Associate of Applied Science Degree - A.A.S.
The Associate of Applied Science degree is designed for students planning to enter the job market immediately upon graduation or to advance their career.
Associate of Fine Arts Degree - A.F.A. (Art or Music)
The A.F.A. Degree in Art (Studio) program is a Tennessee Transfer Pathways degree option designed to better prepare students for transfer into BFA programs in art and design. This degree allows students to focus on developing their studio practice, technical and conceptual art skills. Students in the Art A.F.A. take courses in drawing and foundations instruction; including two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Students also choose from a variety of additional media-based studio courses including painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, ceramics, and the occasional special topic studio course. The program offers the opportunity to build stronger portfolios of work for transfer applications.
The A.F.A Degree in Music is part of a comprehensive degree preparing students for a career in many facets of music and music education. The program provides students a solid foundation in music while providing them with a range of performance and creative opportunities. The program offers a diverse music theory curriculum that creates a dynamic, rich learning environment for students to pursue their passion for music and performing. This curriculum will meet the lower division requirements for transfer to a Tennessee Board of Regents senior institution granting the BFA degree in music education.
Due to varying requirements of four-year institutions, students in either the A.F.A. Art (studio) or A.F.A. Music are encouraged to select courses in consultation with an art or music advisor.
Associate of Science in Teaching Degree - A.S.T.
The Associate of Science in Teaching (AST) is designed for anyone interested in teaching elementary or secondary school. The A.S.T. curriculum is designed for students who wish to complete the first two years of a program toward teacher certification in K-5 (elementary education) and secondary education in English, Math, or Social Studies and then transfer to a Tennessee Board of Regents University for the completion of a four year degree. These programs will meet the lower division requirements for transfer to a Tennessee Board of Regents senior institution granting the bachelor’s degree in elementary and/or secondary education. Due to varying requirements of four-year institutions, students are encouraged to select courses in consultation with an education advisor.
University Parallel Major - A.A.* & A.S.
Students who desire to earn a baccalaureate degree at a four-year college or university may complete the first two years at Volunteer State Community College by enrolling in the Associate of Arts or the Associate of Science degree programs. The advantages in taking the first two years of a baccalaureate degree at Volunteer State are: (a) Volunteer State’s maintenance fees are among the lowest of any public college or university in Tennessee; (b) Volunteer State’s faculty specialize in the first two years of a student’s college education; (c) Volunteer State is student-oriented; (d) at Volunteer State, students may begin at their own level of competence; and (e) students actually complete an approved program through the baccalaureate program.
Volunteer State works closely with students and sister institutions of higher education to ensure smooth transfer. Both course-by-course Equivalency Tables and program articulation agreements have been developed between Volunteer State and other colleges and universities. Student copies of both program articulation agreements and Course Equivalency Tables for these and other institutions are available in the Advising Center. In addition, Volunteer State Community College participates in the Tennessee Transfer Pathways. See Tennessee Transfer Pathways (T.T.P) below.
Suggested courses of study are designed to include general education and foundation courses needed for a major in a given field of study at the baccalaureate level. Because every school has different requirements, the Curriculum Guides are not intended to represent requirements for any one particular college or university. Students should obtain a copy of the catalog of the university to which they plan to transfer and use it during advisement and registration to make sure that the courses selected meet the first two years’ requirements at the receiving institution. Substitutions to meet unique requirements at a specific institution may be requested.
All Volunteer State students are encouraged to complete the Associate Degree prior to continuing their education elsewhere.
Students may receive an Associate of Arts degree in some areas of emphasis by completing two semesters of the same college-level foreign language.
Tennessee Transfer Pathway (T.T.P.)
Volunteer State Community College participates in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway program which offers over fifty different majors. Students who complete the required courses will earn an associates degree and then transition seamlessly as a junior to the participating four-year college or university. All earned credit hours will apply toward a bachelor’s degree in the same academic area.
Note: There are to be no course substitutions in this program when a specific course is named in the statewide TTP curriculum guide.
For more details on the Tennessee Transfer Pathway, please visit the website: www.tntransferpathway.org
Technical Certificates
Technical Certificates are offered by Volunteer State Community College to indicate a satisfactory level of achievement in selected programs that require less than two years of full-time study. Certificate programs offer college credit and are designed to give the student minimum essential core subjects necessary to enter a career. Health Sciences Certificate programs have selective admission requirements.
