Academic Programs

Degrees and Certificates Awarded

The Austin Community College District offers the following degrees and certificates:

• Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree – Awarded to students who complete at least 60 semester credit hours, 42 of which must be taken from the core curriculum. Fifteen hours of general education courses are embedded in the core curriculum, meaning that completion of the core curriculum also meets the SACS requirement for completion of the 15 hours of general education courses. Requirements for receiving the A.A. degree include:
  
  1. Completion of the 42-hour core curriculum
  2. Eight semester credit hours of foreign language courses (all courses must be in the same foreign language and may be satisfied through completing the core curriculum. Students should follow the approved degree plan in this catalog for their major.)
  3. Prescribed courses listed in one of the areas of concentration
• Associate of Science (A.S.) degree – Awarded to students who complete at least 60 semester credit hours, 42 of which must be taken from the core curriculum. Fifteen hours of general education courses are embedded in the core curriculum, meaning that completion of the core curriculum also meets the SACS requirement for completion of the 15 hours of general education courses. Requirements for receiving the A.S. degree include:
  
  1. Completion of the 42-hour core curriculum, including six to eight semester credit hours of natural science courses. (Students intending to transfer to a four-year institution should check to ensure transferability to the transfer institution.)
  2. Prescribed courses listed in one of the areas of concentration
• Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree – Awarded to students who complete one of three degrees aimed at those who wish to become certified teachers. Fifteen hours of general education courses are embedded in the core curriculum, so completion of the core curriculum satisfies the SACS requirements for 15 semester credit hours of general education courses. Requirements for receiving the A.A.T include:
  
  1. Completion of the 42-semester credit hour core curriculum
  2. The prescribed course list in one of the areas of concentration: a) EC-4 (Early Childhood Specialization only); b) EC-4, 4-8; or c) 8-12.
• Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree – Awarded to students who successfully complete the prescribed courses in any of the occupational-technical programs and the requisite 15 semester credit hours taken from the approved general education course list. Requirements for receiving the A.A.S. degree include:
  
  1. Completion of 15 hours of general education coursework
  2. Prescribed courses in an area of concentration
• Certificate – Awarded to students who complete one of the approved certificate programs.
• Marketable Skills Award (MSA) – Awarded to students who complete a specified series of courses. The following credit programs offer MSAs: Accounting, Building Construction Technology, Child Development, and Welding (see degree plans). The Continuing Education Division also offers marketable skills awards.
• Institutional Certificates – Issued in certain workforce areas for successful completion of a course or courses that make a student eligible for immediate employment or add to the student’s marketability to employers.

General Education Requirements

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requires colleges and universities to incorporate into each degree plan 15 hours in general education courses. At ACC, the coursework consists of the following semester credit hours (SCH) taken from the approved list of general education courses:

3 SCH	Written communication (English)
3 SCH	Oral communication OR pass an oral
	communication proficiency exam (this option
	is not available if the degree plan specifies one
	of the approved oral communication courses.)
3 SCH	Computational skills (math)
3 SCH	Social/behavioral science requirement
3 SCH	Humanities/fine arts

Following SACS guidelines, ACC selected general education courses designed to prepare associate degree graduates with the knowledge and skills to prepare for a career, further their educational study, and contribute to society. These courses help associate degree students with:

• Sufficient literacy skills of writing, reading, speaking, and listening to communicate effectively above the 12th grade level
• Understanding of numerical data and their implications for daily living
• Consciousness of our society
• The ability to think and analyze at a critical level
• Appreciation multicultural, multiethnic contributions to our country
• Understanding of our technological society
• Basic skills in the use of computers

Computer Literacy

Graduates of associate degree programs must be able to demonstrate competency in the basic use of computers by using computer technology in solving problems, communicating, and acquiring information. Basic computer skills may be obtained by completing a proficiency test or specific computer courses, completing courses that require use of the computer, completing the Info Game, or completing an associate degree that has computer courses as part of the degree plan.

General Education Course List

For completion of associate degree programs, the component of general education courses must constitute a minimum of 15 semester hours drawn from and include at least one course from each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural sciences/mathematics. The courses must be designed to ensure breadth of knowledge and must not be narrowly focused on those skills, techniques, and procedures peculiar to a particular occupation or profession. These 15 hours must be taken from the following list of general education courses.

Written Communications (English)

ENGL 1301	English Composition I
ENGL 1302	English Composition II

Oral Communications

SPCH 1311	Intro to Speech Communication
SPCH 1315	Fundamentals of Public Speaking
SPCH 1318	Interpersonal Communication
SPCH 1321	Business and Professional Speaking

Computational Skills (Mathematics)

MATH 1314	College Algebra
MATH 1316	Trigonometry
MATH 1324	Math for Business and Economics
MATH 1332	College Mathematics
MATH 1333	Mathematics for Measurement
MATH 1342	Elementary Statistics
MATH 1425	Business Calculus and Applications I
MATH 2318	Linear Algebra
MATH 2412	Precalculus: Functions and Graphs
MATH 2413	Calculus I
MATH 2414	Calculus II

Natural Sciences

BIOL 1309	Life on Earth
BIOL 1406	Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIOL 1407	Structure and Function of Organisms
BIOL 1408	Unity of Life
BIOL 1409	Diversity of Life
BIOL 1411	General Botany
BIOL 1413	General Zoology
BIOL 1424	Native Plants
BIOL 2106	Environmental Biology, Lab
BIOL 2206	Environmental Biology, Lecture
BIOL 2304	Human Anatomy, Lecture
BIOL 2101	Human Anatomy, Lab
BIOL 2305	Human Physiology, Lecture
BIOL 2102	Human Physiology, Lab
BIOL 2306	The Living Planet
BIOL 2420	Intro to Microbiology
BIOL 2421	Microbiology
CHEM 1405	Introduction to Chemistry
CHEM 1411	General Chemistry I
CHEM 1412	General Chemistry II
CHEM 2423	Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2425	Organic Chemistry II
ENVR 1301	Introduction to Environmental Science
ENVR 1302	Issues in Environmental Science
GEOL 1301	Natural Hazards and Disasters
GEOL 1305	Environmental Geology
GEOL 1405	Applied Environmental Geology
GEOL 1445	Introduction to Oceanography
GEOL 1403	Physical Geology
GEOL 1404	Historical Geology
PHYS 1311	Stellar Astronomy
PHYS 1312	Solar System Astronomy
PHYS 1401	General Physics I
PHYS 1402	General Physics II
PHYS 1405	Conceptual Physics I
PHYS 1407	Conceptual Physics II
PHYS 1411	Stellar Astronomy Lab
PHYS 2425	Engineering Physics I
PHYS 2426	Engineering Physics II

* Please see the Catalog Updates area for changes to this information

Humanities/Fine Arts

ARAB 1511	Arabic I
ARAB 1512	Arabic II
ARAB 2311	Arabic III
ARAB 2312	Arabic IV
ARTS 1301	Introduction to the Visual Arts
ARTS 1303	Art History I
ARTS 1304	Art History II
CHIN 1511	Chinese I
CHIN 1512	Chinese II
CHIN 2311	Chinese III
CHIN 2312	Chinese IV
COMM 1335	Intro to Radio and Television
DANC 2303	History and Appreciation of Dance
DRAM 1310	Introduction to the Theatre
DRAM 2366	Film Appreciation
ENGL 2322	British Literature I
ENGL 2323	British Literature II
ENGL 2327	American Literature I
ENGL 2328	American Literature II
ENGL 2332	World Literature I
ENGL 2333	World Literature II
ENGL 2342	Introduction to Literature I
ENGL 2343	Introduction to Literature II
FREN 1511	French I
FREN 1512	French II
FREN 2311	French III
FREN 2312	French IV
GERM 1511	German I
GERM 1512	German II
GERM 2311	German III
GERM 2312	German IV
HUMA 1301	Introduction to Humanities
JAPN 1511	Japanese I
JAPN 1512	Japanese II
JAPN 2311	Japanese III
JAPN 2312	Japanese IV
LATI 1511	Latin I
LATI 1512	Latin II
LATI 2311	Latin III
LATI 2312	Latin IV
MUSI 1301	Music Fundamentals
MUSI 1306	Music Appreciation
PHIL 1301	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2303	Logic
PHIL 2306	Ethics
RUSS 1511	Russian I
RUSS 1512	Russian II
RUSS 2311	Russian III
RUSS 2312	Russian IV
SPAN 1511	Spanish I
SPAN 1512	Spanish II
SPAN 2311	Spanish III
SPAN 2312	Spanish IV

Social and Behavioral Sciences

ANTH 2301	Physical Anthropology
ANTH 2351	Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 2302	Introduction to Archaeology
ECON 2302	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2301	Principles of Macroeconomics
GEOG 1301	Physical Geography
GEOG 1302	Cultural Geography
GOVT 2305	American Government
GOVT 2306	Texas State and Local Government
HIST 1301	U.S. History I
HIST 1302	U.S. History II
HIST 2301	Texas History
HIST 2327	Mexican-American History I
HIST 2328	Mexican-American History II
HIST 2381	U.S. History I: African-American
PSYC 2301	Introduction to Psychology
SOCI 1301	Introduction to Sociology

Core Curriculum

www.austincc.edu/acadprog/core1.htm
Texas law mandates that all state-supported colleges and universities have a core curriculum of at least 42 credits that will automatically transfer to all Texas public colleges and universities.
If a student successfully completes Austin Community College’s 42-credit core curriculum before transferring, that block of courses must be substituted for the receiving institution’s core curriculum. Student may not be required to take additional core curriculum courses unless the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved a larger core for the receiving institution. Students who transfer without completing the core curriculum receive academic credit for each of the courses they successfully completed in the ACC core curriculum.
ACC will designate core curriculum courses completed by a student on the official ACC transcript. If a student satisfies all component areas, the message “Core Curriculum Completed” will appear on the transcript.
Students should visit with an academic advisor/counselor to ensure that they take the correct courses for their ACC degree program in addition to the major for their chosen transfer college or university.
The following core curriculum course listing was in effect at the time of print. The most current listing of core curriculum courses is available on the web at www.austincc.edu/acadprog/core1.htm.

English Rhetoric/Composition
6 credit hours (code 010)

ENGL 1301	English Composition I
ENGL 1302	English Composition II

Communications
3 credit hours (code 011)

SPCH 1311	Intro to Speech Communication
SPCH 1315	Fundamentals of Public Speaking
SPCH 1318	Interpersonal Communication
SPCH 1321	Business and Professional Speaking
ARAB 1511	Arabic I
ARAB 1512	Arabic II
CHIN 1511	Chinese I
CHIN 1512	Chinese II
FREN 1511	French I
FREN 1512	French II
GERM 1511	German I
GERM 1512	German II
JAPN 1511	Japanese I
JAPN 1512	Japanese II
RUSS 1511	Russian I
RUSS 1512	Russian II
SPAN 1511	Spanish I
SPAN 1512	Spanish II

 

Mathematics
3 credit hours (code 020)

MATH 1314	College Algebra
MATH 1316	Trigonometry
MATH 1324	Math for Business and Economics
MATH 1332	College Mathematics
MATH 1333	Mathematics for Measurement
MATH 1342	Elementary Statistics
MATH 1425	Business Calculus and Applications I
MATH 2318	Linear Algebra
MATH 2412	Precalculus: Functions and Graphs
MATH 2413	Calculus I
MATH 2414	Calculus II

Natural Sciences
6 credit hours (code 030)

BIOL 1309	Life on Earth
BIOL 1406	Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIOL 1407	Structure and Function of Organisms
BIOL 1408	Unity of Life
BIOL 1409	Diversity of Life
BIOL 1411	General Botany
BIOL 1413	General Zoology
BIOL 1424	Native Plants
BIOL 2106	Environmental Biology, Lab
BIOL 2206	Environmental Biology, Lecture
BIOL 2304	Human Anatomy, Lecture
BIOL 2101	Human Anatomy, Lab
BIOL 2305	Human Physiology, Lecture
BIOL 2102	Human Physiology, Lab
BIOL 2306	The Living Planet
BIOL 2420	Intro to Microbiology
BIOL 2421	Microbiology
CHEM 1405	Introduction to Chemistry
CHEM 1411	General Chemistry I
CHEM 1412	General Chemistry II
CHEM 2423	Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2425	Organic Chemistry II
ENVR 1301	Introduction to Environmental Science
ENVR 1302	Issues in Environmental Science
GEOL 1301	Natural Hazards and Disasters
GEOL 1305	Environmental Geology
GEOL 1405	Applied Environmental Geology
GEOL 1445	Introduction to Oceanography
GEOL 1403	Physical Geology
GEOL 1404	Historical Geology
PHYS 1311	Stellar Astronomy
PHYS 1411	Stellar Astronomy, Lab
PHYS 1312	Solar System Astronomy
PHYS 1401	General Physics I
PHYS 1402	General Physics II
PHYS 1405	Conceptual Physics I
PHYS 1407	Conceptual Physics II
PHYS 2425	Engineering Physics I
PHYS 2426	Engineering Physics II

* Please see the Catalog Updates area for changes to this information

Humanities
6 credit hours (codes 040/041)

ENGL 2322	British Literature I
ENGL 2323	British Literature II
ENGL 2327	American Literature I
ENGL 2328	American Literature II
ENGL 2332	World Literature I
ENGL 2333	World Literature II
ENGL 2342	Introduction to Literature I
ENGL 2343	Introduction to Literature II
ARAB 2311	Arabic III
ARAB 2312	Arabic IV
CHIN 2311	Chinese III
CHIN 2312	Chinese IV
FREN 2311	French III
FREN 2312	French IV
GERM 2311	German III
GERM 2312	German IV
HUMA 1301	Introduction to Humanities
JAPN 2311	Japanese III
JAPN 2312	Japanese IV
LATI 1511	Latin I
LATI 1512	Latin II
LATI 2311	Latin III
LATI 2312	Latin IV
PHIL 1301	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2303	Logic
PHIL 2306	Ethics
RUSS 2311	Russian III
RUSS 2312	Russian IV
SPAN 2311	Spanish III
SPAN 2312	Spanish IV

Visual and Performing Arts
3 credit hours (code 050)

ARTS 1301	Introduction to the Visual Arts
ARTS 1303	Art History I
ARTS 1304	Art History II
COMM 1335	Intro to Radio and Television
DANC 2303	History and Appreciation of Dance
DRAM 1310	Introduction to the Theatre
DRAM 2366	Film Appreciation
MUSI 1301	Music Fundamentals
MUSI 1306	Music Appreciation

History
6 credit hours (code 060)

HIST 1301	U. S. History I
HIST 1302	U. S. History II
HIST 2301	Texas History
HIST 2327	Mexican-American History I
HIST 2328	Mexican-American History II
HIST 2381	U. S. History I: African-American

Government:
6 credit hours (code 070)

GOVT 2305	American Government
GOVT 2306	Texas State and Local Government

Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
3 credit hours (code 080)

ANTH 2301	Physical Anthropology
ANTH 2351	Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 2302	Introduction to Archaeology
ECON 2302	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2301	Principles of Macroeconomics
GEOG 1301	Physical Geography
GEOG 1302	Cultural Geography
PSYC 2301	Introduction to Psychology
SOCI 1301	Introduction to Sociology

 

Field of Study Curriculum

Field of study curriculum, mandated in Senate Bill 148 of the 75th Texas Legislature (1997), facilitates free transferability of lower-division academic courses among Texas public colleges and universities. Field of study curricula are defined by SB 148 as “a set of courses that will satisfy the lower-division requirements for a bachelor’s degree in a specific academic area at a general academic teaching institution.” The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is responsible for developing and approving academic courses that fulfill the lower-division requirements for majors that correspond to the field of study.
Students who successfully complete ACC’s field of study curriculum can transfer that block of courses to any Texas public college or university. The field of study curriculum is substituted for that institution’s lower-division requirements of the degree program for the field of study into which the students transfer. The students receive full academic credit toward the degree program of the block of courses transferred. Students who transfer without completing the ACC’s field of study curriculum receive academic credit for their courses but must complete the transfer institution’s field of study requirements.
The Coordinating Board has approved fields of study for the following disciplines: business, communication, computer science, criminal justice, early childhood education, engineering, engineering technology, grade 4-8 teacher certification, music, and nursing. ACC does not necessarily offer all the courses in each of the fields of study listed by Coordinating Board.

Business

The following set of courses has been adopted as a field of study for students seeking the Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science in Business:

ECON2301	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON2302	Principles of Macroeconomics
MATH1325	Math for Business and Social Sciences II
BCIS 1305	Business Computer Applications
SPCH 1321	Business and Professional Speaking
ACCT 2301	Principles of Financial Accounting
ACCT 2302	Principles of Managerial Accounting

Communication

In order to maintain flexibility in a rapidly changing field, a competency framework has been adopted as a field of study for students seeking a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Communication in one of four areas:

• Advertising and public relations
• Journalism and mass communication
• Radio and television broadcasting and broadcast journalism
• General communication and communication studies/ speech communication/speech and rhetorical studies/ organizational communication.

Students should choose lower-division courses that fulfill competency requirements for their chosen field or sub-area. See a current listing of courses in the state-adopted table at www.thecb.state.tx.us/ctc/ip/core11_00/index.htm.

Computer Science

The following set of courses has been adopted as a field of study for students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Note: It is recommended that students complete the math sequence, physics sequence, and computer science sequence at the same institution to reduce the likelihood of potential gaps in the curriculum.

COSC 1336 or 1436	Programming Fundamentals I 1, 2
COSC 1337 or 1437	Programming Fundamentals II 3
COSC 2336 or 2436	Programming Fundamentals III
COSC 2325 or 2425	Comp. Org. and Machine Language4
MATH 2313 or 2413	Calculus I
MATH 2314 or 2414	Calculus II
PHYS 2425	Physics I
PHYS 2426	Physics II

¹ COSC 1336/1436 and 1337/1437 are preparatory and sequential in nature; however, not all courses are required for the computer science major at all universities, but may apply to general degree requirements.
²COSC 1336/1436 is not part of the computer science major requirements at the University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Dallas, and Texas A&M University.
³ COSC 1337/1437 is not part of the computer science major requirements at the University of Texas at Austin. Preparatory courses such as COSC 1336/1436 and COSC 1337/1437 will assist students that need additional background but do not apply toward the computer science major requirements.
⁴COSC 2325/2425 is not part of the computer science major requirements at the University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M University but may be applied to general degree requirements.

Criminal Justice

The following set of courses has been adopted as a field of study for students seeking a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:

CRIJ 1301	Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRIJ 1306	Court Systems and Practices
CRIJ 1310	Fundamentals of Criminal Law
CRIJ 2313	Correctional Systems and Practices
CRIJ 2328	Police Systems and Practices

Engineering and Engineering Technology

The field of study curricula for engineering and engineering technology are designed to promote maximum transferability for students while still preserving curricular diversity for institutions. ACC students and faculty advisors should consult www.thecb.state.tx.us/ctc/ip/ core11_00/index.htm for field of study curriculum regarding their intended transfer destination.

Mexican-American Studies

The following set of courses, totaling 18 semester credit hours, has been adopted as a field of study for students seeking a bachelor’s degree in Mexican-American studies.

HUMA 1305	Introduction to Mexican-American Studies
HIST 2327	Mexican-American History I
HIST 2328	Mexican-American History II
GOVT 2311	Mexican-American Politics
ENGL 2351	Mexican-American Literature
HUMA 1311	Mexican-American Fine Arts
	Appreciation
SPAN 2312	Spanish IV

Music

The following field of study has been adopted for students seeking a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts, or other bachelor’s-level music degree. It consists of 27 to 35 lower-division semester credit hours in the following areas: ensemble, applied study, theory/aural skills, and music literature. Note: Transfer of credit in ensemble, applied study, and theory/aural skills will be on a course-by-course basis.

Area	Credit hours
Ensemble (MUEN)	4
Applied Study (MAUP)	8
Theory/Aural Skills (MUSI)	12–16
Music Literature (MUSI 1308)	3

Nursing

The following courses, totaling 28 credit hours of fully transferable and applicable lower-division academic courses, and an additional set of Workforce Education (WECM) nursing courses, make up the field of study curriculum for nursing.
Academic Courses

Chemistry (AUGM) with lab
BIOL 2304 and BIOL 2101	Human Anatomy lecture/lab
BIOL 2305 and BIOL 2102	Human Physiology lecture/lab
BIOL 2420 or BIOL 2421	Microbiology with lab
HECO 1322 or BIOL 1322	Nutrition and Diet Therapy I
PSYC 2301	General Psychology and
	Lifespan
PSYC 2314	Growth and Development
MATH 1342	Elementary Statistical Methods

Workforce Education Courses
Lower-division nursing content is offered through one of two general types of programs: Blocked or Integrated. Because of the distribution of content, it is extremely difficult to align curricula from one type of program to another. Students who desire to transfer from a program utilizing one type of program into the other type of program should be prepared to make up some content through a “bridge” course or through the repetition of some content within courses. It is recommended that a student make every effort to avoid transferring from one type of program to the other before completing the associate degree in nursing in order not to lose credit.

Distance Learning

http://dl.austincc.edu
Distance Learning provides students an opportunity to earn college credit by participating in a variety of non- classroom oriented courses. The content and transferability to four-year colleges is identical to the courses offered on campus. Students also follow the same admissions and registration procedures as on-campus students. Instead of attending on-campus classes, students participate in an orientation session, online discussions and activities, complete readings in textbooks and study guides, take periodic exams, and in some cases write papers or reports. Exams are taken at an ACC Testing Center or other designated site. Each course has an instructor for students to contact when they need assistance. Distance Learning offers the following types of courses:

• Online courses (PCM) – Require students to have an Internet connection to complete coursework. Students may use their personal computers from home, or they may use ACC computer labs. ACC uses the Blackboard course management system for most of its online courses.
• Telecourses (ITV) – Use recorded video programs that students may access on cable television or in ACC libraries and centers. Some ITV courses are available in a streamed format and may be viewed from any personal computer with Internet access. For most ITV courses, videotapes may be rented from a commercial distributor for the semester.
• Print-based courses (PRN) – Textbook-based versions of a course that offer the same course content, college credit, and transferability as the classroom-based version.
• Directed study courses (DIR) – Students spend time at a social service, health, or governmental institution or other sites as a major part of their coursework. Offered on a limited basis. DIR courses also have some meetings on campus.

Orientations

Students are required to participate in course specific orientation sessions for Distance Learning courses. The course schedule provides orientation information for the courses.

VCT

Austin Community Colleges participates in VCT – Virtual College of Texas

General Information

For general information and new Distance Learning course offerings, see the ACC Course Schedule, visit http://dl.austincc.edu or call 512.223.8026, toll-free 888.223.8026, or email dl@austincc.edu with your questions.

Correspondence Courses

Austin Community College does not offer correspondence courses. Distance Learning instead offers both technology and non-technology-based courses that enable students to work at home and take tests in an ACC Testing Center.

High School and Pre-College Programs

College Connection

www.austincc.edu/isd
The College Connection Program establishes a partnership with participating high schools to provide hands-on support to help each high school senior complete the college enrollment process. College Connection participants receive an acceptance letter to ACC at their high school graduation ceremony.

Early College Start

www.austincc.edu/ecs
The Early College Start Program allows high school students to co-enroll in college courses at ACC if they have successfully completed 10th grade at a public, private, charter, or home school. High school students can apply to ACC through the Early College Start Program by contacting their high school guidance counselor for an application and other required documents.
Early College Start students may enroll in any ACC course for which they have:

• Received permission from their parent/guardian, high school counselor, and principal
• Met all required skills and college course prerequisites
• Passed the appropriate sections on the ACC assessment or submitted acceptable scores on the ACT, SAT, or TAKS tests

Early College Start students may enroll in a maximum of two ACC courses per semester. Courses are free to in- district Early College Start students (students residing in ACC’s taxing district). Out-of-district Early College Start students are charged a fee for each course they take. ECS fees may be waived for out-of-district students who 1) participate in an ACC class taught on a high school campus; 2) document participation in the federal free or reduced lunch program; or 3) document participation in a public assistance program such as TANF or WIA. All students are responsible for purchasing any textbooks or supplies required by their instructor.
It is essential that ECS students obtain confirmation of their registration each semester either from the web or in an ACC campus Admissions and Records office.
Early College Start students are subject to all ACC requirements regarding admissions, assessment, courses, academic standards, and conduct.

Tech-Prep Program

Tech-prep is a way to start a college technical major while in high school. In a tech-prep program, students begin taking college-level technical courses in high school and continue in a community or technical college. The courses are college technical courses taught at the high school as part of an agreement between a school district and Austin Community College. Once a student enrolls in ACC and completes at least one college credit course (not Developmental Education), the student can request the credit earned while in high school (credit in escrow). The student must request this credit within 24 months of high school graduation. For more information, contact the Capital Area Tech Prep Consortium at 223.7825. ACC’s tech-prep program areas include:

• Automotive Technology
• Biotechnology
• Computer Information Technology
• Criminal Justice
• Culinary Art, Hospitality Management, and Travel and Tourism
• Electronic Technology
• Engineering Design Graphic
• Marketing
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Visual Communications
• Welding Technology

Dual Credit for Early College Start Students

Early College Start students may seek “dual credit” by completing ACC courses that also satisfy their high school graduation requirements. Students should consult their guidance counselor for a list of “dual credit” courses approved at their high school.

Learning Communities

www.austincc.edu/workforce/lc_stu
Learning communities allow students to discover diverse perspectives. Students enroll in at least two linked courses, and what students learn in one class is reinforced in the other. Examples of learning communities are “The Great American Experience,” combining government and history courses, and “Write the Right Way,” combining Writing Skills II, English Composition I, and Basic Study Skills courses. For information see www.austincc.edu/ workforce/lc_stu.

 

Instructional Computing and Technology

Instructional Computing and Technology provides technology to support classroom instruction and independent learning. Services include media viewing and listening areas, located within each ACC library, and open access computer centers on each campus. The media viewing areas provide students with up-to-date video and audio equipment to access recordings that complement classroom instruction. Distance learning students may also view materials. Media Center staff is available to assist students with locating materials and operating the equipment. The open access computer center provides students with up-to-date computer technology to complete classroom assignments and conduct educational research. The computer center is open to currently enrolled ACC students (student ID is required). Computer center staff is available to assist with basic computer use and locating online resources.

Library Services

http://library.austincc.edu
Library Services and Instructional Technology include libraries, media centers, and computer centers. Libraries offer access to the college online network of resources. Eastview, Northridge, Rio Grande, Riverside, and South Austin Campus libraries have larger general collections of reference and circulating print materials and periodicals as well as electronic resources. Media centers at these campuses have audiovisual collections, and computer centers have instructional and productivity computer software. The Eastview Campus library also has materials for the health sciences curriculum.
The Cypress Creek and Pinnacle campuses have smaller collections of general circulating and reference books, print periodicals, and media as well as computer centers and have full access to all ACC Library Services electronic resources. Resources and services vary at the evening high school sites. All print and audiovisual materials available at ACC library and media centers are listed in the online catalog at http://alicat.austincc.edu.

Hours and Locations

Call the information number (223.3084) to hear a recording of library, media center, and computer center hours. You also can pick up a Locations and Hours brochure at an ACC library or visit http://library.austincc.edu for complete information.

Reference Help

Librarians are faculty members who have professional expertise in helping students find and use information. Librarians are familiar with library assignments handed out in classes and also offer instruction in the print and electronic research process. Students can access assistance at library reference desks, by phone, by live-person chat, or via email. Reference access information is available at http:// library@austincc.edu/help/ask.htm.

Online Access

Using library workstations or your own computer off campus, you can access the online catalog, locate full-text periodical articles, search electronic reference sources, print electronic reserves, view study guides, tutorials, and recommended websites, or search the Internet. Begin at the library home page http://library.austincc.edu.
You must be a current student to access indexes and reference databases from off campus. Call campus reference desks for further assistance in remote use.

Materials

Library materials include reference resources, circulating books; electronic books; online full-text databases of periodicals and reference materials; online and print periodicals; back issues of periodicals on microfiche; local, state, and national newspapers and a wide variety of audiovisual materials such as videos, DVDs, and CDs. All media materials and the equipment to use them are available for use in the libraries. In addition, there is a reserve collection of materials, placed on reserve by instructors for specific classes. Reserves may be in print, audiovisual or electronic format. From library workstations, you can also access Blackboard, email, and the Internet.
Thousands of periodicals and newspapers are available in print or online. Many online indexes offer the full text of periodical articles that you may print, download, or send via email. Librarians can show you how to use these resources. You may check out periodical back issues at many libraries as well.

Saving, Printing, Emailing and Copying

Current ACC students may print from library workstations; however, students are encouraged to bring formatted 3.5-inch disks or jump drives to libraries and computer centers for downloading information. You may also email information from many library resources to yourself. Libraries also have photocopiers and high-speed audiotape duplicators for your use.

Material from Other Libraries

If you need material that is at another campus, you can request that it be sent to your campus through intercampus delivery. You may make a request yourself online or ask a library staff member to make the request for you. Also, ACC Library Services offers TexShare cards that allow ACC students to borrow from many other local libraries.

 

Fines

All items except reserves	25 cents/day
Two-hour reserves	$1 first hour;
	25 cents/hour thereafter
Other reserves	$1 first hour;
	$1 a day thereafter

You will be placed on student records hold if you do not return materials within four weeks from the due date or if you owe $10 or more in fines. This hold must be cleared before you can check out more materials, register for classes, receive grades, or obtain transcripts.

Access, Use, and Check-out Procedures for Libraries, Media Centers, and Computer Centers

Students need a current ACC ID to check out or renew library materials or to use computer centers. Books are loaned for two weeks. Loan periods for other materials vary and may include room-use-only restrictions.

Non-Degree Programs

Developmental Education

Courses in Developmental Education help students to succeed in college. ACC offers three types of Developmental Education courses:

• Courses of one-, two, or three semester credit hours prepare students to enter college-level courses. These courses include mathematics, reading skills, vocabulary, writing skills, spelling, speech, and English as a Second Language. Students with skills below college level— including those identified on local assessments and the THEA—should enroll in these classes before enrolling in college-level courses.
• One-hour lab classes parallel to courses in other divisions, where students work together in small tutorial groups to get additional practice and explanation. These include language and study skills labs, math labs, and writing labs. Students must be enrolled in the course that parallels the lab.
• Other developmental courses that help students succeed in their academic studies. These courses include college study skills, advanced college vocabulary, and speed- reading. Of these, advanced college reading may be transferable to other institutions.

English for Speakers of Other Languages

Academic ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) offers English classes in three skill areas: writing and grammar, reading and vocabulary, oral communication. Within each skill area, classes are offered at four levels: high beginning, low intermediate, high intermediate and advanced. Students wanting to enroll in ESOL classes must take the ESOL assessment. Call 223.3139 (RGC) or 223.4807 (NRG) for assessment information.
For ESOL program information call 223.3354 (departmental chair), 223.3349 (RGC), 223.6290 (RVS), 223.4014 or 223.4874 (NRG).
ESOL for deaf students: Some ESOL classes are taught exclusively in American Sign Language for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Call 223.6316 for information.

Human Development

Human Development courses are electives designed to provide students in all programs with the skills to maximize their success both in and out of the classroom. HUDE 0111 is a developmental level course; other human development courses are college credit courses. By drawing on the tenets of modern psychology, sociology, and learning theory, these courses assist students in achieving greater self-awareness, self-management skills; setting and accomplishing personal, educational, and career goals; improving interpersonal communication skills, and mastering effective learning and study skills. Interested students can consult with an ACC counselor for additional information and assistance.

Video Services

Video Services provides the technology to deliver Distance Learning courses and campus-to-campus instruction to students via cable outlets in the Austin area and through streaming video technology. Video Services also maintains the college’s interactive classrooms and provides technical support to end users.

Weekend College

Working students or those who prefer to take courses on weekends can complete a variety of degrees and certificates through Weekend College. Classes are held Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday, and student services are also available. Students can choose to complete a designated program of study or simply take core curriculum classes that transfer to any Texas public college or university. Weekend College students can complete a degree program within seven semesters. Certificate programs require even less time.