AN EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY COOPERATION BY CREATION OF AN ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE - GEOLOGY DEGREE AT THE 2YC LEVEL

An Associate in Science - Geology degree and memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been developed by Pitt Community College (PCC) in Winterville, NC in cooperation with East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, NC. This is meant to be a 2+2 style cooperative agreement between the two schools.

In 2014 the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the University of North Carolina System (UNCS) completed an articulation agreement whereby a simplified and standardized Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs would be accepted by transfer into any of the 16 UNC system schools.

Rather than create a new degree, the existing framework of the Associate in Science (AS) degree was modified to create the AS – Geology degree. This degree is built around core introductory geology and other science courses, as well as university transfer courses, completing 61 semester hours at PCC. These hours would transfer and the remainder of the BS-Geology degree requirements would be completed at ECU.

With decreasing budgets and enrollments at both the community college and university levels, this agreement and degree are seen as a method to: bring more awareness to and promote geoscience; increase enrollments at both institutions; create shared faculty and student research opportunities; create shared grants, course work, and field activities; and ultimately create an avenue for student success.