Associate of Arts Degree Program at THEARC
Overview
The Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies is available to specially approved students and consists of Core Requirements and an Area of Emphasis.
Based on a Skills Inventory, students may also be asked to take Collegiate Bridge Courses. These courses help prepare students for college-level work in both Math and English
The A.A. program is a 61 credit hour program (not including the Collegiate Bridge courses). All credits earned in the A.A. program can be applied towards a Bachelor's Degree Program at Trinity.
Associate Degree Requirements
For specific courses fulfilling the core and area requirements listed below, see Course Descriptions. Students must take courses in each of the following areas:
- Introduction to College
- Skills for Life and Work
- Understanding the Self, Society, and Nature
- Area of Emphasis (select 1 from Arts and Humanities, Business, or Social and Behavioral Sciences)
- Capstone Course
Total Credits Required for Degree: 61 credits
Course Descriptions
Introduction to College
- The Learning Experience: INT 113
Skills for Life & Work
- Writing – 6 credit: ENGL 106 and PHIL 101
- Communication – 6 credits: COM 101 and COM 224
- Numeracy – 3 credits: MATH 111
- Information Literacy – 3 credits: INT 117
Understanding the Self, Society & Nature
- Arts & Humanities – 6 credits: ENGL 217, FNAR 248, HIS 250
- Social Sciences – 9 credits chosen from: ECON 100, POLS 102, PSYC 100, and SOCY 101
- Scientific Understanding – 3 credits: ENVS 102
- Religious Studies/Ethics – 6 credits: PHIL 252 and RST 289
Collegiate Bridge Courses
All students must demonstrate or develop fundamental academic competencies at the beginning of their studies for the A.A. degree. Incoming students will take skills inventories in reading, composition, and mathematics. The purpose of the skills inventory is to promote student success by placing students in classes appropriate to their skill level.
Based on the skills inventory, students will be placed either in college-level courses or collegiate bridge classes. All collegiate bridge coursework must be completed within the first 24 credit hours of enrollment. Students taking collegiate bridge classes receive credit upon successful completion of the courses. Students who place out of collegiate bridge classes take the college-level courses.
Bridge level courses include:
MATH 030
MATH 060
ENGL 030
ENGL 060
Areas of Emphasis
The area of emphasis serves as the basis for a major or minor in a Bachelor's Degree Program. Three areas of emphasis are currently offered for the A.A. program: Arts and Humanities, Business, or Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students will select one area of emphasis in which they will complete additional credits, as noted below:
Arts and Humanities (choose from):
ENGL 218
FNAR 223
LST 100
POLS 274
RST 245
Business (choose from):
BADM 101
BADM 231
BADM 251
SOCY 241
Social and Behavioral Sciences (choose from):
BADM 251
FNAR 223
HUMR 212
POLS 274
PSYC 210
Capstone Learning Experience: INT 290
During their final semester, students will enroll in a capstone course in their area of emphasis. The capstone course will review and assess the skills a student has learned in the program of study. Capstone courses require a grade of C or better for graduation.