General Studies

The degree in General Studies should enable a student to demonstrate a broad understanding of the arts and sciences. Graduates should demonstrate effective communication and computational skills and possess the capacity for continued learning and logical reasoning. The program affords the student with the opportunity to select from any instructional credit courses in the college for which he/she satisfies the prerequisites.

Students who successfully complete this program receive an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree.

Program Requirements: In order to earn an Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree in General Studies, students must complete a total of 60 credits. Of these 60 credits, 32 must be earned in the distribution described below:

1. I. English - 6 or 9 credits
   1. all students will be pretested and placed in ENGL 1005 (formerly ENGL 1050) or ENGL 1010.
   2. those students required to take ENGL 1005 (formerly ENGL 1050) will then have to take ENGL 1010 and one literature course (ENGL 1005-formerly ENGL 1050 may be used as elective credit.)
   3. those passing the pretest will be required to take ENGL 1010 and one literature course.
2. Math - 3 credits

Students may satisfy the math requirement with any of the math offerings above the one thousand level.

3. Science  - 8 credits

Two laboratory science courses: It is not required, but it is recommended, that students take the two courses as part of a sequence. These courses may be selected from the following:
 

4. Social Sciences - 9 credits

Three courses: General Studies candidates must choose one history course and two others from the following:

history
sociology
economics
psychology
political science
philosophy
geography

5. Language and Fine Arts - 6 credits

Two courses from the following:

art
music
drama
foreign languages & cultures (basic spoken and specialized introductory foreign language courses may be applied to the General Studies degree as elective credits only. Students who choose a foreign language to satisfy the Language and Fine Arts category requirement are advised to take two sequential courses in the same foreign language, preferably at the elementary or intermediate level.)

It is strongly recommended that students take the introductory courses to these disciplines.

Total Required Course Credits: 32 or 35

6. To bring to 60 the total number of credits needed to earn an Associate in Arts Degree, students may choose courses from any instructional program in the College, including arts and sciences, computer studies (COMI only), paraprofessional and technical areas, and allied health, provided the courses they choose are taken for college credits, all prerequisites are complete, and space is available. This includes LIBA 1010 and LIBA 1020 Cooperative Work Experience I and II.

Elective Credits: 28 or 25

Total Credits for General Studies Degree 60

 

This page last modified on: August 25, 2010