Required General Education Courses for the Associate in Arts: 36 Credit Hours
- 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
- Core Humanities General Education Course 3 credits
- Any Humanities General Education Course 3 credits
- Core Social Sciences General Education Course 3 credits
- Any Social Sciences General Education Course 3 credits
- Core Mathematics General Education Course, must complete with a “C” or better2 3 credits
- Any Mathematics General Education Course, must complete with a “C” or better 3 credits
- Core Natural Sciences General Education Course3 3 credits
- Any Natural Sciences General Education Course 3 credits
- A minimum of one of the two Natural Sciences General Education courses must have an associated laboratory. The lab may be a standalone course (courses with an “L” suffix, e.g., CHM 2045L) or combined within a course (courses with a “C” suffix, e.g., BSC 1051C).
- Additional courses from any General Education category 6 credits
According to Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-14.0303 and 6A-10.030:
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 ”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.”
3 “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.”
Elective Courses: 24 Credit Hours
Students should select elective courses that complement their intended Academic and Career Pathway. Additional courses in all General Education categories (communications, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences) can fulfill elective hours. Additionally, students may select courses from any discipline area as long as the course is not designated as an Associate in Science (AS) course. Consult the Course Descriptions section of the Catalog for additional course information.
Students are encouraged to meet with their Student Success Advisor to review program prerequisites and 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 College Requirements
SLS 1515 - Cornerstone Experience
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.
IDS 2891 - CREATIVE Capstone
All incoming Associate in Arts (AA) Degree-seeking students are required to take and successfully complete IDS 2891 - CREATIVE Capstone. Prior to enrollment in IDS 2891, students must have completed 30 hours towards the AA Degree, including (ENC 1101 and ENC 1102) OR (ENC 1101 and SPC 1017) OR (ENC 1101 and SPC 2608). Successful completion is defined as earning a “C” or better in the course.
Other Associate in Arts Requirements
Foreign Language Competency Requirement
In accordance with Florida Statute 1007.25, students initially entering a Florida College System Institution in the 2014-2015 academic year, 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, Associate in Science, or Baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-2022 academic year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam and by successfully passing a civic literacy course. This requirement must be satisfied through the following two criteria prior to graduation:
- Successfully passing either POS 2041 American National Government or AMH 2020 History of the United States 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.
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
- Florida Civic Literacy Exam 60%
*Credits earned in articulated acceleration mechanisms in s. 1007.27 will count toward the civic literacy requirement.
Students should check with their Student Success Advisor for additional information, or if they are unsure whether they have already met these requirements.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), 1007.25(4) FS. Law Implemented 1007.25 FS. History-New 6-19-18. Amended 11-23-21.
Writing Intensive Requirement:
According to the Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-10.030(2)(a), each student must successfully complete 12 semester hours of 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.
The following courses satisfy the writing requirement of 4,000 words each.
Previously Earned Associate in Arts or Baccalaureate Degrees
- Students who have previously earned an Associate in Arts or a 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 baccalaureate degree.
- Students who have previously earned an Associate in Arts or a 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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