Lake Superior College

3.17 Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates

Part 1. General Information/Policy
Students may graduate under their catalog of entry or exit; if they have been out of college for more than one year, they must follow the catalog of re-entry or exit. In addition, some programs may have more stringent requirements; any variations from a published catalog, or more recent planner, must be documented by petition.

Degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded by LSC shall meet the following requirements:

Associate in Arts (A.A.) may be awarded for successful completion of programs primarily intended to provide a broad liberal arts and sciences background, and to constitute the first two years of four-year degree programs. Associate in Arts programs include 60 semester credits of completed course work, which is defined as college level with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. The requirements of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) must be met. At least 20 semester credits shall be taught by faculty recommending the awarding of the degree. The residency requirement shall be reduced to 15 credits for students transferring with at least 5 credits from another MnSCU institution. For specific credit requirements within educational categories, please refer to the A.A. Program Planner and/or advisor.

Associate in Science (A.S.) may be awarded for successful completion of programs which have highly structured professional-level technical requirements, and require a college setting. Recipients of the A.S. shall be prepared for transfer to baccalaureate majors in the same field. A.S. programs include 60-72 semester credits with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. At least 20 of these credits must be earned in the LSC program awarding the degree. For specific credit requirements within educational categories, please refer to the A.S. Program Planner, Program Advisor and/or Professional Advisor.

Associate in Fine Arts Degree (AFA) may be awarded after the successful completion of a program in a designated discipline in fine arts. The AFA degree is designed to transfer to a baccalaureate degree, as specified in an articulation agreement between Lake Superior College and specified transfer institutions. An AFA degree may be awarded after the successful completion of a program of 60 to 64 semester credits. Program credit lengths proposed to exceed 64 semester credits require special approval by the chancellor. At least 20 semester credits shall be taught by the faculty recommending the awarding of the degree. An AFA degree shall include a minimum of 24 semester credits in general education, and general education credits shall be selected from at least six of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum except as provided for in MnSCU Procedure 3.17.1.

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) may be awarded for successful completion of programs primarily intended to prepare people for employment. A.A.S. programs include 60-72 semester credits, at least 20 earned in the LSC occupational program awarding the degree and a grade point average of 2.0 or better. Please refer to A.A.S. Program Planners, program advisors, and/or Professional Advisors for specific category requirements. Students must meet at least three of the ten Minnesota Transfer Curriculum goals.

Diploma of Occupational Proficiency may be awarded to students who have successfully completed the prescribed curriculum and have met program requirements, including an earned cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. Students must earn the lesser of 1/3 of the program requirements or 10 credits in the LSC program awarding the diploma.

Certificate may be awarded for successful completion of programs which are at least one full-time academic semester in length with an earned cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. A certificate shall include 9-30 semester credits. Students must earn the lesser of 1/3 of the program requirements or 10 credits in the LSC program awarding the certificate.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum is a package of 40 semester credits that will be accepted for transfer by all Minnesota Community Colleges, State Universities, and the University of Minnesota, as well as many private colleges.

Students must earn 13 credits and a 2.0 grade point average through enrollment in Liberal Arts or Sciences courses at LSC for certification of completion of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.

Honors at Graduation
Associate Degrees and diplomas will be awarded with High Distinction to those students graduating with an LSC cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or greater. Associate Degrees and diplomas will be awarded with Distinction to those students graduating with an LSC cumulative grade point average of between 3.50 and 3.74.
Cumulative grade point average after fall term of the year in which the student graduates is used to determine a student's honors designation as displayed in the commencement program.

Credit Life
General education and elective credits have no transfer limit.  Occupational course credits earned more than five years prior to the time of request need program faculty approval to fulfill current program requirements.  Certain occupational areas may have more stringent requirements.  If occupational credits more than five years old are not approved to fulfill program requirements, students may demonstrate course content mastery by utilizing the Credit for Prior Learning process.

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