Gadsden State University: Programs and Admission Guide

Gadsden State University offers a wide array of programs and opportunities for students seeking associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year institutions. With a focus on both academic and technical fields, Gadsden State aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful careers or further education. This guide provides an overview of the programs available, the admission process, and other essential information for prospective students.

Academic Programs

Gadsden State provides a diverse range of academic programs, catering to various interests and career goals. These programs are designed to provide a solid foundation for students planning to transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce directly.

General Studies

Gadsden State students can earn a degree in General Studies with various focus options such as History, Religion, or Psychology. These programs are designed to provide a broad educational foundation while allowing students to specialize in an area of interest.

History, Social and Behavioral Sciences

History, Social or Behavioral Science courses are required for associate degrees, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of society and human behavior.

Philosophy and Political Science

Philosophy, the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, is offered alongside Political Science courses, which explore systems of government and political activity. There are four Political Science courses available for students pursuing an associate degree or transferring to a four-year university.

Read also: Tuition Costs at Gadsden

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture of everyday life. Students can earn an Associate in Science degree with a focus in Sociology.

Natural Sciences

Geography is one of several natural science courses that can be taken as a requirement for an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degrees.

Home Economics

Home Economics courses can be taken as pre-professional or pre-major electives for those who are working toward an associate degree or plan to transfer to a four-year university.

Technical and Applied Science Programs

For students interested in more hands-on training and immediate career entry, Gadsden State offers a variety of technical and applied science programs.

Child Development

The Child Development Program is designed for those who have a desire to work with children infancy through adolescence. The program will give students the knowledge they need to understand and teach young children at a day care center or equip them with the foundation needed to continue their education at a four-year university. Students can earn an Associate in Applied Science degree that requires 66 hours of courses while a short-term certificate is available and requires 27 hours. The A.A.S. for Child development at Gadsden State Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org.

Human Services

An Associate in Applied Science in Human Services is available for those seeking employment or to further their education to become a social worker, substance abuse counselor, case manager, community outreach worker, probation officer and more.

CREATE Program

Gadsden State is offering CREATE students the opportunity to complete short term certificates in the fields of Construction Technology, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, Welding, and Electrical Technology! Technical programs are taught on multiple campuses.

Admission Process

Gadsden State offers “open admissions,” meaning that all students have to do is finish high school or obtain their GED to enroll.

Application

Visit GadsdenState.edu/Apply to begin the application process. Go to the application portal in Step 1 and create a new user account. Follow the steps to complete the online application. Applying to GSCC is FREE! On the admissions checklist page review Steps 2-5 and complete any that are applicable to you.

Transcripts and Transient Letters

Transient students are not required to submit transcripts, but must request a transient letter from the college they are currently attending. The transient letter must list classes that the college approves for them to take at Gadsden State.

Read also: UW-Madison Tuition Requirements

ACT Scores

Gadsden State has open admissions, and ACT scores are only used for placement in math and English classes. For more information on which math and English classes you are eligible for, reach out to Enrollment Services or your faculty advisor.

Residency

Residency status must be determined upon admission to the college in accordance with the Alabama Community College System and the Code of Alabama Section 16-64. Students who reside outside of Alabama in a state and county within fifty (50) miles of a Gadsden State Community College campus, provided, however, that the campus must have been in existence and operating as of October 1, 2008, may be eligible for in-state tuition. Students who are not eligible for in-state tuition based on the above requirements may still qualify for in-state tuition. These students may petition for in-state residency by submitting supporting documentation certifying they have more substantial connections in Alabama than any other state. The petition process must be complete by the end of each full term add/drop period for the residency status and tuition rate change to become effective during the current term. If the petition process takes place after the add/drop period, the residency status change and tuition rate change will not become effective until the following term. Any student who was previously admitted to Gadsden State but has not attended within one academic year must establish eligibility for in-state tuition upon re-enrollment. Note: In accordance with Section 702 of the Choice Act, out-of-state students receiving Chapter 30 or 33 VA benefits may be eligible for the in-state tuition rate. The out-of-state tuition rate shall be 2.00 times the in-state tuition rate, rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment students should submit the Dual Enrollment Form to their high school guidance counselor for signatures.

Checking Application Status

Check admissions status and outstanding requirements at any time by logging into the Application Portal.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

There are a number of ways students can pay for college, including grants, scholarships, loans and other programs.

FAFSA

Yes. If you list Gadsden State's college code on your FAFSA, it will be sent to the College for processing. You will have a Financial Aid tab appear on your OneACCS account. You should check that tab to see any outstanding unsatisfied student requirements and complete them in order for your aid to be packaged and applied to your account. If your FAFSA application is selected by the Department of Education for verification, all required documents must be submitted electronically to the Financial Aid Office.

Financial Aid for Books

Yes, if you have financial aid funds available after they've been applied to tuition, you can use those funds to purchase books in the Gadsden State Bookstore. The Bookstore is able to begin charging financial aid accounts the week before classes begin. If ordering online, you should enter your A# when placing your order.

Scholarships

Yes. Current students can complete the GSCC General Scholarship application which has an ongoing deadline. Scholarships are awarded year-round as funds are available.

Application Timing

No. However, you should apply as soon as possible for aid to be processed and packaged in time to use toward fall tuition. Students that apply less than two weeks before the start of the semester may have to pay upfront to ensure classes are not dropped for nonpayment.

Advising and Course Information

Faculty Advisors

Yes, all Gadsden State students are assigned to a faculty advisor after they are cleared in admissions. Assignments are based off of the program of study listed on your admissions application. You should meet with this advisor each semester to select courses and be sure that you are on track to graduate and/or transfer.

Textbooks

Check with the Gadsden State Bookstore or your instructor about required textbooks. Once you have a complete class schedule, you should print that schedule and take it to your campus Bookstore to see which books are needed for your classes. The required texts that the Bookstore lists are exactly what is required on each instructor's syllabus for the course.

Choosing a Career

Choose your career of interest first, rather than a major, then see what degree is required for that career.

Student Support and Resources

Enrollment Services

The Office of Enrollment Services is responsible for Gadsden State’s outreach, recruitment, dual enrollment and orientation programs.

Cardinal Commit

Cardinal Commit is a one-day event that is optional for students to attend in order to be the most prepared to begin their first semester.

ORI 101

ORI 101 is a one credit hour course that is required to graduate from Gadsden State.

Transfer Information

If you are planning to transfer to a public college in Alabama, you can consult Alabama Transfers. It's a transfer and articulation agreement that all public colleges in Alabama have coordinated and agreed to. You can see which courses will transfer to your next school. If you plan to attend a private college in Alabama or an out of state school, you should contact that school as early as possible to verify course transfer information.

Associate Degrees for Transfer

Yes! Students can graduate from Gadsden State with an associate degree. Our general studies associate degrees have been developed using Alabama Transfers to ensure courses can transfer. If you already have all of those courses, then you should go ahead and graduate with an associate degree.

FERPA

FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It's a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Generally, colleges must have written permission from the student in order to release any information from a student's education record. This includes releasing information to a parent. If a student wishes to grant a parent access to education records, the student must initiate the completion of a form granting release. The Records Office offers students one form that grants release of student record information and The Financial Aid Office offers a different form that grants release of financial aid info.

Additional Resources

You can explore the many programs available as you Pick Your Path at Gadsden State. You can take a career assessment that will make career suggestions based on your interest. Or you can browse through 19 videos that include student testimonials and more information about programs available to you.

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