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 in nursing, and associate of applied science degrees. Certificates are 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 deadline, which is December 1 for December graduation, April 1 for May graduation, and July 16 for August graduation. The form is available at www.caspercollege.edu/offices-services/records. 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.

Academic Catalog Governing Graduation

Students are expected to fulfill the requirements for graduation stated in the Academic Catalog in effect at the time of their graduation. They may elect to fulfill the requirements for graduation in the Academic 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 15 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 one physical education activity course. (The associate degree in nursing is exempt from this requirement.) The college will waive this requirement for any student who presents a physician’s statement of medical restriction to Enrollment Services. No more than four semester credits in physical 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 Wyoming Government (1CR)  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. Call the Political Science Department at 307-268-2368 to request permission to take POLS 1100  or to schedule an appointment.
• Complete the requirements for one of the six degrees listed in this section,(e.g., A.A., A.S., A.B.A., A.D.N., A.F.A., and A.A.S.).
• 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 requirements of the first degree.

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

WICHE Interstate Passport

The WICHE Interstate Passport is the only nationwide network of accredited, nonprofit, public, and private two- and four-year institutions dedicated to the block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on multi-state faculty-developed learning outcomes and proficiency criteria instead of on specific courses and credits. Because of this, participating students of member institutions experience a seamless, efficient, and economical transfer process between institutions. 

Casper College students who have passed all appropriate general education courses with a grade of C or better must apply for Interstate Passport certification, once certification is verified the student will be awarded the interstate passport on their official transcript. Graduates may generally enroll as students under the same terms at designated institutions and programs in other participating states. Visit WICHE Interstate Passport for more information on the WICHE Interstate Passport or contact the Casper College office of Institutional Effectiveness at 307-268-2770. The WICHE Office may be contacted at, P.O. Box 3432, University Station, Laramie, Wyoming 82071 or call 307-766-6556 for information about programs in other states.

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 institutional learning outcomes.

Students will be able to

• Demonstrate effective communication
• Apply scientific methods
• Solve problems using critical thinking and creativity
• Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures and historical perspectives
• Appraise creative and/or aesthetic activities
• Use information to conduct research
• Analyze the importance of personal, civic, and social responsibilities
• Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process data

General Education Course Requirements are criteria established by Faculty Senate to apply when considering if a course should be designated as a general education course. These criteria include reasoning and inquiry in science, math computation, communication, human behavior, and cultural environment.

Reasoning and Inquiry in Science 

As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will be able to comprehend and apply the basic principles of science and scientific inquiry methods.

Evaluation Criteria:  
Comprehension: define central facts, concepts, and theories of the physical universe and understand the mechanics (chemical, physical, biological) of the natural world.

Application: execute laboratory exercises, document and evaluate empirical observations, and implement the scientific method and creative thinking.

Inquiry: exercise critical thinking in the evaluation of current science, gather, assess and weigh evidence, and demonstrate the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use and cite scientific literature.

Courses used to satisfy the general education 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).

Math Computation 

As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will be able to comprehend and use quantitative concepts and methods to interpret and critically evaluate data and effectively problem-solve in a variety of contexts demanding quantitative literacy.

Evaluation Criteria:  
Comprehension and Application: implement appropriate use of operators and formulas and solve quantitative exercises with mathematical concepts, tools, and methods.

Interpretation and Evaluation: demonstrate logical reasoning, read and communicate using the language of mathematics, and assess nature or importance of quantitative data. 

Problem Solving: formulate and implement strategies incorporating math, statistics, logic, and probability and address real-world situations using computational analysis.

Courses used to satisfy the math computation requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: business administration BADM 1005 (AAS degree only), mathematics (MATH), or statistics (STAT).

Communication 

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.

Evaluation Criteria:
Clarity: practice proper grammar, mechanics, and formatting use proper diction and selection of suitable wording, integrate appropriate visual digital elements such as graphs, tables, and charts, and incorporate audience awareness and adaptation.

Coherence: employ appropriate organization and structure for different forms of communication and practice production of delivery that is effective for a specific audience or occasion. 

Persuasiveness: apply critical and creative thinking through the use of logic, evidence, and appeals, use a citation, sources, and documentation, and exhibit the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use source materials.

Courses used to satisfy the communication requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: BADM 1020, BOTK 1540, communication (COMM), COMM 2010, ENGL 1010, ENGL 1020, ENGL 2005, or ENGL 2205. Students in A.A., A.S., A.D.N., and A.B. degrees are required to complete ENGL 1010 and need to verify with their advisers which second approved English composition course they should complete for their specific degree requirements.

Human Behavior 

As a result of completing general education courses in this area, students will have developed a deeper understanding of the relation of self to the world through investigation of the influence of social, cultural, economic, and political institutions in shaping human thought, value, and behavior.

Evaluation Criteria:
Relation of Self to the World: examine human values, ideas, and experiences, analyze human ideas, behavior, influence, and social interactions, investigation of world influences, delineate and examine intersections of social, cultural, economic, and political institutions, explore different forms of self and cultural expression through artifacts, and exhibit the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use source materials. 

Shaping Human Thought, Value, and Behavior: compare different methods and theories to interpret and explain human events and cultures and examine the role of diversity in human societies and its impact on global change. 

Courses used to satisfy the human behavior requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: AGEC 1010, AGEC 1020, 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 (by instructor permission only).

Cultural Environment

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.

Evaluation Criteria for Fine Arts Concentration:
Artistic Expression: explore, identify, and discuss artistic genres, their pleasures, and their challenges.

Creative Process: practice and assess the creative process and expression through participation as viewers or creators of artistic objects, texts, or performances.

Role and Value: evaluate the role and value of fine arts in culture and society. 

Evaluation Criteria for Humanities Concentration (must use a combination of the following criteria):
Aesthetic Dimension: recognize and articulate the aesthetic value of cultural objects thereby developing a deeper appreciation for them. 

Historical Dimension: recognize and interpret historical contexts and relevance of cultural objects.

Philosophical Dimension: examine the development of philosophies and their influence on the aesthetics and content of cultural objects.

Literary Dimension: interpret literary ideas and analyze the form and structures of texts.

Courses used to satisfy the cultural environment requirement for graduation must be selected from the following departments or courses: art (ART), BADM 2050, BADM 2060, COMM 2380, dance (DANC), EDCI 2250, ENGL 1040, 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, theatre (THEA), WMST 1080, WMST 2020, WMST 2021, WMST 2025, WMST 2040, or world languages: ASL 1010. ASL 1020, ASL 2030, ASL 2040, French (FREN), German (GERM), Japanese (JAPN), Latin (LATN), Russian (RUSS), or Spanish (SPAN).

Physical Education 

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

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

Students seeking the associate of arts, associate of business, 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. Students must fulfill the minimum course requirements of categories 1,2,3,4 and 5 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 non-transfer degrees.
 

Associate Degree in Nursing

Students seeking the associates degree in nursing must complete a minimum of 24 hours in general education at the 1000 level or above, including a course in the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions. Students must fulfill the minimum course requirements of categories 1, 2, 3, and 4 as listed below. Courses can be taken from within or outside the student’s major field of study. This degree is considered a transfer degree.

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.