TDCJ Graduation Information and Degrees

REQUIREMENTS OR DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES

TVCC grants the (1) Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) and (2) Certificate of Completion. A student must graduate by August 31, 2029, to graduate under the provisions of this catalog.

Students may enroll in the AAS degree or the Certificate of Completion programs.  The AAS degree is designed to meet industry and business employment needs for a skilled workforce while meeting a broad spectrum of student interests, needs, and abilities.  The Certificate of Completion is designed to provide core courses in a workforce education program that specifically and directly relate to competencies needed for employment and potential advancement in a career field.  A student may enroll in a Certificate of Completion program and later apply the courses into the corresponding TVCC AAS degree program.

The Certificate of Completion is awarded for successful completion of a specialized curriculum in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program consisting of three eight-week semesters. The Certificate of Completion is not designed for transfer.

THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

  1. Complete the prescribed curriculum for CTE/Vocational programs outlined in this catalog.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the courses presented to meet the requirements for the certificate.

THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION - CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKFORCE PROGRAMS

1. Complete the prescribed curriculum for continuing education workforce programs outlined in this catalog. 

2. A passing grade (“P”) is required to meet the continuing education certificate requirements.

The continuing education certificate is a non-credit certificate and cannot be substituted for semester credit hours.

ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES

To meet the accreditation requirements for continuing program development and evaluation, TVCC must assess all academic and CTE programs based on students’ outcomes. To assess such outcomes, students may be required to take additional examinations, participate in surveys, and/or provide samples of their work throughout their enrollment at TVCC.

APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION

Students may only participate in one scheduled graduation ceremony. If a graduate chooses not to participate or is denied permission to participate in one graduation ceremony, no other opportunity will be afforded. TVCC will confer only one degree per year.

If graduates are not allowed to participate in a scheduled graduation ceremony because they are no longer in the custody of TDCJ, they may contact the Director of Correctional Education to participate in the next scheduled graduation ceremony on the Athens campus.

GRADUATION WITH HONORS

Those students who have excelled academically by completing an associate’s degree and meeting one of the sets of criteria below will graduate with the specified honors.  The cumulative grade point average referred to in each set of criteria will be based on all work attempted at the post-secondary level and will utilize every grade received if the course has been repeated.

Highest Honors - The graduate must have completed 24 semester hours in residence and must have a 4.0 cumulative grade point average.

High Honors - The graduate must have completed at least 24 semester hours in residence with at least a 3.8 grade point average and must have at least a 3.8 cumulative grade point average.

Honors - The graduate must have completed at least 24 semester hours in residence with at least a 3.5 grade point average and must have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

UNIVERSITY-TRANSFER PROGRAMS

Contact a TVCC Unit Enrollment Coordinator to discuss university transfer programs.

GRADUATION AND DEGREES

TDCJ students are encouraged to pursue a vocational certificate and an AAS degree. The AAS degree provides a curriculum consisting of core program courses, workforce courses, and general studies courses. 

A student cannot receive the same degree twice. Only one diploma will be awarded to a student during any one graduation ceremony. Each degree must consist of twelve additional hours in residency at TVCC above the first degree completed. TVCC reserves the right to automatically award a degree or certificate of completion without a formal graduation application being submitted via the student.