Many courses offered in this division satisfy general education requirements for Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees. Many also are prerequisites for other classes.
Mathematics
Understanding fundamental mathematical concepts and their applications is essential for the majority of programs offered in post-secondary colleges and technical schools. Through these courses, you should learn problem-solving and decision-making skills that will serve as a basis for continued learning. See all math courses in the current college catalog here.
Life and Physical Science
These courses develop your understanding of the principles and laboratory procedures of life and physical sciences and teach you how to apply the empirical methods of scientific inquiry. You’ll learn how scientific discovery changes theoretical views of the world, informs our imaginations and shapes human history. See all physical science courses available in the current academic catalog here. See all biological science courses available in the current academic catalog here.
Associate of Science in Chemistry or Engineering
SFCC offers an Associate of Science in Chemistry (ASC) degree and an Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) degree. They are the only AS degree programs offered in the college’s 14-county service area. These programs provide you with the first two years of study toward bachelor’s degrees in either chemistry or engineering.
Math and Science includes all classes in these categories:
- Biology
- Introduction to Biological Sciences, Human Biology, Wildlife Conservation, Human Anatomy, Principles of Genetics, etc.
- Chemistry
- General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Elementary Organic and Biochemistry, etc.
- Earth Science
- Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Introduction to Astronomy, etc.
- Math
- Pre-Algebra, Business Math, Technical Math, Contemporary Math, Trigonometry, Calculus, etc.
- Physical Science
- College Physics, General Physics, Technical Science, Statics, etc.
Developmental Courses
Developmental courses are designed to make sure you have the skills you need to succeed in college.
All associate degrees require at least one math course and at least one writing course. Some certificate programs also require math or writing. Reading is required for students whose scores fall below a certain level. The required math and writing courses for each degree are listed in the SFCC online catalog.
What Do My Placement Scores Mean?
Your placement scores are used to place you in the level of math, reading, or writing courses that are right for your skill level.
You may take Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT to determine your placement scores. Once your scores have been determined, you may view the placement chart (Needs updated to 2020-2022 chart) to see your course placement for math and English. Your navigator will help you understand which classes you qualify for based on your scores.
Recent high school graduates or students still in high school may be eligible to utilize their unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher to multiple measure into courses. To check your eligibility, consult the Multiple Measures for Placement into College-Level Courses flowchart.
If your college experience begins with developmental classes, you will have to pay for classes that don’t count toward a degree.
For example, if you want to earn an Associate of Science in Chemistry (ASC), it requires that you take ENGL 101, CHEM 123 and MATH 130. If your scores are too low, you may first need to complete ENGL 060 with a C or better, and then ENGL 070 with a C or better before you can enroll in ENGL 101. If you are a Missouri resident, these two additional classes, plus textbooks, will cost nearly $1,000 and could take two extra semesters before you reach your goal of earning an ASC. The same is true for required math and science classes.
