6A-14.030. Postsecondary Instructional Unit Definitions and Awards in Florida College System Institutions

Florida College System institutions are authorized to provide instruction and to confer degrees, certificates, and diplomas only as prescribed herein. Any Florida College System institution degree program, certificate, or diploma program shall be offered at the standard credit hour length, established and approved by the State Board of Education. The courses within the programs identified in the subsections below shall be submitted to the Division of Accountability, Research, and Measurement in the Department of Education.

(1) Definitions. The following definitions apply to instruction in postsecondary career centers operated by school districts and Florida College System institutions.

(a) Credit. Credit is a unit of measure assigned to courses or course equivalent learning. Credit is awarded if the learning activity it represents is part of, or preparatory for, an organized and specified program leading to a postsecondary certificate or degree. Credit is a device which indicates to the learner, to educational institutions, to employers, and to others how much of the program the learner has completed. The credit awarded may be independent of where the learning occurs. If a learning activity does not meet these requirements, credit shall not be awarded. The only types of postsecondary credit authorized are:

1. College credit. College credit is the type of credit assigned by Florida College System institutions to courses or course equivalent learning that is part of an organized and specified program leading to a baccalaureate, associate degree, certificate, or Applied Technology Diploma pursuant to the stipulations in subsections (2) through (9). One (1) college credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of fifteen (15) fifty-minute periods of classroom instruction; with credits for such activities as laboratory instruction, internships, and clinical experience determined by the institution based on the proportion of direct instruction to the laboratory exercise, internship hours, or clinical practice hours.

a. Lower division college credit. Lower division college credit is assigned to college credit courses offered to freshmen and sophomores (1,000 and 2,000 level courses).

b. Upper division college credit. Upper division college credit is assigned to college credit courses offered to juniors and seniors (3,000 and 4,000 level courses).

2. Clock Hour. A clock hour is the unit assigned to courses or course equivalent learning that is part of an organized and specified program leading to an Applied Technology Diploma or a Career and Technical Certificate pursuant to subsections (7) and (10). It applies to postsecondary adult career courses as defined in Section 1004.02(25), F.S. One (1) clock hour is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of thirty (30) hours of instruction.

3. Developmental credit. Developmental credit is the type of credit assigned by Florida College System institutions to courses that provide degree seeking students who wish to enroll in college credit courses with additional academic preparation determined to be needed pursuant to Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C. One (1) developmental credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of fifteen (15) fifty-minute periods of classroom instruction.

4. Institutional credit. Institutional credit is postsecondary credit that is competency-based. Institutional credit is not guaranteed to automatically transfer.

(b) Noncredit. Noncredit is a term indicating that credit, as defined herein, is not awarded. It applies to the instructional classifications of noncredit continuing education, adult general education, citizenship, recreational, community education, and community instructional services. The unit of measure is hours of instruction.

(2) Bachelor’s degree. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to seek State Board of Education approval to provide programs of instruction consisting of upper division college credit courses to prepare for entry into employment, pursuant to Section 1007.33, F.S. The bachelor’s degree shall be awarded upon satisfactory completion of a planned program of one hundred and twenty (120) college credits, unless otherwise approved by the State Board of Education, after demonstration of the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements to include demonstration of competency in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262, F.S., and demonstration of civic literacy competency pursuant to s. 1007.25(5), F.S. The bachelor’s degree must include thirty-six (36) college credits of general education coursework.

(3) Associate in arts degree. Each Florida College System institution shall provide the program of arts or general instruction consisting of lower division college credit courses. The associate in arts degree is a transfer degree and a basis for admission to a bachelor’s degree. The associate in arts degree shall be awarded upon satisfactory completion of a planned program of sixty (60) college credits after demonstration of the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements to include demonstration of competency in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262, F.S., and demonstration of civic literacy competency pursuant to s. 1007.25(5), F.S. The associate in arts degree must include thirty-six (36) college credits of general education coursework.

(4) Specialized associate in arts transfer degree. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to seek State Board of Education approval to provide specialized associate in arts transfer degree programs pursuant to s. 1007.25, F.S. Specialized associate in arts transfer degrees are designed for Florida College System institution students who need lower-level coursework beyond the sixty (60) credits required for the general associate in arts degree for admission to a bachelor’s degree program. The specialized associate in arts transfer degree shall be awarded upon satisfactory completion of a planned program of at least sixty (60) college credits after the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements to include demonstration of competency in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262, F.S., and demonstration of civic literacy competency pursuant to s. 1007.25(5), F.S. The specialized associate in arts transfer degree must include thirty-six (36) college credits of general education coursework.

(5) Associate in science degree. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide programs of career and technical instruction consisting of lower division college credit courses to prepare for entry into employment. The associate in science degree is a transfer degree and a basis for admission to a related bachelor’s degree. The associate in science degree shall be awarded upon satisfactory completion of a planned program of instruction comprised of the standard credit hour length established, after demonstration of the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements to include demonstration of civic literacy competency pursuant to s. 1007.25(5), F.S. The standard credit hour length of all associate in science degree programs as defined in Rule 6A-6.0571, F.A.C. The associate in science degree must include a minimum of fifteen (15) college credits of general education coursework.

(6) Associate in applied science degree. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide programs of career and technical instruction consisting of lower division college credit courses to prepare for entry into employment. The associate in applied science degree shall be awarded upon satisfactory completion of a planned program of instruction comprised of the standard credit hour length established, after demonstration of the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements to include demonstration of civic literacy competency pursuant to s. 1007.25(5), F.S. The standard credit hour length of all associate in applied science degree programs as defined in Rule 6A-6.0571, F.A.C. The associate in applied science degree must include a minimum of fifteen (15) college credits of general education coursework.

(7) A Technical Certificate (College Credit Certificate). Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide programs of career and technical instruction consisting of less than sixty (60) college credits which are part of an associate in science degree or an associate in applied science degree program and prepare students for entry into employment. The standard credit hour length of all technical certificate programs as defined in Rule 6A-6.0571, F.A.C.

(8) An Applied Technology Diploma. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide programs of career and technical instruction that are part of an associate in science degree or an associate in applied science degree, that are less than sixty (60) credit hours, and leads to employment in a specific occupation. An applied technology diploma program may consist of either clock hours or college credit. The standard credit hour length of all applied technology diploma programs as defined in Rule 6A-6.0571, F.A.C.

(9) An Advanced Technical Certificate. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide programs of career and technical instruction consisting of nine (9) hours or more but less than forty-five (45) college credits of lower division and/or upper division courses. Florida College System institutions offering advanced technical certificates with upper division courses must be approved to offer baccalarueate programs containing those courses. An advanced technical certificate may be awarded to students who have already received an associate in science degree or an associate in applied science degree and are seeking an advanced specialized program of instruction to supplement their associate degree.

(10) Certificate of Professional Preparation. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide college-level professional instruction, consisting of not less than nine (9) and not more than thirty (30) college or institutional credits of courses and course equivalent modules to prepare baccalaureate degree holders for licensure, certification, credentialing, examinations, or other demonstrations of competency necessary for entry into professional occupations.

(11) Career and Technical Certificate. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide programs of career and technical instruction consisting of clock hour courses to prepare for entry into employment. Upon satisfactory completion of a planned program of instruction, after the demonstration of the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements, the career and technical certificate shall be awarded. The standard clock hour length of all career and technical certificate programs as defined in Rule 6A-6.0571, F.A.C.

(12) Continuing Workforce Education. Each Florida College System institution may provide noncredit continuing workforce education instruction tailored to individual needs and designed to improve job performance.

(13) High school diploma. Each Florida College System institution with responsibility for adult basic and adult secondary instruction, shall provide adult basic and adult secondary instruction as defined in Section 1004.02, F.S. Upon satisfactory completion of a planned high school program, after the demonstration of the attainment of predetermined and specified performance requirements, the high school diploma shall be awarded.

(14) Developmental instruction. Each Florida College System institution shall provide, according to the needs of its students, basic instruction to provide degree seeking students who wish to enroll in college credit courses with additional academic preparation determined to be needed pursuant to Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C. Satisfactory completion of such instruction shall be recognized by the award of units of measure called developmental credit.

(15) English for Academic Purposes. Each Florida College System institution is authorized to provide, according to the needs of its students, instruction that provides English Language Learners with essential language and academic preparation necessary to enroll in college credit instruction in Communications. Satisfactory completion of such instruction shall be recognized by the award of units of measure called institutional credit (0100-0400 series pursuant to the Statewide Course Numbering System EAP taxonomy) or college credit (1500-1600 series pursuant to the Statewide Course Numbering System EAP taxonomy).

(16) Lifelong learning instruction. Each Florida College System institution shall provide noncredit instructional activities to address community social and economic issues related to health and human relations, government, parenting, consumer economics, and senior citizens.

(17) Recreational and leisure time instruction. Each Florida College System institution shall provide noncredit instructional activities to develop recreational or leisure time skills.

(18) These provisions shall not prevent Florida College System institutions from conferring honorary degrees, certificates, or diplomas, in accordance with the Florida College System board of trustees policy.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1),(2)(n), (6)(c), (d), 1001.03(12), 1004.91, 1004.93, 1007.25(9) FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1001.03(12), 1004.02, 1004.91, 1004.93, 1007.25 FS. History–New 12-19-74, Formerly 6A-8.50, Amended 8-27-84, 8-29-85, Formerly 6A-14.30, Amended 5-14-91, 11-10-92, 5-2-95, 2-13-96, 12-30-99, 5-3-01, 7-20-04, 6-20-07, 3-25-13, 6-23-16, 6-20-17, 8-27-24.