Associate in Arts

WHAT IS AN AA DEGREE?

The Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees are designed for transfer to baccalaureate programs at universities. These degrees 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

Students with defined professional/career goals requiring a bachelor's degree 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 degree 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.