Associate degree in science added to curriculum

Orange Coast College will begin awarding associate degrees in science next year.

The new degree program has been authorized by the college’s curriculum committee, and by the board of trustees of the Coast Community College District. Approval was granted last week by the California Community College chancellor’s office.

OCC has been awarding associate arts degrees since 1948. The college also grants certificates of achievement to students who successfully complete required courses in a variety of certificate programs, and certificates of completion to students who complete specially designed or intensive learning activities.

“This new A.S. degree program greatly benefits our students vis-Ã -vis employers,” says Kevin Ballinger, OCC’s dean of career education. “Employers, for years, have encouraged us to offer associate degrees that are tied directly to occupational fields. Frankly, they see a more direct link between career fields and an A.S. degree than an A.A. degree.”

Both degrees require that a student complete 60 units with a grade point average of at least 2.0. A minimum of 18 units must be accomplished in a student’s major, and at least 18 units are required to be completed within a broad spectrum of general education courses.

Associate in science degrees will be awarded for the first time at OCC’s 59th commencement in May of 2007. They will go to students who complete one of the college’s career certificates or a science discipline major.

The degrees will be awarded in the following disciplines: architecture, biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, mathematics, natural sciences, ornamental horticulture and physics.

Associate in science degrees will be available in the following OCC career programs: accounting; airline travel careers; architectural design; architectural drafting and design; airframe; power plant; airframe and power plant; avionics; echocardiography and vascular ultrasound; business application development; computer programming; basic construction practices; residential construction development; master construction specialist; residential construction professional; culinary arts; advanced culinary arts; baking and pastry; culinology; registered dental assisting; diagnostic medical sonography; dietetic technician; computer aided design/drafting; electro-mechanical design/drafting; mechanical design/ drafting; early childhood education; infant and toddler teacher; preschool teacher; early primary classroom aide; early intervention aide; early childhood administration; teacher/aide.

Also: electronics engineering technician; design; production/product development; apparel construction; fashion merchandising; health fitness instructor/personal trainer; restaurant management; child nutrition program management; dietetic technician-management healthcare; hvac technology; room operations specialist; interior design assistant; machinist; cnc machine operator; cnc machine programmer; tooling; management and retail studies; retail management; international business; marketing; cma eligible program; neurodiagnostic technology; community nutrition assistant; nutrition education; ornamental horticulture; polysomnography; neurodiagnostic technology option; respiratory care option; radiologic technology; broker; respiratory care; speech language pathology assistant; welding.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION PARTY SET

OCC will host a publication party on Thursday evening, May 4, in celebration of the release of Orange Coast Review, the college’s journal of literature and art. The journal is being published for the second consecutive year.

The party will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Arts Center. Admission is free. The event will include a buffet meal, live music by students, an art gallery exhibit, readings and book signings.

Food will be served on tableware created by OCC associate professor of fine arts and ceramics, Kevin Myers, and his students.

This year’s Orange Coast Review includes poetry, fiction, photography, fine art, digital media art and illustrations contributed by OCC students, faculty members and published writers and artists. The journal will be distributed free of charge to students attending the publication event, and will be sold to nonstudents for $7.

“We’re thrilled with this year’s publication,” says OCC English instructor Davi Loren, the journal’s advisor and managing editor. “This publication goes beyond the typical literary journal. It presents a convergence of the arts. There’s a rich interplay on the journal’s pages between words and images.”

Forty-one writers and artists contributed to the 126-page journal, along with an editorial staff of 10, Loren adds.

“Three-quarters of the work in the journal was executed by Orange Coast College students. Standards were high. Our goal is to see to it that our writing and art students have their work showcased, and that they become inspired by really good writing and art.

“We also want local citizens to see that they can come to our campus and find a community of writers and artist ? a community that will help them to explore their own talents, and to grow.”

Orange Coast Review will be available in OCC’s student bookstore after the party.