Academic Catalog

Specialized Programs

Kean-Ocean

Earn credits toward your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree on the Ocean County College campus with the OCC/Kean University Partnership. Kean University and Ocean County College (Kean-Ocean) have established a partnership that enables area residents to complete the upper-level undergraduate courses required for certain Kean University undergraduate degrees on the campus of OCC. 

Undergraduate

Kean-Ocean provides undergraduate courses that will lead to a Bachelor’s degree completion program in:

  • Accounting
  • Biology
  • Biology, Teacher Certification Option
  • Biology, Teacher Certification Option with Dual Cert. in Special Ed.
  • Biology, Environmental Biology
  • Biology, Health Professions Option
  • Communication
  • Communication - Journalism
  • Communication- Public Relations
  • Criminal Justice
  • Early Childhood Education P-3/TSD (Academic Major Required)
  • Elementary Education, K-6 Certification (Academic Major Required)
  • Elementary Education, K-6 and 5-8 Subject Certification (Academic Major Required)
  • English, Standard Option
  • English, Teacher Certification Option
  • English, Teacher Certification Option with Dual Cert. in Special Ed.
  • Environmental Science
  • Exercise Science
  • Exercise Science, Pre-AT/PT
  • Finance
  • Global Business
  • Global Studies
  • History
  • History - Pre-Law Option
  • History, Teacher Certification Option with Dual Cert. in Special Ed.
  • History, Teacher Certification Option
  • Liberal Arts
  • Management
  • Management-Entrepreneurship
  • Management-Human Resources
  • Marketing
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences Teacher Certification
  • Mathematical Sciences Dual Cert. in Special Education
  • Nursing
  • Physical Education and Health Teacher Certification
  • Psychology
  • Psychology-Forensic Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Public Health
  • Recreation Administration - Community Recreation Option
  • Recreation Administration - Sport & Event Management
  • Recreational Therapy
  • Sociology
  • Supply Chain and Information Management

Undergraduate Minors

  • Accounting
  • Athletic Coaching
  • Biology
  • Communication
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economics
  • Exercise Science
  • English
  • Finance
  • Health
  • History
  • Inclusive Health & Physical Activity
  • Management Science
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Recreation Administration
  • Sociology
  • Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
  • Sports & Event Management
  • Therapeutic Recreation
  • Women & Gender Studies
  • Yoga Studies (Registered Yoga Teacher Certification available)

Graduate

Courses are being offered at OCC for Kean master’s degrees in the following areas:

  • MA Counseling - School Counseling
  • MA Counseling - School Counseling and LPC Qualification
  • MA Counseling - Clinical Mental Health
  • MA Counseling - Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling
  • MBA Global Option
  • MBA Executive Global Option
  • MPA Public Administration
  • MS Accounting
  • MS Exercise Science
  • MSN Nursing
  • Nursing Leadership
  • MSN Nursing – Community Health

If you want to apply for a Kean-Ocean program and already have or will soon complete your associate degree, apply directly to Kean University. The application can be accessed through the Kean-Ocean webpage at:  Kean-Ocean 

3 + 1  Partner Institutions

Students in the “3+1” program will be able to graduate with an associate degree from OCC in their chosen field of study and then matriculate into the Advanced and Continuous Studies degree program, allowing for financial aid to continue and for the full 90 credits to transfer to the aligned four-year university. The A.S. in Advanced and Continuous Studies contains multiple tracks that are specific to the student’s major, and the 300-level courses included in each track of this third-year program have been developed by OCC in conjunction with our four-year partners. All tracks included in the A.S. in Advanced and Continuous Studies program are directly aligned with both an OCC associate degree program and a bachelor’s degree program from a specified four-year institution partner. Upon successful completion, no course shall be repeated at the partner University.

Articulation and Joint/Dual Admission Agreements

Ocean County College partners with senior institutions in a number of ways to provide our graduates with a smooth transition to baccalaureate degree programs through Articulation Agreements and Joint or Dual Admissions Agreements.

Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between Ocean County College and baccalaureate granting colleges and universities which have been developed to improve the transfer process. These agreements provide a formalized partnerships designed to take the guess work out of how the courses you complete at Ocean County College will apply to your future Bachelor’s degree when you transfer into a baccalaureate program.

Joint Admissions or Dual Enrollment Agreements are also articulation agreements, but ones which are designed to simultaneously admit participating students into both institutions.  The benefits of such agreements include:

  • access to advising at both schools while at the community college;
  • invitation to special events aimed at helping participants build a connection to the senior institution to aid in transition;
  • promotes seamless transfer of credits from Ocean County College to the partner institution through advising and curriculum guidance;
  • provides full access to student life at both institutions – such as attending athletic events, trips through Student Life, clubs, and the library at both institutions. 

Sometimes these types of agreements also offer preferential admission to identified degree programs or specially identified scholarships for participants.

Your advisor can help you select courses that will meet the requirements of your transfer institution, while also fulfilling your Ocean County College graduation requirements.

Transfer (Articulation) Agreements

Ocean County College has Transfer (Articulation) Agreements with many four-year colleges and universities to help ensure your credits will transfer. For more information click here: https://www.ocean.edu/student-services/joint-admission-and-transfer/

Honors by Contract Program

The Honors by Contract Program allows high achieving students the opportunity to work individually with faculty members on higher level educational activities, related to course objectives while being enrolled in a regular course. Students who complete an Honors by Contract course have the designation denoted on their transcript. Students who successfully complete four Honors by Contract courses with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above, graduate from Ocean County College as Honors Students. The student’s transcript, diploma, and commencement program will note this achievement.

All students with a GPA of 2.5 or above, or its equivalent, from high school, other higher educational institutions, or Ocean County College are eligible to enroll in the Honors by Contract courses. Students may only enroll in two Honors by Contract courses per semester. Students enrolled in any remedial courses may not participate in the Program. However, students may appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for special permission. Faculty members who teach college level courses, i.e. 100 level and above, may participate in the Program (STSC 150 may not be included).

Students who participate in Honors by Contract have an opportunity to win monetary award​s for their outstanding work. In addition, students ​who meet ​Honors Graduation ​Requirement​s are eligible for scholarships.

New Jersey Stars Program

NJ STARS I

The New Jersey Student Assistance Reward Scholarship Program (NJ STARS) is an initiative created by the State of New Jersey that provides New Jersey’s highest achieving students with free tuition less any State and/or Federal grants and/or scholarships received at Ocean County College.

  • Students must be a resident of Ocean County and rank in the top 15% of their high school class at the end of their junior or senior year.
  • Students may receive 4-5 semesters of funding for up to 18 credits per semester. Summer courses are not funded.
  • Students must apply for all forms of State and Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit any requested documentation to complete and verify application data within the established deadlines.
  • Students must maintain continuous full-time enrollment and achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
  • Students must earn a 3.25 cumulative GPA upon graduation from community college to be eligible for NJ STARS II.

NJ STARS II

NJ STARS II is a continuation of NJ STARS I that provides partial scholarships and enables successful NJ STARS students to earn a Bachelor’s degree at a New Jersey four-year institution of higher education.

Students must:

  • Complete NJ STARS I at the community college
  • Earn an associate degree from a New Jersey community college with a minimum of 3.25 GPA.
  • Maintain a 3.25 average GPA in their junior year to receive the scholarship in his/her senior year.
  • Be admitted to a New Jersey four-year institution of higher education.
  • Be enrolled in a full-time course of study (a minimum of 12 college-level credits per semester) in a baccalaureate degree program during the academic year following graduation from community college.
  • Students may receive an NJ STARS II scholarship for up to four (4) semesters, excluding summer sessions and must apply for all forms of State and Federal need-based grants and merit scholarships by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) within the established deadlines and complete any required verification procedures.

For additional program information and requirements, please visit www.go.ocean.edu/njstars or www.hesaa.org. Call 732-255-0482.

Global Education Experience

Ocean County College offers exciting travel opportunities, both within and outside the United States, to promote cross-cultural understanding and awareness of global perspectives. OCC faculty members lead our Global Education Experience seminars. The programs are open to all students and community members. Eligible OCC students may apply for a Global Education Experience Scholarship through the OCC Foundation. These travel and educational seminars allow students to earn college credit while they travel. The college can also assist students in locating semester-long overseas programs offered by other institutions. A sampling of our recent and upcoming abroad programs include:

  • The Theatre in London, England
  • The Battlefields of the World Wars - France
  • The Modern Middle East - Rabat, Morocco, North Africa
  • Global Science & History and Culture - Ireland
  • International Tourism Management - at sea (Florida and Bahamas cruise) and Germany
  • Studies in the Arts and Humanities - Germany and Italy

For more information on international travel opportunities offered by Ocean County College, go to the main website, www.ocean.edu, click the A-Z Index, and search “Study Abroad.”

Reduced Tuition for Seniors

Ocean County residents, 65 years of age or older, may enroll in credit courses at a reduced tuition rate (includes textbooks), including online courses. All applicable fees are to be paid. Registration will only be accepted the day before classes begin for the semester. For more information, please contact the Registration & Records Office at 732-255-0304.