Degrees Offered at Morton College
Students may apply for multiple degrees or certificates. Students who anticipate qualifying for a degree and certificate in the same semester should consult with an Student success coach for more
information.
- Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.)
These degrees are designed for students planning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree at a four-year college or university
- Associate in Fine Arts in Art (A.F.A.)
This degree is designed for students planning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in art at a four-year college or university.
- Associate in Liberal Studies (A.L.S.)
This degree is designed for students completing an individually designed curriculum meeting their specific interests or needs. This degree is not transferable, but the courses may be.
- Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
This degree is designed for students interested in career curricula for employment after graduation in specific fields. This degree is not transferable, but the courses may be.
- Associate in Engineering Science (A.E.S.)
This degree is designed for students planning to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering at a four-year college or university.
General Education Requirements
Each degree program requires a combination of general education, elective and/or career courses; this combination gives each program its special emphasis. The core of general education courses provides students with a common academic experience. In general, the General Education Requirements for each degree are meant to help students pursuing those degrees to meet Morton College’s General Education Objectives.
Associate Degree Requirements
It is the student’s responsibility to see that all graduation requirements are completed. Students are encouraged to consult with an Student success coach to monitor their educational progress. The following are graduation requirements for all associate degrees at Morton College:
1. Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.) and
2. Associate in Fine Art in Art (A.F.A.) Candidates — Earn a minimum of 62 credit hours of credit in transfer courses numbered 100 and above.
3. Associate in Engineering Science (A.E.S.) Earn a minimum of 65 credit hours in courses as outlined in the specific program of study.
4. Associate in Liberal Studies (A.L.S.) Candidates — Earn a minimum of 62 credit hours of credit in courses numbered 100 and above.
5. Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Candidates — Earn a minimum of 60 credit hours in courses as outlined in the specific program of study.
6. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (˝C˝ average) for all Morton College courses attempted.
7. Students must earn a minimum of 15 credits required for the degree at Morton College. The last 10 credits must be completed at Morton College uninterrupted by course work from another
institution.
8. File a Petition for Graduation form with the Office of Admissions and Records. Petition filing dates are published each semester in the Course Schedule.
Career Certificate Requirements
- Complete all specific certificate requirements. All courses should be numbered 100 or above except in continuing education certificate programs.
- Complete at least seven credit hours or one-third of the credit hours for the certificate at Morton College.
- Attend the College in the semester in which the certificate is completed.
- File a Petition for Graduation form with the Office of Admissions and Records. Petition filing deadlines are published each semester in the Course Schedule.
Second Degree And Or Certificate
- The following requirements apply to students who have earned one degree or certificate and wish to qualify for an additional degree or certificate.
- The general education and program requirements for the second degree or certificate must be completed successfully.
- For each additional degree, a minimum of 15 credit hours of credit must be earned in residence in courses not applied to other degrees or certificates previously received.
- For each additional certificate, a minimum of one-fourth of the total credit hours of credit must be earned in residence in courses that were not applied to other degrees or certificates previously received.
- A student may qualify for an Associate in Applied Science degree and a certificate concurrently in the same program. However, certificates in the same program of study will not be awarded after the degree has been completed. Students who anticipate qualifying for a degree and certificate in the same semester should consult with an Student success coach for more information. Students may not qualify for more than two degrees/certificates in the same semester.
Graduation and Commencement
Students are responsible for fulfilling all degree/certificate requirements and graduation procedures. Although academic program requirements may change with each edition of the College Catalog, students whose enrollment has been continuous may graduate under the current program requirements or any program requirements in effect since their enrollment. Students are not permitted to follow a catalog more than five years before their date of graduation. Students who are already admitted into or are in the process of fulfilling requirements for a career degree or certificate program under their original catalog may be required to upgrade to a more recent catalog edition, due to updates in industry, licensing, and/ or accreditation standards. A degree or certificate cannot be awarded once it has been officially withdrawn by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Every effort will be made to notify the student of such withdrawal. Students whose enrollment has been interrupted for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer) must follow the graduation requirements of the catalog at the time of reentry. Courses discontinued before the publication of a catalog selected for graduation may, on approval of the appropriate academic dean, be used to fulfill elective requirements within a program. If a student changes his/her program, he/she must follow the academic regulations and graduation requirements of the catalog current at the time of the program change.
Hale Memorial Award
The Hale Memorial Award is presented each year at commencement to the candidate for graduation who has the highest scholastic average in an associate degree program and who has earned the associate degree in two (2) academic years.
Graduation Procedures
To receive a degree(s) and/or certificate(s) from Morton College, candidates must:
- Meet with an Student Success Coach to determine whether all credits and requirements have been met for graduation. Graduation deadlines are listed for each semester on www.morton.edu and in the printed schedule and student handbook.
- Complete the graduation petition online & submit the petition application fee through the Panther Portal for the semester in which graduation is intended.
To add to the academic experience, students are encouraged to participate in the commencement ceremony. Commencement is held once a year at the end of the spring semester for students who graduated in the previous summer and fall terms and for current spring candidates. It is important to note that participation in commencement does not guarantee that all degree/certificate requirements have been fulfilled. Final degree and certificate conferral is contingent upon successful completion of all program and institutional requirements.. Diplomas will be mailed to students approximately 8-10 business weeks after the semester has ended and upon completion of final graduation audits.
Diplomas will not be issued until all graduation requirements and financial obligations to the College have been met. Students failing or withdrawing from required courses should immediately contact their Student Success Coach. For more information regarding degree/certificate eligibility, please contact the Academic Advising Department at (708) 656-8000, Ext. 2250.
Educational programs at Morton College include transfer, careers and technical programs and Adult Education, which enable students to fulfill their academic and career goals. The College also provides Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL) and General Educational Development (GED) course work.