Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 FSW Catalog 
    
2021-2022 FSW Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Associate in Arts, AA


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60 Credits

The Associate in Arts degree is a total of 60 credits to include 36 general education credits available through the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the School of Pure and Applied Sciences.  Students must refer to the Florida SouthWestern State College General Education Program Guide  for the selection of appropriate general education courses.  The 24 remaining credits are electives and may come from any discipline area as long as the course is not designated as an Associate in Science (AS) course.

Note:  3000-4999 level courses will not be considered as satisfying any AA Degree Requirements

Required General Education Courses for the Associate in Arts: Minimum 36 credits


ENC 1101 - Composition I , must complete with a “C” or better1 3 credits

ENC 1102 - Composition II , must complete with a “C” or better 3 credits

Additional Communication General Education Course 3 credits

Humanities General Education Courses 2 6 credits

Social Sciences General Education Courses3 9 credits

Core Mathematics General Education Course, must pass with a “C” or better4 3 credits

Any Mathematics General Education Course , must pass with a “C” or better 3 credits

Core Natural Sciences General Education Course5 3 credits

Any Natural Sciences General Education Course 3 credits

Natural Science Laboratory Course6

According to Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-14.0303 and 6A-10.030:

Each student must successfully take twelve (12) semester hours of writing intensive coursework demonstrating college level writing skills with a grade of “C” or better.  Six (6) credits must be taken in English Composition and Communication, and six (6) credits in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities.

1 Any student who successfully completes a course with an ENC prefix for which ENC X101 is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Communication Core.

2 “Must include one (1) Humanities Core course.”

Must include one (1) Social Science Core course. Additionally, the State Civics Requirement must be satisfied in this discipline.”

4 “Any student who successfully completes a mathematics course for which one (1) of the general education core course options in mathematics is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the Mathematics Core.”

5 “Any student who successfully completes a natural science course for which one (1) of the general education core course options in natural science is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the natural science core.”

6 “The lab course must correspond to either of the two selected Natural Science General Education courses;  it may be a seperate course (courses with an “L” suffix, e.g. CHM 1045L) or combined within a course (courses with a “C” suffix, e.g. BSC 1051C).

Elective Courses: 24 Credit Hours


Students should select elective courses that complement their intended baccalaureate major or program area of interest. Additional courses in all General Education content areas (such as communications, humanities, social behavioral sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences) can fulfill general elective hours.  Additionally, students can select courses in disciplines such as accounting, business, computers and technology, criminal justice, early childhood, education, law and public service, marketing and management.  Consult the Course Descriptions section of the Catalog for additional course information.

All incoming degree-seeking students who have earned fewer than 30 credits are required to take and successfully complete SLS 1515 - Cornerstone Experience in the first semester. Successful completion is defined as earning a “C” or better in the course.

Students are encouraged to see an academic advisor to review program prerequisites and to review common course prerequisites for baccalaureate program areas (also available through Florida Virtual Campus at www.floridashines.org).

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) college-level coursework (EAP 1500 and above) is limited to 12 credit hours within the 24 credit-hour electives for the AA degree.

Other Associate in Arts Information and Requirements


Foreign Language Competency Requirement

In accordance with Florida Statute 1007.25, students initially entering a Florida College System Institution in 2014-2015 and thereafter must demonstrate competency in foreign language pursuant to guidelines set in Florida Statute 1007.262.

The Foreign Language Competency Requirement may be met by:

  • 2 years of the same High School Foreign Language, or
  • Documented foreign language proficiency through testing, or
  • 2 semesters of the same College Level Foreign Language (level II proficiency), or
  • Level II proficiency - this criterion occurs when a student has completed the second course of a sequence of college foreign language without completing the first course.  For example, if a student has successfully completed a college-level Spanish II but not Spanish I, then the student has met the Foreign Language Competency requirement.

Civic Literacy Competency Requirement

In accordance with the State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.02413, Prior to the award of an associate in arts, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution in the 2018-19 school year, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:

  1. Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:
    • Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;
    • An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;
    • Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and
    • An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

OR

  2. Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

           Assessment                                                                                              Score

           *AP Government and Politics: United States                                               3

           *AP United States History                                                                                4

           *CLEP: American Government                                                                     50

         

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), 1007.25(4) FS. Law Implemented 1007.25 FS. History-New 6-19-18

Students should check with their Academic Advisor for additional information, or if they are unsure whether they have already met these requirements.

Writing Intensive Requirement:


The following courses satisfy the writing requirement of 4,000 words each. Each student must successfully take 12 semester hours of coursework demonstrating college level writing skills with a grade of “C” or better (Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-10.030(2)(a)).

Previously Earned Associate in Arts or Baccalaureate Degrees


  • Students who have previously earned an Associate in Arts or Baccalaureate degree from a Florida College System or a Florida State University System institution are considered to have met the General Education Requirements of a Florida SouthWestern State College associate or baccalaureate degree.
  • Students who have previously earned an Associate in Arts or Baccalaureate degree from a college or university outside the State of Florida will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine which courses will meet the 36 hour general education and electives requirements. 

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