completion of BPCC programs is indicated on the BPCC transcript. Diplomas/certificates are unofficial and do not indicate official graduation from Bossier Parish Community College. The determination for satisfying all degree and certificate requirements is made by the Registrar after considering recommendations, where appropriate, from the appropriate deans and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
4. Graduation requirements: A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all courses applicable to graduation. Student must successfully establish competency in all general education areas. For degree completion, at least 25 percent of semester credit hours must be earned at Bossier Parish Community College
5. General Education Courses: Elective courses should be chosen from the list of general education courses.
   
   

   English Composition

   ^#For transfer to a four-year institution, students are strongly advised to take ENGL 102instead of ENGL 103. Students must seek the assistance of their advisor to determine the appropriate English courses.

   • ENGL 101:Composition and Rhetoric I Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 102:Composition and Rhetoric II Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 103:Foundations of Professional Writing Credit Hours: 3 ^#

   Fine Arts - 3 hours

   • ART 201:Art History I Credit Hours: 3
   • ART 202:Art History II Credit Hours: 3
   • ART 206:Introduction to Visual Arts Credit Hours: 3
   • MUSC 120:Music Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
   • MUSC 121:Jazz Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
   • COMM 240:American Cinema Credit Hours: 3
   • THTR 101:Introduction to Theatre Credit Hours: 3
   • THTR 131:Elements of Theatre Credit Hours: 3

   Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning

   ^## For transfer to a four-year institution, students are strongly advised to take MATH 102instead of MATH 101. Students must seek the assistance of their advisor to determine the appropriate mathematics courses.

   • MATH 101:Applied Algebra for College Students Credit Hours: 3 ^##
   • MATH 102:College Algebra Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 111:Precalculus Algebra Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 112:Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 114:Finite Math Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 124:Mathematical Concepts Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 131:Elementary Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 210:Basic Statistics Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 250:Calculus I Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 251:Calculus II Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 252:Calculus III Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 253:Calculus IV Credit Hours: 3
   • MATH 254:Differential Equations Credit Hours: 3

   Social Sciences

   ^### not currently on the Board of Regents Matrix

   • ANTH 201:Physical Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
   • ANTH 202:Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
   • BADM 201:Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
   • BADM 202:Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
   • CJUS 101:Introduction to Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
   • GPHY 101:Physical Geography Credit Hours: 3
   • GPHY 102:Cultural Geography Credit Hours: 3
   • GPHY 105:Regional Geography Credit Hours: 3
   • POSC 201:National Government in the United States Credit Hours: 3
   • POSC 202:State and Local Government Credit Hours: 3 ^###
   • PSYC 201:Introduction to Psychology Credit Hours: 3
   • PSYC 205:Child Psychology Credit Hours: 3
   • PSYC 206:Adolescent Psychology Credit Hours: 3
   • PSYC 220:Developmental Psychology Credit Hours: 3
   • PSYC 225:Loss and Death Credit Hours: 3 ^###
   • PSYC 290:Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3 ^###
   • SLGY 201:Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
   • SLGY 202:Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
   • SLGY 203:Marriage and Family Living Credit Hours: 3
   • SLGY 204:Sociology of Deviance Credit Hours: 3
   • SLGY 207:Race, Class and Ethnicity Credit Hours: 3
   • SLGY 290:Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3 ^###

   Humanities

   Literature

   • ENGL 201:Major British Writers Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 202:Major American Writers Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 250:Introduction to Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 251:Introduction to World Literature Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 252:Introduction to Folklore and Mythology Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 255:Introduction to Fiction Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 256:Introduction to Poetry and Drama Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 257:Introduction to African American Literature Credit Hours: 3

   History Sequences

   • HIST 101:Western Civilization I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • HIST 102:Western Civilization II Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 103:World Civilization I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • HIST 104:World Civilization II Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 201:American History I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • HIST 202:American History II Credit Hours: 3

   Foreign Language Sequences

   • FREN 101:Elementary French I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • FREN 102:Elementary French II Credit Hours: 3
   • SPAN 101:Elementary Spanish I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • SPAN 102:Elementary Spanish II Credit Hours: 3

   Humanities

   ^### not currently on the Board of Regents Matrix

   • HMAN 201:Humanities I Credit Hours: 3
   • HMAN 202:Renaissance - Modern Culture Credit Hours: 3
   • HMAN 203:Film and Culture Credit Hours: 3 ^###

   All Courses Considered as Humanities Electives

   ^### not currently on the Board of Regents Matrix

   *May not be sole humanities course

   • COMM 170:Introduction to Mass Media Credit Hours: 3 ###
   • ENGL 201:Major British Writers Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 202:Major American Writers Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 250:Introduction to Women’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 251:Introduction to World Literature Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 252:Introduction to Folklore and Mythology Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 255:Introduction to Fiction Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 256:Introduction to Poetry and Drama Credit Hours: 3
   • ENGL 257:Introduction to African American Literature Credit Hours: 3
   • FREN 101:Elementary French I Credit Hours: 3
   • FREN 102:Elementary French II Credit Hours: 3
   • FREN 201:Intermediate French Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 101:Western Civilization I Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 102:Western Civilization II Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 103:World Civilization I Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 104:World Civilization II Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 201:American History I Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 202:American History II Credit Hours: 3
   • HIST 203:Louisiana History Credit Hours: 3
   • HMAN 201:Humanities I Credit Hours: 3
   • HMAN 202:Renaissance - Modern Culture Credit Hours: 3
   • HMAN 203:Film and Culture Credit Hours: 3 ^###
   • RLGN 201:New Testament Survey I: Interbiblical Period, Four Gospels Credit Hours: 3
   • RLGN 202:New Testament Survey II: Acts to Revelations Credit Hours: 3
   • RLGN 203:World Religions Credit Hours: 3
   • SPAN 101:Elementary Spanish I Credit Hours: 3
   • SPAN 102:Elementary Spanish II Credit Hours: 3
   • SPAN 201:Intermediate Spanish Credit Hours: 3
   • SPCH 110:Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3 *
   • SPCH 115:Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3 *

   Natural Sciences

   **recommended for non-science majors

   Biological Sequences

   • BLGY 101:General Biology I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • BLGY 102:General Biology II Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 105:Elements of Biology I Credit Hours: 3 ** and
   • BLGY 106:Elements of Biology II Credit Hours: 3 **
   • BLGY 230:Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • BLGY 231:Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hours: 3

   Physical Sequences

   • CHEM 101:General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • CHEM 102:General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
   • PHSC 105:Elemental Physics Credit Hours: 3 ** and
   • PHSC 106:Elemental Chemistry Credit Hours: 3 **
   • PHYS 201:General Physics I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • PHYS 202:General Physics II Credit Hours: 3
   • PHYS 211:Physics for Engineering and Science I Credit Hours: 3 and
   • PHYS 212:Physics for Engineering and Science II Credit Hours: 3
   • SCI 101:Foundations in Science I Credit Hours: 3 ** and
   • SCI 102:Foundations in Science II Credit Hours: 3 **

   Biological

   • BLGY 101:General Biology I Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 102:General Biology II Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 105:Elements of Biology I Credit Hours: 3 **
   • BLGY 106:Elements of Biology II Credit Hours: 3 **
   • BLGY 107:Environmental Science Credit Hours: 3 **
   • BLGY 120:Introductory Human Anatomy and Physiology Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 202:Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 203:Basic Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 206:Principles of Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 230:Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 231:Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hours: 3
   • BLGY 244:Introduction to Human Genetics Credit Hours: 3

   Physical

   • CHEM 101:General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
   • CHEM 102:General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
   • CHEM 107:Introductory Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
   • CHEM 250:Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
   • PHSC 105:Elemental Physics Credit Hours: 3 **
   • PHSC 106:Elemental Chemistry Credit Hours: 3 **
   • PHSC 107:Environmental Science Credit Hours: 3 **
   • PHSC 110:Astronomy Credit Hours: 3 **
   • PHSC 111:Physical Geology Credit Hours: 3 **
   • PHYS 201:General Physics I Credit Hours: 3
   • PHYS 202:General Physics II Credit Hours: 3
   • PHYS 211:Physics for Engineering and Science I Credit Hours: 3
   • PHYS 212:Physics for Engineering and Science II Credit Hours: 3
   • SCI 101:Foundations in Science I Credit Hours: 3 *
   • SCI 102:Foundations in Science II Credit Hours: 3 *