Associate in Engineering (A.E.)

Curriculum Description

The Associate in Engineering (AE) degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit (SHC) of courses. Within the degree, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communications, fundamental mathematical skills, and basic computer use. The degree plan includes required general education and prerequisite courses that are acceptable to all state funded Bachelor of Engineering programs. Students who follow the degree progression plan will meet the entrance requirements at all of the North Carolina public Bachelor of Science Engineering programs. Associate in Engineering graduates may then apply to any of these programs without taking additional and sometimes duplicative courses. Admission to Engineering programs is highly competitive and admission is not guaranteed.To be eligible for transfer of credits under the AE to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Articulation Agreement, community college graduates must obtain a grade of “C” or better in each course and an overall GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Comprehensive Articulation Agreement:

The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) is a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between N.C. community colleges and N.C. public universities. Its objective is the smooth transfer of students.

Transferability of Courses:

A Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between North Carolina Community College System and the 16 institutions of the University of North Carolina contains the following components: (See advisors in the Advising Center for additional information).

Students who complete the A.E. degree at a college within the North Carolina Community College System are assured admission to one of the 16 universities within the UNC system and will transfer as juniors. (Note: This agreement does not guarantee acceptance at the student’s first choice institution.)
Students who complete the A.E. degree, with grades of C or higher in all courses and an overall GPA of at least 2.5, prior to transfer to a UNC institution, will have satisfied the UNC institution’s lower-division requirements in general education.

*Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreements (ICAA) allow for transfer to a limited group of private colleges.

Students who transfer to private colleges that are not included in the I.C.A.A. or to public universities outside of North Carolina will have their transcripts evaluated in accordance with the policies of the university to which they are transferring. The final decision on transferability rests with the transfer institution.

What college can I transfer to with an Associate of Engineering Degree?

Public:

Any of the 16 University of North Carolina institutions

Private, including:

Gardner-Webb University
Limestone College
Montreat College
Lenoir-Rhyne College

Graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the Engineering field and potential careers.
Demonstrate logic, quantitative and technology skills in the analysis of problems and generation of potential solutions.
Communicate effectively through writing, reading, speaking, listening through the demonstration of information literacy.
Demonstrate positive interpersonal skills through cooperative learning and group interaction.
Demonstrate an awareness of and understanding of diverse culture and historical perspective.
Transfer successfully the core into a Bachelor’s Degree program at any state university in North Carolina to which they are accepted, as well as most other universities and colleges in the United States. Further, students that go beyond the transfer general education component and complete the AE degree should be able to transfer as a junior (3rd year) level student.