4.4 Program Length

Program length is appropriate for each of the institution’s educational programs.

JUDGMENT: Compliant

STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

Southwest Texas Junior College offers the Associate of Arts in General Studies, the Associate of Science, the Associate of Arts in Teaching, and twelve Associate of Applied Science degrees. All SWTJC Associate degrees require a minimum of 60 semester credit hours for completion; degree credit hour requirements are indicated in the official catalog.

SWTJC uses no academic credit unit other than the semester credit hour to award degrees.

The table below summarizes the degree programs offered at SWTJC and the required number of semester hours for each.

Associate Degrees	Total Semester Hours
Associate of Arts	60
Associate of Science	60
Associate of Arts – Teaching	60
Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Information Technology	60
Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology	60
Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Body Repair Technology	60
Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology	60
Associate of Applied Science in Child Development	60
Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems	60
Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice	60
Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Technology	60
Associate of Applied Science in Management	60
Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology	60
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN)	60
Associate of Applied Science in Wildlife Management	60

SWTJC also offers a number of Technical Program Certificates. The College follows the requirements of the Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education (GIPWE) in determining the appropriate lengths of certificates. The GIPWE is provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and details required, comprehensive guidelines for Texas colleges to follow in developing and offering any applied science/technical/workforce program. The SWTJC Catalog provides a complete listing of technical certificates and their related Associate of Applied Science degrees.

Distance Education

Distance Learning at SWTJC was developed to deliver courses taught by qualified faculty to our large and sparsely populated 11-county service area. Distance education at SWTJC is defined as: 1) Interactive video conferencing courses provided in real time; 2) Online (internet) courses; and 3) Hybrid courses (face-to-face courses with online labs). All such distance education courses are identified with the same course rubric and number as corresponding face-to-face courses; they are differentiated only by “section” number as a distance learning course.

The number of semester hours required to earn an SWTJC certificate or degree applies irrespective of how students complete course requirements. Courses offered through Distance Education modalities utilize the same syllabi as those courses offered “face-to-face,” and have the same course requirements, learning outcomes, and number of semester credit hours awarded for successful completion. Southwest Texas Junior College does not maintain a “distance education program” that is administratively or academically independent of its “regular,” face-to-face offerings.

Evidence