Associate in Liberal Studies Degree
This highly individualized degree combines both liberal arts and sciences and occupational education course work. It provides a greater element of freedom for the student and is especially beneficial for anyone with broad life or educational experiences.
Because of the individualized nature of this degree, all students pursuing it should develop an educational plan with an advisor and should discuss transfer implications as they develop the plan.
The college requires these students to have a plan of study approved by the dean of student services and development or associate dean of advising, transfer, and career development services on file.
The college recommends using the Academic Planning, Registration, and Payment Tool on accessECC to track your progress toward completion.
Students with previous academic, career and life experiences are encouraged to investigate the options of proficiency credit to substitute their acquired knowledge for prerequisite, course, and/or degree requirements.
This degree is intended to articulate to universities offering the Board of Governor’s baccalaureate degree. Transfer of this degree to institutions which do not offer it may result in some loss of credit. Universities offering the Board of Governor’s degree are:
- Chicago State University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Governors State University
- University of Illinois at Springfield
- Western Illinois University
Degree Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirement | ||
| Communications | 9 | |
| Three courses including a two-course sequence in writing and one course in oral communication. A grade of C or better in ENGL 101 and ENG 102 is required. | ||
| English Composition I | ||
| English Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Speech | ||
| Sciences | 3 | |
| Applied Physical Science | ||
| Astronomy | ||
| Elementary Astronomy | ||
| Survey of Environmental Biology | ||
| Biology for Contemporary Society (L) | ||
| Principles of Biology (L) | ||
| Molecular & Cellular Biology (L) | ||
| Organismal Bio, Evolution, Ecology (L) | ||
| Environmental Biology (L) | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Preparatory Chemistry | ||
| Elements of Chemistry: General | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Elementary Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Intro to Physical Geography | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
Physics-PHY | ||
| Math | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
Math-MTH | ||
| Business Mathematics | ||
| Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
Anthropology-ATR | ||
Psychology-PSY | ||
Sociology-SOC | ||
| Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
Economics-ECN | ||
History-HIS | ||
Geography-GEO, except GEO 115 | ||
Political Science-POS | ||
International Studies-INS, excluding non-traditional languages | ||
| Areas of Concentration | 39 | |
| Areas of concentration include coursework for all courses numbered 100 and above. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
College Requirements
- A total of 60 hours or more must be completed as specified above. This total cannot include any credits earned in courses numbered below 100 nor any courses with ABE, ASE, AMT, ARW, or ESL prefixes. The 60 hours total may include up to four hours of credit in physical education courses prefixed by PHC.
- Meet the college’s Academic Residency Requirement for University Transfer degrees: A minimum of 15 semester hours in courses numbered 100 and above and must have been achieved at ECC, excluding AP, CLEP, and proficiency credits.
- Students may apply up to six hours of Independent Study credit toward any associate degree.
- Students can earn only one transfer associate degree. Should a student seek to earn more than one transfer degree, a Petition to Earn Multiple Transfer Degrees form must be submitted to the associate dean of advising, transfer, and career development services.