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Associate Degree Information

En Route Associate of Arts or Science Degrees

ASU students who satisfactorily complete approximately 50% of the requirements for selected baccalaureate degrees may earn an Associate of Arts degree or Associate of Science degree en route to the four-year baccalaureate degree.

Why an Associate Degree?

For part-time students, or students who need to stop out due to personal or extenuating circumstances, the en route associate degree can be a valuable intermediate goal, bridging the period between matriculation and the completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree.

Requirements

A minimum of 60 hours, including the required ASU-J general education curriculum are required. Students upon entry to ASU may not declare the degree. Students will be notified of their eligibility for the degree upon satisfactory completion of the minimum requirements. Students who have not been contacted and have completed the minimum requirements may contact the Office of the Registrar for assessment of their eligibility.

Please contact graduation@astate.edu for more information.

"My first college degree is an Associate’s in Arts degree. Earning it left me with a strong sense of accomplishment. Once I earned my associate’s, I had something to call my own and to remind me of all the hard work that I had completed over a two-year period. Also, earning it left me with a craving for success, and it helped me to stay motivated to reach other goals in life. For example, while earning my bachelor’s degree, having the associate’s degree behind me served as a constant reminder of my ability to complete something important—a degree program. In all, I am extremely proud of my first college degree, an associate’s degree."
 

Lillie M. Fears, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Journalism

Associate of Arts

The Associate of Arts degree may be awarded to students who are pursing the following degrees:

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A. and discipline related B.S.E)
    Art, Music, Theatre, Chemistry (B.A.), Computer Science (B.A.), Criminology, Economics (B.A.), English, French, Spanish, History, Geography, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
    Art, Theatre, Graphic Design
  • Bachelor of Music (B.M. and B.M.E.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (B.S.I.S.)
  • Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.)

Associate of Science

The Associate of Science degree may be awarded to students who are pursing the following degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
    Accounting, Athletic Training, Biological Sciences, Business, Business Administration, Economics, Chemistry, Clinical Laboratory Science, Communication Disorders, Communication Studies, Journalism, Radio-TV, Printing Management, Computer and Information Technology, Computer Science, Digital Media and Design, Early Care and Education, Exercise Science, Finance, Forensic Science, Graphic Communications, Health Promotion, International Business, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sport Management, Technology, Wildlife Ecology and Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.)
    Agricultural Business, Agricultural Education, Animal Science, Plant Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.E.)
    Mathematics, Business Technology, Middle-Level Education (Grades 4-8), Early Childhood, Physical Education, General Sciences
  • Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.Engr.)
    Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
  • Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (B.S.R.S.)
  • Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)

Curriculum Outline

There is no standard curriculum outline for this degree as it is embedded in 25+ established baccalaureate degree programs that range from completion of general education and introductory courses for the major within the first four semesters to programs that may spread the general education requirements over additional semesters. It is reasonable to expect that most baccalaureate programs would allow the en route AA degree to be completed in 4-6 semesters.

A minimum of 60 credit hours (excludes remedial course work) are required.

Pre-requisites

  • Student must have officially declared a major in a baccalaureate degree program and show progress toward completion of the declared major (completion of introductory major or similar courses not applied toward general education or university core).
  • A maximum of 25% of this degree may be earned through a combination of examination (including CLEP), correspondence, evaluated military service credits and USAFI courses. A maximum of 15 hours of CLEP credit may be applied to the associate degree.
  • At least 16 hours must be completed as ASU-Jonesboro course work prior to awarding of the degree.
  • Minimum GPA of 2.00 on all ASU and transfer work
Because the AS degrees are 'en route' towards a BS degree, students must have completed all requirements. Courses cannot be currently in progress. Students who have courses in progress that will apply to this degree should contact our office for the next commencement period if interested.