New Program Offerings

Starting in spring 2015, Tarrant County College offered four new associate degrees: Associate of Arts in Kinesiology, Associate of Arts in Music, Associate of Science in Chemistry and an Associate of Science in Mathematics.

Joshua Tarbay, department chair and associate professor at the Northwest Campus, partnered with the four other Kinesiology department chairs to survey students regarding the possibility of offering an A.A. in Kinesiology. More than 500 replies were received with close to 35 percent of respondents either interested in learning more about the program or actually pursuing a degree in Kinesiology.

Since the A.A. in Kinesiology was approved, more than 100 people have enrolled in the two-year program across the District. The degree is designed to aid students who are transferring to a four-year college or university. According to Tarbay, it is “a foundation or step ladder to a more fulfilling and enriching life in the Health and Kinesiology field.” Currently, his department is seeking creative partnerships with local universities to maximize that foundation.

According to Shelli Hull, professor of chemistry at the South Campus, the new Associate of Science in Chemistry limits the choices in Math and Science core areas and electives to those specifically needed for the Chemistry degree. “Many science areas require two years of chemistry, making the choice of an A.S. in Chemistry a viable option for multiple career pathways,” Hull said. “Students with an associate degree in chemistry have science and math prerequisites for bachelor degree programs in Chemistry, STEM and medical areas.” Since several advanced degree programs in medical fields such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine require physics and two years of chemistry, Hull says the A.S. in Chemistry will meet some undergraduate prerequisites.

“The Associate of Science in Mathematics will help to meet the needs for the 21st-century workforce and learners for transfer universities,” said Natalie Johnson, professor of mathematics at the South Campus. She said there is a need for academically prepared workers to interpret data and technical skills to apply knowledge on the job. “An associate degree program in mathematics can also be a springboard for a bachelor’s degree program in actuarial science, an academic major that combines the study of business and mathematics,” said Johnson. Another advantage of offering the A.S. in Mathematics is that TCC will be able to apply for more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) educational grants.

The most recent degree to be offered at TCC is the Associate of Arts in Music, which will be available in the fall 2015 semester. According to the Northeast Campus Music Department Chair Karen Parsons, the previous field of study was out of date and did not allow students to develop enough as musicians.

“We have always had a healthy crop of music students and we wanted them to have direction and to be able to transfer successfully to a university music program,” said Parsons. “This new degree will make sure students have accomplished all of the typical music major courses for freshmen and sophomores while at TCC. When they arrive as juniors (at a four-year college or university), they will not be behind regarding the critical skill-building courses required during the first two years of any music degree.”