General Program Information

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Programs of Study

Northeast State Community College offers university parallel or transfer degree programs designed to meet the needs of students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions to pursue a baccalaureate degree. The College also offers technical degree and academic/technical certificate programs designed to prepare the student for entry into the workforce upon completion of the program. The degree and certificate programs at Northeast State Community College are listed in the Curriculum Guides section of this catalog.

Students who intend to earn a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree at a four-year college or university may complete the first two years at Northeast State by enrolling in the associate of arts or associate of science degree programs. The administration, faculty, and staff at Northeast State work closely with the students and neighboring colleges and universities to facilitate transfer. Course-by-course equivalency tables and articulation agreements with some four-year colleges and universities have been developed to ease transfer and assist the student and his/her advisor with academic program development.

Every TBR institution incorporates the 41 semester hours general education core into its degree program requirements and accepts all courses designated as meeting these requirements at other TBR institutions. By ensuring the transferability of courses fulfilling lower division general education requirements, TBR has eliminated unnecessary repetition of these courses by students transferring to institutions within the TBR System. Students planning to receive a bachelor of arts degree must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language as prescribed in the institutional degree requirements.

University parallel programs (AA and AS degree programs) are those designed for transfer into a baccalaureate program at a four-year college or university. Students may choose to declare a major, or emphasis, in the university parallel programs, or they may choose a general transfer degree. Northeast State faculty and staff work closely with other regional and TBR institutions to facilitate transfer through articulation agreements or transfer equivalency tables.

Articulation means that Northeast State has an agreement with a four-year college or university for a specific program(s) which is (are) offered at Northeast State and that meet the receiving institution’s requirements. The receiving institution has agreed to accept the student as having completed the first two years of a four-year program. Transfer equivalency tables refer to a listing of Northeast State courses accepted by a four-year college or university as equivalent. The receiving institutions acknowledge that they will accept Northeast State courses in transfer. Articulation agreements and transfer equivalencies vary from institution to institution; therefore, it is essential for students to refer to the program requirements in the senior institution’s catalog and seek advice from their academic advisors or from the Student Success Center staff concerning transfer.

A joint decision has been made by the UT system and the Tennessee Board of Regents to change the name of “Universal Transfer Path” to “Tennessee Transfer Path” (TTP). At the quarterly meeting of the TBR President’s Council, the presidents voted to approve the final group of Tennessee Transfer Pathways - TTPs (originally referred to as Universal Transfer Pathways - UTPs). This action by the presidents completes the process of developing paths for seamless transfer of community college curricula to university majors as mandated in the Complete College Tennessee Act.

TICUA (Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association) engages Tennessee’s private colleges and universities to work collaboratively in areas of public policy, cost containment, and professional development to better serve the state and its citizens. The association counts among its membership each independent, non-profit, regionally accredited college and university in Tennessee with a traditional arts and science curriculum. To learn more about private higher education in Tennessee, click here. In addition, there are several non-profit, regionally accredited members that specialize in such fields as medicine, dentistry, optometry, and fine arts.

Additionally, students may link to any school in the Tennessee Board of Regents System from this site – www.tbr.edu/schools/default.aspx.

The divisions of Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Science provide university parallel programs designed to transfer to senior institutions and general education courses required in selected technical education academic programs. The divisions of Mathematics and Science provide instruction in mathematics, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physical science, physics, pre-engineering, and health. The divisions of Humanities and Behavioral and Social Sciences provide instruction in criminal justice, education, English, foreign languages, geography, history, humanities, mass communications, physical education, social sciences, speech, and theatre. Courses in these academic disciplines are designed to offer students a common set of learning experiences which enhance their ability to function effectively in an increasingly complex society.

Pre-Professional Programs curricula are designed to satisfy minimum requirements for admission to senior institutions offering health professions, engineering, and teacher education programs. Northeast State prepares students to enter professional programs in cardiopulmonary, chiropractic, dental hygiene, medical technology, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, radiography, engineering, and various teacher education concentrations. Because admissions standards vary from institution to institution, students should see an advisor and contact the school to which they intend to transfer for additional information. Completing an associate of science degree in a pre-professional program does not guarantee admission into a professional degree program at a senior institution.  

Programs in Civil, Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering have been approved at the state level for transfer to any TBR or UT System School of Engineering. Academic programs in other engineering fields are designed to transfer to Tennessee Technological University; this includes programs in chemical engineering, industrial and systems engineering,  computer engineering, and industrial technology.  Students planning to transfer to other universities should see an advisor and contact the school to which they intend to transfer to design an optimal course of study. Engineering programs assume students have adequate preparation in mathematics to begin calculus. Students who have not completed pre-calculus courses including trigonometry and advanced algebra will need these course(s) in addition to those required for the program.

Academic programs in pre-health professions are designed for transfer to institutions offering professional programs in chiropractic, dental hygiene, medical technology, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and physical therapy. Students planning to transfer to a college or university to continue their education in one of these programs should consult an advisor and contact the school to which they intend to transfer.

Academic programs in teacher education are designed to transfer to East Tennessee State University, which offers programs in Special Education K-12, K-6 Education, Early Childhood Pre-K-3, Physical Education K-12, and Secondary Education. Students planning to transfer to other colleges and universities should consult an advisor and contact the school to which they intend to transfer for specific requirements.

The associate of applied science programs are for individuals who desire to enter a specialized occupational career immediately after graduation. These programs are not designed for transfer to a baccalaureate degree program. However, selected Northeast State Community College associate of applied science degree programs are accepted by some senior colleges and universities.

Associate of Applied Science Degree Requirements

According to Tennessee Board of Regents policy, associate of applied science degree programs require a minimum of 60 semester college-level credit hours. Credit hours earned in learning support courses are institutional credit and are not applicable to credit hours required for a certificate, associate, or baccalaureate degree. Each student studying for an associate of applied science degree must complete a minimum of 15-16 semester credit hours of general education and a minimum of 44-46 semester credit hours in the technical specialty. Components of the basic core of general education in associate of applied science degree programs consist of a minimum of one course in the following areas*.

*Consult the Approved Courses for General Education section of this catalog for a list of approved courses.

Transferability of the Associate of Applied Science Degree

The associate of applied science degree is intended to prepare a person for employment in a specific field rather than for transfer to a four-year college or university. However, many institutions do accept all or part of the course work taken at Northeast State and apply those courses toward the baccalaureate degree.

Students interested in such a transfer should contact their Northeast State advisor and the appropriate department at the transfer institution.

Academic/Technical certificate programs are designed to prepare individuals to enter a specialized occupational career area immediately after graduation. Each program contains courses specific and relevant to the career area. Credit for successful completion of courses in a certificate program may be applied towards an associate of applied science degree program.

Academic/Technical Certificate Program Requirements

Academic/technical certificate programs require the successful completion of courses in each curriculum. Individual assessment may result in the scheduling of additional courses to overcome deficiencies in English, mathematics, and reading. Credit hours earned in learning support courses are not applicable to credit hours required in an academic/technical certificate program. Certificate programs at Northeast State are listed in the Curriculum Guides section of this catalog, and include the following:

Advanced Technologies

• Auto Body Service Technology
• Automotive Service
• Chemical Process Operations
• Combination Welding
• Computer-Aided Drafting
• Construction-Aided Drafting
• Construction Electricity
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
• Industrial Operations
• Machine Tool Operations

Behavioral and Social Sciences

• Early Childhood Development

Business Technologies

• Accounting Technology
• Entertainment Technology - Sound and Lighting
• Entrepreneurship
• Office Technology

Health-Related Professions

• Dental Assisting
• EMT – Paramedic

Internet Courses

Northeast State’s online courses are different from the Regent’s Online Degree Program courses in that the classes meet at selected times in a synchronous format, generally on the main campus four to six times throughout the semester for lecture and testing. Some online courses may have a weekly lab associated with them. To complete all requirements for online courses, students must be able to access the Internet through the College’s facilities or secure access on their own. More detailed information about Northeast State’s online courses is available on the Evening and Distance Education web page at www.NortheastState.edu/online.

Regents Online Degree Program (RODP)

Northeast State and the Tennessee Board of Regents colleges, universities, and technical centers have joined to offer the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP). The Regents Online courses are designed around a typical semester in interactive, asynchronous (anytime, anywhere) format. These courses contain the same content and rigor as standard on-campus courses. The RODP program also offers online student services such as advising, library services, and student support services. Technical support for accessing course lessons and assignments is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Instructors may require students to take proctored mid-term and/or final exams. Regents courses are entirely online and transferable among all the participating institutions. For more information about RODP courses, please refer to the Northeast State Web page at www.NortheastState.edu and access the link to Evening/Distance Education or contact an advisor at 423.323.0214.

Northeast State offers the following programs in an asynchronous  format (students will not meet with instructors) as part of the Regents Online Degree Program

Online Certificate

• Web Page Authoring

Northeast State Internet Courses

Northeast State’s Evening and Distance Education web page includes Internet courses that offer students the opportunity to complete all or part of their course work via the Internet. Students may earn 41 credit hours of general education core for transfer programs or earn a specific degree or certificate.

Online Associate Degree Program Options

Online Certificate Programs