The Associate of Arts Â鶹´«Ã½ promotes inclusion, diversity, and cultural competency courses in General Education suitable for transfer to universities, with a wide variety of courses on campus, online, and in hybrid modality.
WHAT IS AN AA DEGREE?
The Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) Â鶹´«Ã½s are designed for transfer to baccalaureate programs at universities. These Â鶹´«Ã½s have substantial general education components and are designed to accommodate the structure of Baccalaureate Transfer Frameworks described below.
Information about specific frameworks and copies of frameworks may be obtained from academic advisors or admissions offices. A complete set of frameworks is available on the Council on Postsecondary Education's website.
Career Path
Â鶹´«Ã½s with defined professional/career goals requiring a bachelor's Â鶹´«Ã½ may begin their education at a community college, then transfer to any public university in the state -- with the guarantee that all credits taken in compliance with a framework will transfer toward their program.
A 60 credit-hour framework has been designed by a partnership of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), the universities, and KCTCS colleges for nearly 200 different bachelor's Â鶹´«Ã½ programs (majors) offered in the state. Each framework is different -- representing a specific guide to the exact courses a student needs to successfully complete to reach his or her junior year in a specific major in a four-year baccalaureate program.
By following the guidelines outlined in the framework, a student can complete the first two years of college without committing to a particular four-year university. With advance planning, the student can avoid having to repeat a course with similar content and can save both time and money.
Admission Requirements
There are no special admission requirements for these programs. However, students who require remedial course work in reading, writing, or math to qualify them to enroll in General Education courses will require additional time to finish the program.
Program Length
Two years (four semesters), completing 60-61 hours. Developmental work or taking less than 15 hours per semester will require a longer program time. Summer courses, dual credit courses while in high school, or taking more than 15 hours per semester will shorten program time.
Getting Started
What are my Â鶹´«Ã½, diploma, and certificate options?
How Do I Pay For This?
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Additional Info
Â鶹´«Ã½s can also earn the Associate of Science Degree, which requires two to three additional courses.
For those with special interests, one or more certificates may be earned within the program, ie. Appalachian Studies Certificate.