Courses

A program sequence is a list of courses that must be taken in a specific order each semester in order to complete a particular degree or certificate. It outlines all coursework needed to graduate. Sequences for some degrees and certificates include courses required for selective-admission programs.

View the Find Your Major or Program section of the College Catalog to access program sequences for various degrees and certificates.

The College reserves the right to revise course offerings and academic requirements as necessary. This means that program sequences — including course numbers, titles or credits — may change each academic year. Always consult with a counselor to review any changes before registering.

General education courses cover a broad body of common knowledge and skills that generate a lifelong habit of inquiry and decision-making and form a foundation for continuing education.

Every Tri-C degree program requires you to complete a set number of general education courses on topics including communication, mathematics and data analysis, natural and physical sciences, arts and humanities, and social and behavioral sciences. This requirement is guided by a mission and specific learning outcomes for each program.

In order to achieve the College’s overall general education outcomes, you must complete all general education requirements plus requirements specific to your degree program. Courses selected to fulfill a general education requirement must also be approved as part of the Ohio Transfer 36 (OT36).

You need to complete at least 36 credit hours of general education coursework for an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree and at least 15 credit hours for an applied associate degree.

The five general education categories are:

• Communication
• Mathematics and data analysis
• Arts and humanities
• Natural and physical sciences
• Social and behavioral sciences

Click the links below to view lists of OT36-approved courses by subject area. You can also view these courses in your DegreeWorks audit.

• Associate of Arts Degree: OT36-Approved General Education Courses
• Associate of Science Degree: OT36-Approved General Education Courses

Click the links below to view credit requirements by subject general education category.

• Associate of Arts Degree: OT36-Approved General Education Courses
• Associate of Science Degree: OT36-Approved General Education Courses

All Tri-C students must complete a set of general education requirements as part of their overall degree requirements. General education coursework fosters a better understanding of the world’s cultural complexity, prepares you to be a more responsible citizen and promotes a fulfilling life. These courses reflect a wide array of study and are intended to transfer easily to four-year institutions.

Yes, it’s possible to complete general education requirements at any campus.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education requires every college and university to identify a set of general education courses that represent core academic skills (communication, mathematics, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural and physical sciences). These courses make up the Ohio Transfer 36 (OT36).

The OT36 is a subset of courses that form the general education requirements for Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and bachelor's degrees at many institutions. Students pursuing applied associate degrees can choose to complete only those OT36 courses required within their program of study or continue on to complete the entire OT36.  The OT36 is not required or incorporated into the applied associate degrees.

Transfer students with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree that contains an identifiable OT36 meet the OT36 requirements of the receiving institution. Additional general education requirements may be required. The application of transfer work to general education requirements beyond those contained in the OT36 is done on a course-by-course basis. Individual courses that are part of an approved OT36 are guaranteed to transfer among public institutions of higher education on a course-by course basis.

Learn more about the OT36 and Tri-C’s approved courses here.

Transfer Assurance Guides (TAGs)
Groups of foundational courses aligned to approximately 40 different degree pathways. TAGs allow students to seamlessly transfer courses that count toward their chosen program/major at any Ohio public institution of higher education.

Career-Technical Assurance Guides (CTAGs)
Statewide agreements that ensure students who complete coursework at an Ohio public institution of secondary or postsecondary career-technical education may be awarded college credit for agreed-upon technical courses or programs.  

Military Assurance Guides (MTAGs)
College credit awarded to students with military training, experience or coursework that is recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) or a regionally accredited military institution like the Community College of the Air Force.

View Tri-C's approved TAG courses for each degree pathway or meet with a counselor for help identifying TAG-approved courses for your degree pathway.

View Tri-C's approved CTAG courses for each eligible program online or meet with a counselor for help identifying which CTAG courses you may be eligible for and how they might fit into your degree pathway.

Learn how your military training, experience or coursework might transfer to Tri-C or visit the registrar’s office to determine which MTAG courses you may be eligible for and how they might fit into your degree pathway.

TAG courses transfer to any Ohio public institution of higher education institution and apply toward specific degree pathways. Check with an advisor at your transfer school to confirm. College credit awarded through CTAG and MTAG is determined by each institution.

TAG courses are designed to apply toward bachelor's degrees in specific majors. The OT36 consists of general education courses guaranteed to transfer among all Ohio public institutions of higher education.

If you know what you want to major in but aren’t sure where you want to transfer, TAG and OT36 courses increase the likelihood that you’ll meet degree requirements at any four-year public institution in Ohio.

If you do know which four-year school you plan to attend, institutional transfer guides and pathways may provide better transfer assurance.  

Transferology shows how your Tri-C courses will transfer to most of Ohio’s public institutions of higher education (as well as a limited number of private and out-of-state institutions). You can also see how courses from other colleges and universities will transfer to Tri-C. Though Transferology displays course equivalencies, it doesn’t always show whether a course meets a specific general education or major requirement.

A lab course is 50 minutes of educational activity, normally conducted on campus, in which students conduct experiments, perfect skills and practice hands-on activities under the direction of a faculty member.

Zero-credit labs are linked to their corresponding lecture courses. Students must successfully complete both components in order to receive credit for the course. Labs with designated credit hours are separate from their corresponding lecture courses, though concurrent enrollment is highly recommended and may be required.

A lecture course is 50 minutes of formalized instruction, conducted either on or off campus, delivered via a combination of lecture, demonstration and/or application of audiovisual materials or techniques.

Labs provide opportunities for students to perfect skills and practice hands-on activities associated with a corresponding lecture course.

A capstone course allows students to:

• Apply technical, oral and written skills
• Prepare resumes and/or portfolios and develop interview skills
• Study history and trends in their chosen profession
• Discuss ethical and global issues within the profession

See Associate of Applied Business degree requirements for more information.

An internship is a partnership between students, higher education institutions and employers that integrates academic study with work or community service experience. Internships are noncredit courses that last for a specific amount of time and may provide compensation in the form of wages, stipends or scholarships.

A co-op is a hands-on learning opportunity that provides real-world experience and insight into potential career paths. Students earn one college credit for every 180 hours worked (up to three credits per semester) in addition to compensation from the employer.