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

Graduates earning this degree meet the requirement for coursework on improving human relations as defined in 110 ILCS 205/9.21 (formerly Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991 Ch. 144 sec. 189.21) or PA-87-581.

Degree Requirements

Course Title Credits
General Education Requirement
Communications9
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
Sciences3
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
Math3
Select one of the following:
Math-MTH
Business Mathematics
Behavioral Sciences3
Select one of the following:
Anthropology-ATR
Psychology-PSY
Sociology-SOC
Social Sciences3
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 Concentration39
Areas of concentration include coursework for all courses numbered 100 and above.
Total Credit Hours60

College Requirements

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Students may apply up to six hours of Independent Study credit toward any associate degree.
  4. 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.