The Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S) degree prepares students for specific career/technical skills. The requirements for each major in the Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S) are clearly shown in curriculum degree plans in the Dallas College catalog and are located under Career and Technical Education Programs.

Science courses emphasize problem-solving, critical thinking, and synthesis of information. Students will practice laboratory safety, carry out experimental procedures, and identify possible sources of error. Students will learn to apply principles of scientific inquiry, differentiate a theory from a hypothesis, and differentiate fact from opinion in regard to sciences. Students will develop the connection of the relevance of science to everyday events and circumstances in a broad interdisciplinary context. For the Associate of Science, students must complete the General Education pattern and elective courses for an additional 40 units. As this degree alone may not be complete preparation for transfer, students wishing to continue at the UC or CSU system should meet with a counselor to develop a transfer plan which addresses all general education and lower-division transfer requirements.

Students pursuing an Associate of Science degree with less than 12 completed college-level hours will be required to take and complete EDUC 1300, a first-year general elective course that will contribute to student success by addressing factors that impact learning in college, including research and theory in learning; strategies to monitor, regulate and control cognition, motivation, and behavior; and the ability to think ethically and critically.

The Associate in Science, Transfer Track 1 is designed to fulfill the requirements of baccalaureate institutions for transfer with junior standing. The requirement of the degree is completion of a minimum of 90 credits with a specific number in each of English/Humanities distribution, Social Sciences distribution, Science, and Quantitative Skills courses.

The biotechnology curriculum will provide students a robust foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics in order to transfer to and succeed in four-year institutions. Students will be familiar with various bio-techniques, bioinstrumentation as well as bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, and cell biology. Students will also gain the necessary laboratory skills for entry-level in the Biotechnology industry.

The environmental studies program is an interdisciplinary program that concentrates on the identification of environmental problems and the analysis of the complex interactions of human populations with the earth. The program includes discussions of technology and how it impacts the environment. Program courses incorporate the concept of sustainable development, a form of economic development that encourages economic growth while at the same time improving the quality of life and preserving the environment. The capstone course is a Field Experience course where students apply classroom knowledge to a field environmental issue. Students in the environmental studies program can transfer to four-year environmental studies or environmental science program.

The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree at Lamar Community College provides a foundation in mathematics and the natural sciences.

The Associate in Applied Science with a Major in Radiation Protection Technology (RPT), also known as Radiological Control (RADCON), allows the student to develop the skills necessary to evaluate a worksite requiring radiological controls.

Richmond Community College offers two associate degree programs designed to allow a seamless transition to four-year institutions: Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.). These programs are designed to offer students the freshman and sophomore years of a baccalaureate-track program. In order to receive an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, degree students must have a grade of “C” or better in all courses. The Associate in Science program is designed for students desiring a bachelor’s degree and/or pre-professional training in biological, mathematical, or natural science disciplines. This is NOT the college transfer track for students who are seeking a bachelor’s degree in such disciplines as art, business, economics, history, humanities, liberal arts, liberal arts education, music, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Associate in Science (AS) degrees are awarded to students who complete courses consisting of diverse, introductory-level material in preparation for transfer to baccalaureate programs. The basis of the study is in communications, the humanities, and social sciences, mathematics, science, computer science, and wellness. The primary areas of emphasis are mathematics, science, and computer science.

Yearn to create new things? Find crunching numbers fun? Enjoy science projects? The Associate of Science pathway parallels the first two years of a Bachelor of Science degree and is ideal for students wanting to pursue majors concentrating in science and mathematics. This degree leads to four-year programs in business, engineering, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, mathematics, nursing, pre-physical therapy and more.

Associate in Science in Arts and Sciences This is a suggested course sequence only. Students may, with guidance from an Academic Advisor as well as a Faculty Advisor, make changes to their specific course sequence. The student should be aware that changes may result in more than four semesters to complete their desired Associates Degree. Academic placement is determined either by ACT results or placement exams. FALL SEMESTER 1 FALL SEMESTER 2 SPRING SEMESTER 1 SPRING SEMESTER 2 The Associate in Science in Arts and Sciences degree gives students a broad knowledge base in communications, humanities, social science, quantitative reasoning, and science. Upon completion of the A.S. in Arts and Sciences, students will be prepared for further undergraduate study at the bachelor's level and the contemporary workforce.

The Forensic Science curriculum is designed to prepare students for transfer into a Forensic Science program at other institutions to complete their professional education.

Certain courses within this degree may or may not transfer to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. The student must complete 64-66 semester hours (dependent upon certificate program) with a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above. There is a minimum cumulative general education requirement of 18 semester hours. A minimum number of semester credit hours will be required in each of the fields listed below.

The Science department at Jackson College offers a wide range of courses in the natural sciences for degree completion or transfer to 4-year institutions.