Associate of Arts

The Associate of Arts (AA) degree provides a strong foundation in quantitative reasoning, written and oral communication, natural and social sciences, humanities and fine arts. The AA prepares students for career advancement or transition to a baccalaureate program. Students may complete the AA as a stand-alone degree or as preparation for a subsequent baccalaureate degree. A student who graduates with the AA has completed all general education requirements for a baccalaureate degree except for an integrative capstone course (an upper-division course usually taken later in a student's baccalaureate program). Early completion of general education requirements provides opportunities for students to strengthen basic intellectual skills, increase their knowledge of traditional academic disciplines and meet prerequisites for upper-division courses. AA students can pursue general studies or, with the assistance of an academic adviser, tailor the AA program to prepare for a particular baccalaureate major.

Admission Requirements

Satisfy the Application and Admission Requirements for Associate Degrees.

Advising

Students pursuing an Associate of Arts degree are required to consult with an adviser prior to registering. Advisers will assist students in tailoring the Associate of Arts (AA) program plan to meet individual objectives and prepare for selected baccalaureate programs. Advisers will guide students in planning semester schedules that complete AA requirements as efficiently as possible. The AA degree can be completed entirely online, entirely face-to-face or by a combination of different modes of delivery.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfy the General University Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree.

2. Complete requirements for the Associate of Arts (AA).

Requirements for the Associate of Arts degree

A total of 60 credits is required for the Associate of Arts (AA) degree. Students who are interested in the AA alone have a wide range of choices to meet degree requirements. Requirements in basic skills and in disciplinary areas may be met by selecting any course in the appropriate category from the list of General Education courses (GERs). In addition, students complete 26 credits of electives.

AA students who wish to go on to a baccalaureate degree after completing the AA are advised to meet AA requirements with courses that can be applied flexibly either to the AA or to baccalaureate degree requirements. AA students who wish to prepare for a specific baccalaureate major should consult an adviser for recommended courses.

• Complete 3 credits from the GER Oral Communication Skills list.
• Complete 6 credits from the GER Written Communication list.
• Complete 3 credits from the GER Quantitative Skills list.
• Complete 3 credits from the GER Fine Arts list.
• Complete 6 credits from the GER Humanities list.
• Complete 6 credits from the GER Social Sciences list (must be in two different disciplines).
• Complete 7 credits including one laboratory course (either combined or separate) from the GER Natural Sciences list.
• Complete 26 credits of electives

Mission Statement

The Associate of Arts (AA) degree provides an academic foundation for student success in multiple pathways including continued study, career preparation, and engaged citizenship for Alaska's diverse peoples.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with an AA degree from UAA will be able to do the following at the introductory level:

• communicate effectively
• think critically
• evaluate analytically
• reason empirically