Degree Requirements

Degrees Conferred

Casper College grants six types of degrees: associate of arts, associate of science, associate of business, associate of fine arts, associate degree nursing, and associate of applied science degrees. Certificates are also offered in many areas. There are two types of course requirements.

General education. All students seeking the same degree or certificate are required to take these classes in addition to the classes for their major to meet the college’s general education outcomes.

Major requirements. These are classes required for a major. For example, communication majors are required to take classes in public speaking, interpersonal communication, communication theory, and mass media.

Application for Graduation

Casper College awards degrees and certificates for eligible candidates for graduation at the end of each semester (fall, spring, and summer). A candidate for graduation must file an application for graduation with the Records Office by the published application for graduation deadline, which is December 1 for December graduation, April 1 for May graduation, and July 16 for August graduation. A degree or certificate check and an application for graduation must be completed and on file with the Records Office before the candidate registers for the final semester. Enrollment Services determines eligibility for graduation.

A commencement ceremony is held at the end of the spring semester for students who were eligible for graduation within the year. Watch for signs posted around campus for deadlines to order your cap and gown, usually around mid-March. Candidates may order announcements through the Jack McCann Campus Store.

Catalog Governing Graduation

Students are expected to fulfill the requirements for graduation stated in the catalog in effect at the time of their graduation. They may elect to fulfill the requirements for graduation in the catalog in effect at the time they first enrolled as a degree-seeking student in their program if they have not interrupted that program for more than one year.

Institutional Requirements

To graduate from Casper College a student must:

• Complete a minimum of 60 approved semester credits with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in those courses counted toward graduation.
• Earn at least 24 of the semester credits applied toward graduation through the completion of Casper College coursework, including at least six hours within the desired major. The vice president for academic affairs may waive this requirement. .
• Complete at least 15 of the last 30 semester credits applied toward graduation as a degree-seeking student at Casper College. The vice president for academic affairs may waive this requirement.
• Complete at least one physical education activity course. (The associate nursing degree is exempt from this requirement.) The college will waive this requirement for any student who presents a physician’s statement of medical restriction. No more than four semester credits in activity courses will count toward an associate degree.
• Students who have earned a C or better in a college level political science or history course that covered the U.S. constitution may be able to take POLS 1100 Survey of the U. S. and Wyoming Constitutions  in lieu of one of the courses used to satisfy the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions course requirement. Students must receive a C or better in POLS 1100  to satisfy the requirement. Contact Erich Frankland at 307-268-2490 or efrankland@caspercollege.edu to request permission to take POLS 1100  or call the academic assistant at 307-268-2368 to schedule an appointment.
• Complete the requirements for one of the six degrees listed in this section.
• If the student is seeking a second associate’s degree, the student must complete all general and departmental degree requirements and 15 semester credits beyond the study requirement of the first degree.

General Education Philosophy Statement, Outcomes, and Requirements (GERs)

While education within a major field of study prepares each student to achieve success within a chosen vocation, general education provides the cornerstone of understanding in areas that prepare students for life. The goal of general education is to provide the skills necessary for one to be an educated member of society. Therefore, as a fundamental part of their education at Casper College, graduates are expected to possess the following core abilities, commonly termed general education outcomes.

Students will be able to

1. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication
2. Use the scientific method
3. Solve problems using critical thinking and creativity
4. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures and historical perspectives
5. Appreciate aesthetic and creative activities
6. Use appropriate technology and information to conduct research
7. Describe the value of personal, civic, and social responsibilities
8. Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data

Although the general education outcomes may be achieved and assessed in a variety of courses, the following general education requirements serve as a foundational set of course options in which to encounter and build toward those outcomes. Casper College may use anonymous student work to assess the college’s assessment of general education outcomes.

Reasoning and Inquiry in Science Requirement

Courses used to satisfy the reasoning and inquiry in science requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses and must include a lab: astronomy (ASTR), atmospheric science (ATSC), biology (BIOL), chemistry (CHEM), environment and natural resources (ENR), geology (GEOL), GEOG 1010 , life science (LIFE), molecular biology (MOLB), physics (PHYS), or zoology (ZOO). As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will be able to comprehend and to apply the basic principles of science and methods of scientific inquiry.

Math Computation Requirement

Courses used to satisfy the math computation requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: BADM 1005  (AAS degree only), mathematics (MATH), or statistics (STAT). As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will be able to comprehend and to use quantitative concepts and methods to interpret and to critically evaluate data and to effectively problem-solve in a variety of contexts demanding quantitative literacy.

Communication Requirement

Courses used to satisfy the communication requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: BADM 1020 , BOTK 1540 , communications (CO/M), ENGL 1010 , or ENGL 1020 . As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will be able to effectively use the English language, writing and speaking with clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness.

Human Behavior Requirement

Courses used to satisfy the human behavior requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: anthropology (ANTH), addictionology (ADDN), criminal justice (CRMJ), economics (ECON), GNDR 1000 , geography (GEOG), history (HIST), political science (POLS), psychology (PSYC), or sociology (SOC).

The following courses can be used to satisfy the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions requirement for graduation: HIST 1211 , HIST 1221 , HIST 1251 , POLS 1000 , or POLS 1100 . As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will have developed a deeper understanding of the relation of self to world through investigation of the influence of social, cultural, economic, and political institutions in shaping human thought, value, and behavior.

Cultural Environment Requirement

Courses used to satisfy the cultural environment requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: art (ART), AAST 1000 , BADM 2050 , BADM 2055 , BADM 2060 , BADM 2065 , CO/M 2380 , Dance (DANC), EDCI 2250 , ENGL 2006 , ENGL 2011 , ENGL 2020 , ENGL 2050 , ENGL 2055 , ENGL 2060 , ENGL 2080 , ENGL 2130 , ENGL 2140 , ENGL 2150 , ENGL 2185 , ENGL 2210 , ENGL 2220 , ENGL 2225 , ENGL 2230 , ENGL 2235 , ENGL 2270 , ENGL 2310 , ENGL 2320 , ENGL 2350 , ENGL 2440 , humanities (HUMN), INST 2350 , philosophy (PHIL), music (MUSC) [a maximum of four credit hours in music studio and ensembles], POLS 2290 , POLS 2460 , RELI 1000 , theater (THEA), WMST 1080 , WMST 2020 , WMST 2021 , WMST 2025 , WMST 2040 , or world languages: ASL 1200 , ASL 1220 , French (FREN), German (GERM), Japanese (JAPN), Latin (LATN), Russian (RUSS), or Spanish (SPAN).

As a result of completing general education courses in the fine arts concentration area, students will have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the creative process, the pleasures and challenges of artistic expression, and the role and value of the fine arts in society and culture.

As a result of completing general education courses in the humanities concentration area, students will have a richer understanding of the human condition through investigation, appreciation, and evaluation of the aesthetic, historical, philosophical, and literary dimensions of human experience.

Physical Education Requirement

Courses used to satisfy the physical education requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: physical education activity (PEAC).

Associate of Arts, Associate of Business, Associate Degree Nursing, and Associate of Science Degree Requirements

Students seeking the associate of arts, associate of business, associate nursing degree, or associate of science degree must complete a minimum of 32 hours in general education at the 1000 level or above, including at least one credit in physical education activity, and a course in the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions. (The associate nursing degree only requires 27 general education credits in general education and is exempt from the physical education requirement.) Students must fulfill the minimum course requirements of categories A, B, C, D, and E as listed below. Students must select the remainder of their general education from areas one, two, and/or three. Courses can be taken from within or outside the student’s major field of study. These degrees are considered transfer degrees.

Associate of Fine Arts and Associate of Applied Science Degree Requirements

Students seeking the associate of fine arts or associate of applied science degree must complete a minimum of 17 credits in general education, including a minimum of one credit in physical education activity and a course in the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions. Students must complete at least one course in each of the three general education areas listed below. Courses can be taken from within or outside the student’s major field of study. These degrees are considered nontransfer degrees.
 

Certificate of Completion

Certificates derive from and are an integral part of our degree programs. To qualify for a certificate of completion, a student must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student and complete one of the certificate programs listed under the various department curricula with a grade point average of 2.0 or better.