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Reach out to an academic advisor with your questions about transferring directly from ECC to a bachelor's degree program. They're always happy to help. If this is your plan, we recommend you select one of our University Transfer programs. Associate in Arts and Associate in Science allows students to prepare to transfer for majors such as education, psychology, accounting, criminal justice, and pre-professional programs, which is why they are our two most popular programs of study.

It's great to complete some or all of your general education requirements at ECC. Our classes and degrees have transferred to nearly 1,000 four-year schools nationwide and are designed to meet general education course requirements at most four-year institutions.

Please review all of our areas of study to see what interests you.

Go to Areas of Study

Our career and technical certification programs can help you start working in your field after completing your certificate at ECC. We offer many different degree options to study and learn specialized knowledge and skills required to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor's degree. It is important to discuss your plans with your ECC academic advisor when you meet to create your educational plan that may focus on short- and long-term goals. 

• AAS degree requires 60 credit hours.
• Basic Certificates require between 1 and 29 credit hours and take less time to complete than vocational certificates.
• Vocational Specialist Certificates require 30-50 credit hours but may lead to better pay and advancement opportunities.

Please review our areas of study to decide on a program that interests you.

Areas of Study 

You're not alone in uncertainty about what you want to study at ECC. Did you know that over 60 percent of students attending a community college still decide on their program of study? Choosing what you want to study is a big decision; talking with someone trained to help you discover your major/career direction can be helpful. We want to share a few resources with you that will help you decide about a program of study at ECC or beyond. Making this choice is difficult for many students because they don't know what career they want after college or have many ideas but don't know what college major/program of study will get them there. Career development specialists in the Student Success Center can help you answer the following questions:

• How do I start the process of choosing a major?
• How do I know what majors match my interests, values, and personality characteristics?
• What can I do with the major I am considering?

If you have questions or want to purchase a Career Assessment Package, call 847-214-7390 or email careerservices@elgin.edu.

If you are still deciding at this point, we recommend that you follow the Associate in Arts degree's educational plan for selecting courses in your first semester. We suggest this option because it is our most flexible program of study. This plan is designed for eventual transfer to a 4-year college or university. However, after starting in this area, you can change it the next semester if you determine that it is not the best choice for you. When you meet to create your educational plan, it is always important to discuss your plans with your ECC academic advisor.