2024-2025 Course Catalog

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree (0001)

The Associate in Arts (AA) degree is designed to provide two academic years of college study for transfer to a four-year university or upper-division college toward a Bachelor of Arts degree. The AA is comprised of two main areas, general education requirements (39-43 credit hours) and electives until the student meets the 60-credit hour threshold. Many students choose courses from an area of concentration that interests them, generally in the areas of English, history, humanities, psychology, physical education or social science.

It is strongly recommended that students consult with their assigned Success Coach at Richland and with an academic advisor at their transfer institution. While not part of the Core Curriculum, foreign language competency may be required for Bachelor of Arts degrees.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Total Credit Hours: 60 credit hours in courses numbered 100 and above
  2. Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00 (‘C’) or better for all work applicable toward the degree that was completed at Richland
  3. IAI Non-Western or Diversity Requirement: Complete a course from either the Humanities & Fine Arts or Social & Behavioral Sciences groups
  4. Residency: 15 credit hours or more at Richland Community College

Curriculum Requirements

Communications

Number of Courses Required: 3, Number of Credit Hours Required: 9.00. All courses required. ‘C’ or better required in both ENGL 101 and ENGL 102

ENGL 101Composition 1

3.0

Or

ENGL 110Professional & Technical Writing

3.0

ENGL 102Composition 2

3.0

COMM 101Public Speaking

3.0

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Number of Courses Required: 3, Number of Categories to Be Completed: 2, Number of Credit Hours Required: 9.00

Note: Courses that meet the non-western/diversity requirement include AFAM 100, ANTHR 101, ANTHR 110, SOCIO 225

African American Studies

AFAM 100Intro to African American Studies

3.0

Anthropology

ANTHR 101Introduction to Anthropology

3.0

ANTHR 110Intro to Cultural Anthropology

3.0

Economics

ECON 231Macroeconomics

3.0

ECON 232Microeconomics

3.0

History

HIST 101United States to 1877

4.0

HIST 102United States since 1877

4.0

Political Science

POL S 100People & Politics

3.0

POL S 110American National Government

3.0

POL S 120Pol in States and Communities

3.0

Psychology

PSYCH 110Introduction to Psychology

3.0

PSYCH 145Human Growth & Development

3.0

PSYCH 150Child Psychology

3.0

PSYCH 210Social Psychology

3.0

Sociology

SOCIO 110Introduction to Sociology

3.0

SOCIO 150Social Problems

3.0

SOCIO 200Marriage and the Family

3.0

SOCIO 225Race, Class & Gender in the United States

3.0

Humanities and Fine Arts

Number of Courses Required: 3, Number of Categories to be Completed: 2, Number of Credit Hours Required: 9.00

Note: Courses that meet the non-western/diversity requirement include AFAM 103, AFAM 104, AFAM 120, AFAM 140, ENGL 160, ENGL 280, HIST 201, HIST 202, HIST 270, HUMAN 106, MUSIC 180, PHIL 210, PHIL 215, SIGN 105

Fine Arts

AFAM 103African-American Experience through the Arts

3.0

AFAM 120African American Experience

3.0

AFAM 140African American Women

3.0

ART 100Art Appreciation

3.0

ART 171Primitive to Medieval Art

3.0

ART 172Renaissance to Rococo Art

3.0

ART 173Neo-Classical Art to the Present

3.0

ENGL 140Introduction to Film Art

3.0

ENGL 240Film and Literature

3.0

ENGL 241Film History

3.0

HUMAN 104Introduction to Latin American Culture and Civilization

3.0

HUMAN 106Cultures of Islamic Middle East

3.0

MUSIC 100Music Appreciation

3.0

MUSIC 180Non-Western Music

3.0

THTRE 150Theatre Appreciation

3.0

THTRE 210Theatre History

3.0

THTRE 230Play Analysis for Production

3.0

Humanities

AFAM 103African-American Experience through the Arts

3.0

AFAM 104African-American Experience Through Literature

3.0

AFAM 120African American Experience

3.0

AFAM 140African American Women

3.0

ENGL 115Introduction to Literature

3.0

ENGL 124Introduction to Fiction

3.0

ENGL 126Introduction to Poetry

3.0

ENGL 160Literature and Gender

3.0

ENGL 162Children's Literature

3.0

ENGL 201American Literature to 1900

3.0

ENGL 202American Literature in 20th Century

3.0

ENGL 240Film and Literature

3.0

ENGL 251English Literature to 1800

3.0

ENGL 252English Literature 19th-20th Century

3.0

ENGL 253Introduction to Shakespeare

3.0

ENGL 280Non-Western Literature

3.0

HIST 111European Civ to Reformation

4.0

HIST 112European Civ: The Modern Era

4.0

HIST 201Or & Dev of Imp China & Japan

4.0

HIST 202Modern East Asia

4.0

HIST 270History of Non-Western Civilization: China

4.0

HIST 271History of Japan

4.0

HUMAN 104Introduction to Latin American Culture and Civilization

3.0

HUMAN 106Cultures of Islamic Middle East

3.0

HUMAN 112Leadership Development through the Humanities

3.0

PHIL 100Critical Thinking

3.0

PHIL 110Introduction to Philosophy

3.0

PHIL 120Introduction to Ethics

3.0

PHIL 210Introduction to World Religions

3.0

PHIL 215Asian Philosophy

3.0

PHIL 230Philosophy of Religion

3.0

SIGN 105Deaf Culture

3.0

SIGN 202American Sign Language 4

4.0

SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish 2

4.0

THTRE 230Play Analysis for Production

3.0

Life and Physical Science

Number of Courses Required: 2, Number of Categories to be Completed: 2, Number of Credit Hours Required: 7.00

One course must be a laboratory course. One course from life science and physical science required.

Life Science

BIOL 101Concepts of Biology 1

4.0

BIOL 106Issues in Human Biology

3.0

BIOL 210Environmental Biology

4.0

Physical Science

ASTRO 105Introduction to Astronomy

4.0

CHEM 100Concepts of Chemistry

4.0

CHEM 106Chemistry in Everyday Life

4.0

CHEM 131General Chemistry 1

4.0

EASCI 210Physical Geography

4.0

EASCI 220Intro to Physical Geology

4.0

EASCI 230Intro to Meteorology

4.0

PHYS 100Physics of the Modern World

4.0

PHYS 101Introduction to Physics 1

4.0

PHYS 151Mechanics and Wave Motion

4.0

Math

Number of Courses Required: 1, Number of Credit Hours Required: 3.00

MATH 110Concepts of Mathematics

4.0

MATH 112Math for Elem Sch Teaching 2

4.0

MATH 113Intro to Applied Statistics

4.0

MATH 121Calculus & Analytic Geometry 1

5.0

MATH 122Calculus & Analytic Geometry 2

4.0

MATH 160Finite Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences

4.0

MATH 171Concepts of Statistics

4.0

MATH 190Calculus for Business & Social Science

4.0

MATH 221Calculus & Analytic Geometry 3

4.0

Area of Concentration/Electives

Hours vary. Students must take transfer courses until they meet the total credit hour threshold (60 credit hours). Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree with a major in one of the areas listed are offered the following suggestions regarding courses to be included during their first two years of study. These suggestions are designed for students who have not yet selected a four-year college. In all cases, any student who has chosen a transfer college or university should consult that institution’s Catalog or transfer handbook in planning a program.

Accounting

ACCT 101Financial Accounting

4.0

ACCT 102Managerial Accounting Fundamentals

4.0

ECON 231Macroeconomics

3.0

ECON 232Microeconomics

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: MATH 160, MATH 171, MATH 190, CIS 110

Agriculture

AGRIC 106Animal Science

4.0

AGRIC 112Computer Skills for Agriculture

3.0

AGRIC 130Crop Science

4.0

AGRIC 155Intro to Agricultural Education

3.0

AGRIC 210Soil Science

4.0

AGRIC 232Agricultural Economics

3.0

HORT 100Horticulture Science

3.0

African-American Studies

AFAM 100Intro to African American Studies

3.0

AFAM 103African-American Experience through the Arts

3.0

AFAM 104African-American Experience Through Literature

3.0

AFAM 120African American Experience

3.0

AFAM 140African American Women

3.0

American Sign Language

SIGN 101American Sign Language 1

4.0

SIGN 102American Sign Language 2

4.0

SIGN 105Deaf Culture

3.0

SIGN 201American Sign Language 3

4.0

SIGN 202American Sign Language 4

4.0

Other Suggested Courses: ED 220, PSYCH 280, SOCIO 150, SOCIO 225

Anthropology

ANTHR 101Introduction to Anthropology

3.0

ANTHR 110Intro to Cultural Anthropology

3.0

Art

ART 101Introduction to Drawing 1

3.0

ART 102Introduction to Drawing 2

3.0

ART 111Design 1

3.0

ART 112Design 2

3.0

Business

ACCT 101Financial Accounting

4.0

ACCT 102Managerial Accounting Fundamentals

4.0

BUS 231Business Law Principles

3.0

ECON 231Macroeconomics

3.0

ECON 232Microeconomics

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: CS 105, CIS 110, MATH 116, MATH 160, MATH 171, MATH 190, Psychology Course

Business – International

ACCT 101Financial Accounting

4.0

ACCT 102Managerial Accounting Fundamentals

4.0

ECON 231Macroeconomics

3.0

ECON 232Microeconomics

3.0

HIST 112European Civ: The Modern Era

4.0

HIST 202Modern East Asia

4.0

CIS 110Computer Business Applications

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: MATH 160, MATH 171, MATH 190

Communication

COMM 120Business & Professional Speaking

3.0

COMM 130Interpersonal Communications

3.0

COMM 240Intercultural Communications

3.0

COMM 250Argumentation and Debate

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: PHIL 100, PHIL 120, POL S 100

Economics

ECON 231Macroeconomics

3.0

ECON 232Microeconomics

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: MATH 160, MATH 171, MATH 190

English

ENGL 115Introduction to Literature

3.0

ENGL 124Introduction to Fiction

3.0

ENGL 126Introduction to Poetry

3.0

ENGL 140Introduction to Film Art

3.0

ENGL 160Literature and Gender

3.0

ENGL 162Children's Literature

3.0

ENGL 201American Literature to 1900

3.0

ENGL 202American Literature in 20th Century

3.0

ENGL 240Film and Literature

3.0

ENGL 241Film History

3.0

ENGL 251English Literature to 1800

3.0

ENGL 252English Literature 19th-20th Century

3.0

ENGL 253Introduction to Shakespeare

3.0

ENGL 280Non-Western Literature

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: economics, foreign language, history, or political science

Foreign Language

Two years of study in the chosen language

Other Suggested Courses: one sequence in history, and literature and humanities related to the foreign language

History

HIST 101United States to 1877

4.0

HIST 102United States since 1877

4.0

And either

HIST 111European Civ to Reformation

4.0

HIST 112European Civ: The Modern Era

4.0

HIST 201Or & Dev of Imp China & Japan

4.0

HIST 202Modern East Asia

4.0

Other suggested courses: courses in economics, foreign language, history, literature, or political science

Media

MEDIA 110Introduction to Mass Media

3.0

MEDIA 130Broadcasting

3.0

MEDIA 221Introduction to Radio Production

3.0

Music

MUSIC 180Non-Western Music

3.0

Philosophy

PHIL 100Critical Thinking

3.0

PHIL 110Introduction to Philosophy

3.0

PHIL 120Introduction to Ethics

3.0

PHIL 210Introduction to World Religions

3.0

PHIL 215Asian Philosophy

3.0

PHIL 230Philosophy of Religion

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: humanities and/or history courses

Political Science/Pre-Law

POL S 100People & Politics

3.0

POL S 110American National Government

3.0

POL S 120Pol in States and Communities

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: ECON 231, ECON 232, HIST 101, HIST 102, PHIL 110

Psychology

PSYCH 110Introduction to Psychology

3.0

Two or More from the Following: PSYCH 145, PSYCH 150, PSYCH 200, PSYCH 210, PSYCH 250, PSYCH 260, PSYCH 280; Other Suggested Courses: MATH 160, MATH 171, MATH 190, courses in social and behavioral sciences

Sociology

SOCIO 110Introduction to Sociology

3.0

Three or More from the Following: SOCIO 125, SOCIO 130, SOCIO 135, SOCIO 141, SOCIO 150, SOCIO 200; Other Suggested Courses: MATH 171

Teacher Education

To teach in Illinois public schools, teachers must be certified by the State of Illinois. To transfer into an approved baccalaureate program as a junior in early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education, students must complete a minimum of 60 semester credits (up to a maximum of 64 semester credits) as well as required classroom field experiences. Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree with electives in Education coursework prior to transfer. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required.

Students planning to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a degree from a college of arts and sciences should be alerted to the probable need to complete a foreign language and should complete their foreign language requirement before transfer. Additional coursework may be required by the transfer institution.

Early Childhood Education

ENGL 101Composition 1

3.0

COMM 101Public Speaking

3.0

PSYCH 110Introduction to Psychology

3.0

PSYCH 150Child Psychology

3.0

Fine Arts Course

Math Course

Other Suggested Courses: ED 105, ED 220

Elementary Education

ED 105Using Technology in the Classroom

3.0

ED 200Educational Psychology

3.0

ED 205Foundations of Education

3.0

ED 220Exceptional Child

3.0

MATH 112Math for Elem Sch Teaching 2

4.0

PSYCH 150Child Psychology

3.0

SOCIO 200Marriage and the Family

3.0

Literature and Non-Western History Elective

Other Suggested Courses: ED 107, ED 108, ED 109

Note: Some transfer institutions may require a foreign language course - students should complete up to nine sophomore-level semester credits in one academic discipline (i.e., social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, or English)

Secondary Education

ED 105Using Technology in the Classroom

3.0

ED 200Educational Psychology

3.0

ED 205Foundations of Education

3.0

ED 220Exceptional Child

3.0

POL S 110American National Government

3.0

PSYCH 145Human Growth & Development

3.0

SOCIO 200Marriage and the Family

3.0

Literature and Non-Western History Elective

Note: Some transfer institutions may require a foreign language course - students should complete up to nine sophomore-level semester credits in one academic discipline (i.e., social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, or English)

Theatre

THTRE 160Theatre Production

1.0-3.0

THTRE 170Introduction to Acting

3.0

THTRE 180Stagecraft 1

3.0

THTRE 210Theatre History

3.0

THTRE 230Play Analysis for Production

3.0

Other Suggested Courses: THTRE 150, THTRE 170, THTRE 181, THTRE 220

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