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Associate of Arts
The Associate of Arts Degree is for the student who plans to transfer to a four-year institution. Course work totaling 60 hours is required for the A.A. degree. The degree includes the 35-hour state minimum general education core that requires courses in English/writing, the humanities and fine arts, history and the social sciences, mathematics, and the natural sciences. The curriculum requires a demonstration of competency in communications (oral and written) and mathematics and a mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in specific areas or disciplines. Remedial/developmental education courses are used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements. The Associate of Arts degree meets the requirements of the 60-hour state minimum core curriculum required under Act 747 of 2011, however A.A. graduates may be required to complete additional lower-division courses after transfer to meet specific bachelor’s degree program requirements. Students planning to transfer should follow carefully the curriculum advised by the senior institution to which they will transfer.
Associate of Science
The Associate of Science degree is for the student who completes a program of work designed to transfer toward a specified baccalaureate degree - designated in the degree title - at a college/university. The degree includes the 35-hour state minimum general education core that requires courses in English/writing, the humanities and fine arts, history and the social sciences, mathematics, and the natural sciences. The curriculum requires a demonstration of competency in communications (oral and written) and mathematics, and a mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in specific areas or disciplines. Remedial/developmental education courses must be used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements. Students should work closely with a Northark advisor to follow the prescribed selection of courses, and other requirements, needed for transfer into a bachelor’s program.
Associate of General Studies
The Associate of General Studies degree is for the student who plans to transfer to a four-year institution, but wants to take lower division courses outside of General Education. The student must demonstrate mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in at least one specific area or discipline. Students completing this degree should meet the lower division requirements in General Education but will not be guaranteed transfer as a college junior.
Associate of Applied Science
The Associate of Applied Science Degree is designed to lead the student directly to employment in a specific career. The program must include a minimum of 15 semester credit hours of general education courses in English/writing, mathematics, social sciences, and computer applications/fundamentals and a minimum of 30-36 semester hours in a technical area. The curriculum requires demonstrated mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in a specific area or discipline. The courses within the designated major (a requirement for this degree) include certain established technology core courses. Remedial/developmental education courses are used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements. The range of hours is 60-72 semester credit hours. Selected health-related programs may exceed 72 semester hours, but should not exceed 80 semester hours unless required by accrediting or approval agencies.
AAS Transfer Disclaimer
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education has requested that all Arkansas institutions offering the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree publish the following general disclaimer: The Associate of Applied Science Degree is designed for employment purposes and it should not be assumed that the degree or the courses in the degree could be transferred to another institution. While a few institutions have recently begun to accept some courses in AAS programs, the general rule is that courses in AAS degrees are not accepted in transfer toward bachelor’s degrees.
Students to whom transfer is important should get assurances in writing in advance and only from the institution to which they wish to transfer.
Technical Certificate
The Technical Certificate is a planned and coherent program of classroom and laboratory/shop work at the collegiate level that recognizes the completion of a specified level of competency in an occupational field. The program of study may be a stand-alone program or part of an associate degree curriculum.
The curriculum requires a demonstration of competency in communications (oral and written) and mathematics and a mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in a specific area or discipline. Remedial/developmental education courses must be used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill certificate requirements. The range of credit hours is 24-42 undergraduate semester hours. Exceptions to this range will be allowed when required by accrediting or approval agencies.
Certificate of Proficiency
The Certificate of Proficiency is awarded to students who have demonstrated mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in a specific area or discipline. The award is granted for programs requiring 7-18 undergraduate semester credit hours. The program of study may be a stand-alone program or part of a technical certificate or associate degree curriculum. Remedial/developmental education courses must be used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill certificate requirements.
Unique Characteristics for Degrees
Associate of Arts (AA): A liberal arts degree; guaranteed transfer to any state university.
Associate of Science (AS): Same general education requirements as AA; discipline specific transfer to a university with agreed upon transfer of courses.
Associate of General Studies (AGS): General Education 30-34 hours. Remaining hours in discipline emphasis. Transferability is not guaranteed and is customized.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS): General Education 15 hours. Remaining hours are in discipline emphasis. Leads primarily to direct employment rather than transfer to a university.
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