Valencia College offers the choice of two levels of degrees with multiple programs of study within those degrees.
- Associate in Arts (A.A.) / Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Bachelor in Applied Science (B.A.S.) / Bachelor in Science (B.S.)
Briefly, the degrees can be distinguished as follows:
- The A.A. degree is designed for the student who plans to transfer to a Florida public university or state college as a junior to complete a Bachelor’s degree. Through the A.A. degree, Valencia offers lower division preparation for almost all of the approximately 200 majors in the State University/State College System of Florida.
The Associate in Arts degree pathways are designed for students who know their intended major, plan to earn the A.A. degree from Valencia, and want to transfer to a state university; or state college; in Florida as a junior to complete a Bachelor's degree in one of the specific majors for which Valencia has pathways; Each pathway is an advising plan that includes the courses to satisfy Valencia's general education requirements for the A.A. degree, the Statewide Common Course Prerequisites for the specific upper division major, and the requirements needed to transfer to the University of Central Florida, and/or another state institution.
The Associate in Arts degree is described in full in the University Parallel Program section of this catalog.
- The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is a program that is designed to prepare students for immediate employment in a specialized career upon completion of the degree, with no further study required. Valencia offers many exciting A.S. degrees ranging from nursing, cyber security, culinary arts and criminal justice to a host of other high-demand occupations.
Associate in Science degree students also have the following pathways into a Bachelor's degree:
- 2+2 Bachelor Degrees offered at Florida State Colleges - Some A.S. degrees will also transfer into specific 2+2 bachelor’s degree programs that are offered at Florida State Colleges. For more information on the available Bachelor’s degrees offered at Florida State Colleges, please visit: Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
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Statewide Agreements for A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s Degrees - Certain A.S. degrees articulate with Bachelor’s degree programs in Florida’s public university system. These degrees, called Articulated A.S. to B.A./B.S. Career Path degrees, are designed for students who seek immediate employment in the specified field and who decide to continue to a Florida public university as a junior to complete a Bachelor’s degree in the specified field. The Articulated A.S. to B.A./B.S. Career Path degrees are included in the program pages in this catalog section, and additional information may be found at: Statewide Articulation Agreements.
- A.S. to B.S. Degree Articulation Agreements with Public and Private Institutions - In addition, many articulation agreements between Valencia and specific programs at various public and private four-year institutions provide opportunities for A.S. degree graduates to continue their educational pursuits to Bachelor’s degree programs. For further information, visit: Valencia A.S. to B.S. Articulation Agreements with Public and Private Institutions.
- A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s of Applied Science (B.A.S.) Degrees - All of Valencia College's A.A./A.S. degrees will transfer into Valencia College's B.A.S. (Bachelor of Applied Science) degree in Business and Organizational Leadership. The B.A.S. degree prepares students for supervisory and management roles in their respective field. For more information, visit: B.A.S. degree in Business and Organizational Leadership.
The A.S. degrees are described in full in the Career Programs Section of this catalog.
- The Bachelor in Applied Science and Bachelor in Science degrees are upper level degrees that offer students an opportunity to continue their degree beyond the Associates degree. Students who have earned an A.S. degree may have to complete additional hours of General Education courses, and they must complete a foreign language proficiency if they have not already done so.
If you are interested in an Associate in Arts degree, an Associate in Science degree, a Bachelor in Applied Science degree, or a Bachelor in Science degree, you should read the catalog carefully to learn the requirements and characteristics of each degree. You should also review the career areas of the Student Handbook to explore career options.
Important Notes:
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Your governing catalog is the Valencia College catalog in effect at the time of your initial enrollment in Associate or Bachelor’s degree credit courses at Valencia. A Valencia catalog is valid for five academic years provided you are continuously enrolled as defined in the glossary of this catalog. If you are accepted to a limited access program, your governing catalog will be updated to the Valencia College catalog in effect at the time of your enrollment in the limited access program courses. If you are working toward (pending status) or have applied to a limited access program and the admissions requirements change within your five year catalog time period, you will qualify for a transition plan to the new requirements. As long as you have maintained continuous enrollment, you may officially declare any subsequent catalog as your governing catalog and follow its requirements for your initial degree or certificate program until that catalog expires. However, if you change your degree or certificate program, you will be moved to the catalog in effect at the time of your change. You may change only into programs that are active within that catalog, and you will be required to follow the graduation requirements of that catalog. If your governing catalog has expired, your new governing catalog will be the catalog in effect in your next term of enrollment. Should the District Board of Trustees approve changes in program requirements to be effective within the academic year, the revised requirements will be available in the catalog, academic departments, and Student Success Coaches offices. Students affected by the change in requirements should contact the appropriate Student Success Coach, Program Director, or Academic Dean to discuss education plan options.
- Limited access status occurs when student demand exceeds available resources such as faculty, instructional facilities, equipment, etc. Admission to Valencia does not guarantee acceptance to a limited access degree program in which the number of students who can enroll is limited. Limited access programs have specific admission requirements. Degrees with limited access status are indicated with the program information in this catalog.
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You may earn any number of Associate in Science degrees as well as one Associate in Arts degree; however, you may not earn the Associate in Arts degree at Valencia if you have earned an Associate in Arts or Bachelor’s degree from an institution that has regional accreditation in the U.S. Students who have an earned Associate in Arts or Bachelor’s degree in a foreign country are eligible to pursue an Associate of Arts degree at Valencia College.
If you want to earn more than one degree at Valencia, you may complete the first degree and then pursue another degree or you may pursue two degrees at the same time. Whenever possible, a course will be applied to more than one degree.
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For all degree programs, specific courses have been designated to demonstrate that graduates of these programs are competent in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills and the basic use of computers. In some programs, skill sets and formally evaluated learning activities for the areas of oral communication and the basic use of computers have been incorporated in traditional general education or other course work related to the degree. In cases in which such designated courses are transferred from other institutions, students must demonstrate proficiency in oral communication and/or the basic use of computers by completing or having completed a specific course in the area of speech (for oral communication) and/or a specific course in the area of computer technology (for the basic use of computers).
