Associate of Individualized Studies, AIS

You’ve spent your life learning. Now earn credit for it at NSCC!

The Associate of Individualized Study (AIS) and Associate of Technical Studies are appropriate degrees for those students who may have earned credit hours or life experiences that are credit earned such as:

Workforce or Military Experience
Professional Licenses and Certification
Prior Educational Experience/Credits

These degrees combine the existing educational disciplines at the college with a student’s educational history, college credits, and experience to create an area of concentration that best serves the need of the student, especially in connection with career or job objectives.

NSCC advisors will work to combine these credits with EGCC classes to create an individualized degree.

For more information on how to get started at NSCC, contact the Admissions Office at 419.267.1320 or admissions@NorthwestState.edu.

The Associate of Individualized Studies (AIS) Degree program provides the student an opportunity to develop a tailor-made program of instruction which may include already learned skills, life experiences, and course credits from appropriate professional, personal, and career experiences. Such program needs may not necessarily fit into traditional program offerings.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements will adhere to the full requirement of the College. Upon application, the student will be advised and counseled in a program which matches the student’s interest and aptitude in so far as possible. High school records, equivalency exams, and Course Placement Test scores will be evaluated.

Students may apply for the AIS program by presenting their intent to the Dean of Arts & Sciences, who will assist them in planning an individualized program of study. The program may be denied if:

Standards are not comparable to other technologies offered at Northwest State Community College.
The proposed AIS program duplicates an existing technology offered at Northwest State Community College.

For cases in which the College does not offer courses needed to fulfill the degree requirements, cooperative arrangements may be entered into with approved public and private colleges, as well as accredited correspondence schools, vocational centers, and schools conducted by business and industry. Transfer credits, credits by examination, or credit by any other acceptable method in current use at NSCC may be granted.

Graduation Requirements

Courses designed through individualized studies may be substituted for specific course requirements with the approval of the Dean of Arts & Sciences. In all cases, the AIS Degree must meet the following minimum expectations:

Counseling Procedure

A student interested in pursuing the Associate of Individualized Study Degree will begin the application procedure by first being directed to the Dean of Arts & Sciences for tentative program approval.

Students who plan to use life experiences or other non-collegiate work as part of their AIS degree must enroll in course AIS101 Portfolio Development.

English and Language:

6 credit hours required

ENG 111 - Composition I Min Credits: 3 (“C” or better)
ENG 112 - Composition II Min Credits: 3

Humanities

15 credit hours required

At least 3 hours - (other than ENG 230 ) - from ENG prefix
Coursework from at least 3 different prefix categories within the humanities: ART, HUM, PHI
No more than 6 hours in the applied arts (ART prefix courses)

Social & Behavioral Sciences:

15 credit hours required

Coursework from at least 2 different prefix categories within the Social & Behavioral Sciences: ECO, GEO, PSY, SSC

Mathematics & Science:

10 credit hours required

Demonstrated proficiency at MTH 090 - Intermediate Algebra level
STA 120 - Introduction to Statistics Min Credits: 3
Coursework from at least 2 different prefix categories within Mathematics and Science: BIO, CHM, PHY, MTH
At least one course must be a lab course

Computer Literacy:

3 credit hours required

Selected from approved list

Electives:

11 credit hours required

May be selected from available college credit classes at the100 and 200 level.
May be independent study/work experiences as described below Total 60 hr. Minimum Independent study/work experiences:
Must be under the supervision of NSCC faculty and subject to approval of Arts & Sciences Division.
Must be of collegiate level of academic rigor, work expectations, and appropriate written documentation.
May be used to meet required hours in Humanities, Social& Behavioral Sciences, or Mathematics & Science if subject matter is appropriate and approval is obtained.
May be used to meet required elective hours. Independent study/work hours should be chosen and designed to transfer in an appropriate fashion to a 4-year college or university.
Minimum of 2.00 grade point average overall.
A minimum of 30 semester credit hours of supervised coursework after acceptance into the AIS program.
Must earn at least 12 of the final 30 credit hours from NSCC.
A maximum of 12 semester credit hours can be earned through portfolio assessment.

Arts & Sciences Division:
Jamilah Jones
Dean
(419) 267-1247

Questions:
NSCC Admissions Office
(419) 267-1320
admissions@northweststate.edu

Course curriculum is subject to change. Please consult with an Academic Advisor for up-to-date information