Q: In what areas are Associate Degrees being offered?

A: CXC is offering Associate Degrees in nine areas. These are Business Studies, Computer Science, Environmental Science, General Studies, Humanities, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Natural Sciences, and Technical Studies.

Q: What is the CXC Associate Degree?

A: The CXC Associate Degree is a Post-Secondary Education qualification which comprises seven CAPE Units including Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies.

Q: When did the CXC Associate Degree start?

A: The CXC Associate Degree became effective with the writing of the CAPE examinations in 2005. Students who took their first year of CAPE examinations in 2005 will be the first to be awarded the Associate Degrees in 2006.

Q: What qualifies a student for the CXC Associate Degree?

A: In order to qualify for the Associate Degree, a candidate must have obtained acceptable grades (I –V) in at least seven CAPE Units within a five year period.

Q:  Can a student do more than seven Units?

A: Certainly. Students can do as many Units as they wish, the seven Units is the minimum requirement for the Associate Degree. CXC encourages candidates who intend to pursue university studies or wish to compete for National Scholarships to do at least eight Units; three 2-Units and Communication Studies and Caribbean Studies.

Q: What is the cost of the Associate Degrees?

A: The cost of the Associate Degree will vary from territory to territory. It will also depend on who is delivering the Associate Degree, that is, government sixth form school, community college or private institutions.  CXC does not set this cost. Please contact the provider you wish to pursue the Associate Degree with.

Q: Are they part time or full time?

A: This again is dependent on who is your provider. Sixth form and community colleges would tend to have full-time tuition, while private providers would offer the degrees part-time.

Q: Are the Associate Degrees available online?

A: Currently the Associate Degrees are not available online.

Q: How long does it take to complete the Associate Degree?

A: Typically, persons in full-time study will complete the Associate Degree in two years, however, the degrees are flexible and allow up to five years for completion.

Q: What are the entry requirements for mature students?

A: CXC is not a teaching institution and therefore has not set any entry requirements; however, private institutions offering the degrees will set their own prerequisites.

Q: What are the requirements/qualifications for admission for students coming out of fifth form?

A: Students seeking admission to sixth form and community college will be required to meet the normal prerequisites of those institutions.

Q: How do you register for this degree?

A: Registration is simple. Students entering sixth form and community colleges will register through their schools as usual. Those entering through private institution will register through the institution or directly with the Local Registrar at the Ministry of Education (In Jamaica at the Overseas Examinations Office). Persons doing the Associate Degree through self-study will also register directly with the Local Registrar.

Q: Where will classes be offered?

A: As mentioned above, Associate Degrees will be taught at sixth form schools, community colleges and private educational institutions.

Q: When will syllabuses be provided?

A: The Associate Degrees are based on Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Units; therefore the CAPE syllabuses are the syllabuses being used.

Q: When will the Awarding of Associate Degrees commence?

A: The first Associate Degrees will be awarded in 2006. What this means is that those students who took the first year of CAPE in 2005 will qualify for the Associate Degree in 2006.

Q: Students who have finished school will be able to do this new associates degree?

A: Yes. The Associate Degree has been designed with a great amount of flexibility to accommodate in-school and out-of-school candidates.

Q: What institutions will be offering the CXC Associate Degree?

A: Sixth form schools and community colleges will offer the Associate Degrees. In addition, private educational institutions are also offering the Associate Degrees, catering mainly for the more mature, out-of-school population. Contact the Local Registrar at the Ministry of Education to find out who are the private providers in your territory.

Q: Are there any compulsory courses in the Associate Degree?

A: Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies are compulsory in all nine Associate Degrees since educators in the region felt that these were necessary for all Caribbean students at this level. In addition, each Degree has one or more compulsory Unit/s.

Q: What can a student do with the CXC Associate Degree?

A: The CXC Associate Degree offers numerous possibilities.  Candidates will be able to obtain credits and/or exemptions at some universities, gain employment and be able to gain promotion in their work place. Ultimately, CXC would like to see candidate entering university benefiting from a two-plus-two arrangement. This is still to be negotiated with universities.

Q: Would the CXC Associate Degrees be used to determine National Scholarships?

A: The use of the Associate Degrees to determine the award of National Scholarships is a decision to be made by individual governments. If and when a government advises CXC that it will use the degree for scholarships, CXC has mechanisms in place to help government facilitate the process.