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All of the specific two-year AAS degrees are very focused toward one area. The requirements in the AA Business Administration degree are more general. They are excellent foundation courses, which include several business, related courses and electives. Moreover, many of the courses transfer to most Texas universities. Thus, if there is any chance that you will want to work toward a four-year degree, it is better to work toward an AA degree in Business Administration than in any of the more specialized two-year AAS degrees.

The answer is transferability and broad-based educational experience. The general rule is that only freshman and sophomore level courses transfer directly to four-year schools. Courses with topics equivalent to those in junior and senior-level courses at universities are also offered at STCC, but these are only for lower-division credit. Thus, these courses will not count as the equivalent courses at a four-year degree program. They may count as electives, but remember that most degree plans have a very limited number of electives. You may have to retake these courses to earn your upper-division credit for your degree. It seems obvious that it is most efficient to concentrate on transferable courses at STCC (freshman and sophomore level courses). The Business Administration degree plan was designed to include the proper transferable courses.

THE INFORMATION WHICH FOLLOWS IS SPECIFIC FOR THE
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE.
This information is provided in addition to information you may find in the catalog.
Please remember that requirements change and that these requirements change from time to time and can differ among universities. Students should always consult faculty advisors and/or catalogs of universities to which they plan to transfer.

 

What if I am unsure of my educational goals?

All of the specific two-year AAS degrees are very focused toward one area. The requirements in the AA Business Administration degree are more general. They are excellent foundation courses, which include several business, related courses and electives. Moreover, many of the courses transfer to most Texas universities. Thus, if there is any chance that you will want to work toward a four-year degree, it is better to work toward an AA degree in Business Administration than in any of the more specialized two-year AAS degrees.

3. What about Natural Science?

Most universities require that both natural science courses be taken in the same subject (i.e. two courses in biology as opposed to one, biology course and one chemistry course).  Also, computer science classes are not considered natural science courses. The following pairs of courses will fulfill the natural science requirement at most four-year schools: BIOL 1406 and BIOL 1407; CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1412; GEOL 1403 and GEOL 1404; or PHYS 1401 and PHYS 1402.

The answer to this question depends on your situation. Please consider the following:

• The tuition and class sizes at STCC are generally lower. Financially, it is to your advantage to take as many transferable courses as possible at STCC.
• Employers often believe that students who set a goal of completing an entire program and then succeed at that goal are more organized and focused than students, who have just taken the same number of hours but not as part of a plan. Graduating with the associate of science degree is a major accomplishment.
• There may be a break between the completion of the STCC courses and the completion of your four-year degree. Some schools may not accept "stale" courses individually, but will give credit for having completed an entire degree program. Thus, the associate of arts degree is preferred in this case.

Please note that, in general, a maximum of 66 hours may be transferred. Please check with the four-year school for specific guidance.

The general education courses included in the business administration degree are excellent foundation courses. These courses provide both the background and skills needed in the business courses and in the business workplace. Employers value the completion of these basic courses as much, if not more, than technical courses. The Business Administration degree includes basic business courses and also gives you the option of taking electives (allowing you to take one or two additional business courses).

It is common for students to receive credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Please refer to the STCC catalog for information about credit. Also each department at STCC may have courses for which you may receive credit by challenging the course. Please check with the department in which you are interested and read the requirements in the STCC catalog. One example of a requirement is that you may not challenge a course in which you were ever enrolled - even if you withdrew from the course.

Any current student should request an evaluation of their transcripts from other schools. (An official transcript must be submitted from each college attended.) You can make this request with any advisor or in the Office of Admissions and Records on any campus. A specialist at the District Administrative Office will make the evaluation and send a copy to you as well as to the department of your major. Your advisor will then work with you to determine the appropriate use of these courses. There are occasions when courses may be substituted.

Please talk to your academic advisor about this possibility.

NO. These are developmental courses, which will prepare students for success in college credit courses and do not count toward any degree.

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science is an excellent alternative to the BBA degree. Southwest Texas State University offers a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in the Department of Technology in its Occupational Education Division. This degree uses non-transferable courses and work experience. You still must meet general education requirements and take upper level courses at SWTSU, but this may be an alternative for you.

First, you must have a baccalaureate degree. This degree may be in any area. If you have not earned this degree, pursue the business administration degree at STCC and then transfer to a four-year school. Next, you currently need 30 hours of accounting and 20 hours of business related courses. Effective September of 1997, the accounting hours increased to 36 and the total number of college hours increased to 150. If you have questions you should contact the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (512-305-7800 in Austin) or any STCC accounting instructor.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has required that each college offering Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science degrees identify a Core Curriculum that all students must take. You should consider taking your general electives from the core curriculum. This will include a Visual and Performing Arts course, an additional Humanities course, and an additional Social and Behavioral Science course. Consult the catalog core curriculum. Consult a business advisor if you wish to take different courses than those recommended.

You can change your major at any STCC Office of Admissions and Records. Be sure to advise the Office of Admissions and Records of any address or name changes.

YES. This handout is not intended to answer all questions. Please read the STCC catalog for additional information and for additional questions, talk to any full-time faculty advisors.