Semester Credit Hour (SCH) Requirements

The following are the semester credit hour (SCH) requirements for college-level awards offered at Carteret Community College:

Award TypeSemester Credit Hour Requirements
Associate Degrees

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degrees – Require the completion of at least sixty-four (64) semester credit hours (SCH), or a greater number if specified by the program of study, and take approximately two years to complete if you attend full time.  

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree

& Associate in Science (AS) Degree – Requires the completion of at least sixty (60) semester credit hours (SCH).

Associate in Arts / Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation Degree – Requires the completion of at least sixty (60) semester credit hours (SCH).

Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts Degree – Requires the completion of at least sixty (60) semester credit hours (SCH).

Associate in Engineering (AE) Degree – Requires the completion of at least sixty (60) semester credit hours (SCH).

Associate in General Education-Nursing (AGE-Nursing) Degree – Requires the completion of at least sixty (60) semester credit hours (SCH).

DiplomasRequire 36 – 48 semester credit hours (SCH) and take approximately one year to complete.
CertificatesRequire 12 – 18 semester credit hours (SCH) and can be completed in as little as one semester.

Enrollment Status

Enrollment status is based on registered credit hours that count towards the student's program of study. Classes taken outside of the student's major or audited classes will not  be included in enrollment status for financial aid purposes. Various financial aid programs may define full and part-time status differently. Please consult the financial aid office if you have questions.

Enrollment StatusCredit Hours
Full-time12 or more credit hours
Three-quarter time9 to 11 credit hours
Half-time6 to 8 credit hours
Less than half-time5 or less credit hours

PLEASE NOTE: Students who withdraw from the semester MUST use the official withdrawal process and request a refund within the established refund period. Students who register for classes but never attend and did not follow the proper withdrawal procedure will owe tuition, fees, and/or bookstore charges to the College.