To earn an Associate in Applied Science in Diving Business and Technology (AAS – DB&T) students must earn sixty-two (62) credits. Students must complete fifteen (15) credit hours of general education courses, thirty-two (32) credit hours of core requirements, fifteen (15) elective credit hours, and meet the college success competency requirement. To meet the college success competency, students must provide evidence that documents the successful completion of a student life skills course. Students can also demonstrate equivalent college success competence via alternative methods as determined by the College. 

Completion of this degree will prepare students to manage dive businesses in retail sales, rentals and equipment repair. Students will be trained in physics and physiology as applied to diving, emergency medicine and first aid for pressure-related injuries, recompression chamber operation, mixed gas dive planning, and underwater photography. A variety of diving certifications are available through agencies such as the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), American Underwater Products (AUP), Divers Alert Network (DAN), Emergency First Response (EFR), the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Professional Cylinder/Scuba Inspectors (PCI/PSI). 

General Education Requirements (15 credit hours)

• Communication Requirements (3 credit hours)
  • ENC 1101 English Composition (3)
• Mathematics Requirements (Choose 3 credit hours)
  • MAC 1105 – College Algebra (3)
  • MGF 1106 – Math for Liberal Arts I (3)
  • STA 2023 – Introduction to Probabilities & Statistics I (3)
  • MAC2311 – Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 (4)

• Humanities Requirements (Choose 3 credit hours)
  • ARH 1000 – Art Appreciation (3)
  • HUM 1020 – Intro to Humanities (3)
  • PHI 2010 – Intro to Philosophy (3)
  • MUL 1010 – Music Appreciation (3)

• Social/Behavioral Science Requirements (Choose 3 credit hours)
  • AMH 2020 – History of the United States, 1876-1945 (3)
  • ECO 2013 – Macroeconomics (3)
  • POS 1041 – National Government (3)
  • PSY 2012 – General Psychology (3)
  • SYG 1000 – Intro to Sociology (3)

• Natural Science Requirements (Choose 3 credit hours)
  • AST 1002 – Astronomy (3)
  • BSC 1005 – Survey of Biological Science (3)
  • BSC 1010 – Principles of Biology I (3)
  • BSC 1085 – Anatomy and Physiology I (3)
  • CHM 1045 – General Chemistry I (3)
  • PHY 1053C – General Physics I (4) 

Core Requirements (32 credit hours)

Related Course Core Requirements (15 credit hours)

• CGS 1100 – Introduction to Computer Applications (3)
• MKA 2621 – The Business of Diving (3)
• MTE 1053C – 2 & 4 Cycle Outboard Repair and Maintenance (3) OR MTE 1052 – 2 & 4 Cycle Outboard Theory (3)
• MTE 1811 – Basic Seamanship (3)
• OCB 1000 – Introduction to Marine Biology (3) OR OCE 1001 – Introduction to Oceanography (3) 

Fundamentals of Professional Diving Core Requirements  (17 credit hours)

• EMS 1344C Aquatic First Aid/CPR/O2 (1)
• EMS 2081C Scuba Rescue and Emergency Medicine (3)
• EOC 2714C Recompression Chamber Operations (2)
• EOC 2713C Breathing Gases and Decompression Theory (3)
• PEN 1141 Scuba Equipment Maintenance & Repair (2)
• PEN 2137C Advanced Diving Theory and Practice (3)
• PGY 1245C Underwater Photography (3)

Electives (15 credit hours)

• EMS 1158C Emergency Medical Technician (12)
• EMS 2082 Dive Medicine Instructor (4)
• EMS 2325C – Diving Medical Technician (2) 
• EOC 2710 Public Safety Diving (5)
• ISC 2132 Basic Research Diving (4)
• OCB2071 Marine Ecology for Tourism Professionals (3)
• OCB 2102C – Marine Data Collection (4) 
• OCB 2107C Field Application of Marine Science: Monitoring Caribbean Reef Fish (3)
• OCB 2132 Field Application of Marine Science: Restoration of Coral Reefs (3)
• OCB 2262C Field Application of Marine Science: Assessment of Coral Reef Habitats (3)
• OCB 2263C Coral Reef Biology and Management (4)
• PEN 1136C Scuba Diving (2)
• PEN 1142C Advanced Diving Equipment Maintenance and Repair (4)
• PEN2134 Specialty Instructor Training (1)
• PEN 2942 – Internship: Diving Business and Technology (1-4)
• PEN 2110 – Specialty Diver Training (1) 
• PEQ 1136C Scuba Instructor Training (4)
• PEQ 1137C Divemaster (4)
• PEQ 2133C IDC Staff Instructor (4)
• PGY 2247C Advanced Underwater Photography (4)
• College Success Competency SLS course 

Students may test out of the college success competency by passing an approved competency assessment.

Suggested Electives for Career Pathways (62 credit hours):

• Professional Dive Instructor Requirements (15 credit hours)
  • EMS 2082, Dive Medicine Instructor (4)
  • PEQ 1136C, Scuba Instructor Training (4)
  • PEQ 1137C, Divemaster (4)
  • PEN 2134, Specialty Instructor Training (1) repeat 3 times

• Public Safety Diver Requirements (15 credit hours)
  • EOC 2710, Public Safety Diving (5)
  • Choose ten (10) more electives from the above list

• Diving Medical Technician Requirements (15 credit hours)
  • EMS 1158C, Emergency Medical Technician (12)
  • EMS 2325C – Diving Medical Technician (2) 
  • Choose one (1) more elective credits from the list above.

• Professional Research Diver Requirements (15 credit hours)
  • ISC 2132 Basic Research Diving (4)
  • OCB 2102C – Marine Data Collection (4)
  • Choose seven (7) more elective credits with an OCB course prefix from the list above.

Industry Certificates:

• AUP Repair Technician
• PADI Advanced Open Water
• PADI Rescue Diver
• PADI Gas Blender
• PADI Nitrox Diver
• EFR Primary, Secondary and Care for Children Provider
• DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider
• Underwater Photographer
• American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)

The courses listed above are only a guide. Following these tracks does not guarantee admission into a university. Course requirements may change each year. You are responsible and encourage to work closely with your advisor. Some courses are offered night/online only every other year. For more information, contact the Office of Advising Services at 305-809-3196.