Associate Degree Types

The following Associate degrees are awarded in the state of Arkansas: (a) Associate of Arts; (b) Associate of Arts in Teaching; (c) Associate of Science; (d) Associate of Science in Business; (e) Associate of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences; (f) Associate of Applied Science; (g) Associate of Applied Science in General Technology; (h) Associate of General Studies; and (i) Associate of Occupational Studies.

Transferable Degrees

Associate of Arts
The Associate of Arts degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a program of collegiate level work that is fully transferable toward a baccalaureate degree.  The degree must include 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; 15-25 semester credit hours of directed electives selected from the six general education core categories; and up to 10 semester credit hours of institutional requirements or advisor-approved electives.  The curriculum must require 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.  The Associate of Arts degree is designed for transfer purposes and the field of study is not specified in the degree title.  The AA degree is 60 semester credit hours and must include the stated minimum number of credit hours and courses in the specified general education core categories.  The Associate of Arts degree meets the requirements of the 60-hour state minimum core curriculum required under Act 747 of 2011.   All pre-requisite and required courses for the bachelor’s degree program major must be completed by AA degree graduates.  Thus, Associate of Arts degree graduates may be required to complete additional lower-division courses to meet these specified pre-requisite course requirements and program major course requirements for bachelor’s degree programs upon transfer to any Arkansas public university which may require the AA graduate to complete credit hours beyond the stated minimum credits for bachelor’s degrees.  College advisors must document that AA students have been informed of the possible requirement for additional courses/credits for bachelor’s degree completion.

Associate of Arts in Teaching
The Associate of Arts in Teaching degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a planned program of collegiate level work that is transferable toward a baccalaureate degree in teacher education as stated in Arkansas Code § 6-61-231 (2012) This two-year transfer degree is designed to introduce students to the profession of teaching, to increase the number of teacher candidates, to ease transfer from two- to four-year institutions, and to maximize the credit hours taken at the two-year institution. The degree must include the state minimum general education core (35 semester credit hours) that requires courses in English/writing, the humanities and fine arts, history and the social sciences, mathematics, and the natural sciences. The Associate of Arts in Teaching is designed to align with state licensure requirements and consists of 60-64 semester credit hours. In order to receive the AAT, students must have met the basic skills requirement (Praxis Core, Act, SAT, or equivalent measures) for the receiving four-year institution. Any two-year public institution may offer the AAT and/or may continue to offer Associate of Science in Education (ASE) degrees that are guided by Memorandums of Understanding in partnership with four-year institutions.

Associate of Science
The Associate of Science degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a program of collegiate level work with an occupational objective of which of the courses are transferable toward a specified baccalaureate degree at a college/university. The degree must include 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 must require 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.  The field of study must be specified in the degree title.  The range of hours is 60-66 semester credit hours. Exceptions to this range may be allowed for documented transfer and bachelor’s degree completion purposes.  College advisors must document that students have been informed of the universities accepting this associate degree for full transfer to specified bachelor’s degrees.
 
Associate of Science in Business
The Associate of Science in Business (ASB) degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a planned program of collegiate level work that is transferable toward a specified baccalaureate degree in business. This statewide transfer degree is designed to ease transfer from two- to four-year institutions, and to maximize the credit hours taken at the two-year institution.  The degree must include the 35 semester 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 Associate of Science in Business consists of 62 semester credit hours. Remedial/developmental education courses must be used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.  In order to receive the ASB, students must have a minimum final grade point average.  No course substitutions are allowed for the ASB degree. (ADHE can remove the ASB from the AHECB Approved Program Inventory for any institution that does not offered the state-approve ASB curriculum.) The ASB degree only can be offered by Arkansas two-year colleges, and the junior- and senior-level courses required for the specified bachelor’s degrees in business must be submitted to ADHE by the each participating Arkansas university.  All institutions participating in the ASB-Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program must have a signed agreement on file at ADHE and must designate an institutional contact for the ASB program.

Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Associate of Science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences will be awarded to students who successfully complete a program of collegiate level work of which all of the courses are transferable toward a specified baccalaureate degree. The degree must include 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 must require 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.  Typically, the field of study is not specified in the degree title.  The range of hours is 60-66 semester credit hours.  Two-year college advisors must document that students have been informed of the universities accepting this associate degree for full transfer to specified bachelor’s degrees.

Non-Transferable

Associate of Applied Science
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a program of collegiate level work which is primarily designed for direct employment.  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.  A minimum of 30-36 semester hours must be in a technical area.  An additional component of the program of study should be support courses from other related technical disciplines.  The curriculum must require demonstrated 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 degree requirements.  The occupational field may be specified in the title of the degree (e.g., Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Technology).  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.  College advisors must document that students have been informed of the universities accepting this associate degree for full transfer to specified bachelor’s degrees.

Associate of Applied Science in General Technology
The Associate of Applied Science in General Technology program will be awarded to students who successfully complete an individualized program of study to fulfill a unique career goal that cannot be met through the completion of a single program offered by the institution.  The program must include 15 semester credit hours of general education courses: English/writing, mathematics, computer application/fundamentals, and social sciences. There must be 24-30 semester hours in a major technical area, and 15-21 semester hours of support courses from other related technical disciplines.  A maximum of 30 semester hours may be awarded for experiential learning or work experience. The curriculum must require demonstrated 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 degree requirements.  Typically, the field of study is not specified in the degree title. The range of hours is 60-72 semester credit hours.

Associate of General Studies/Professional Studies/Liberal Arts/Fine Arts
The Associate of General Studies, Associate of Professional Studies, Associate of Liberal Arts, or Associate of Fine Arts degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a planned program of collegiate level work that includes a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education courses and occupational, liberal arts, and/or fine arts courses.  The curriculum must require demonstrated mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in at least one specific area or discipline.  The program of study must be developed cooperatively by the student and the institution.  The degree is intended to serve as a flexible program option for students whose needs cannot be met by other programs.  Individual courses may fulfill requirements for transfer toward a baccalaureate degree, direct employment or educational enrichment.  Remedial/developmental education courses must be used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.  The range of hours is 60-66 semester credit hours.  

Associate of Occupational Studies
The Associate of Occupational Studies degree will be awarded to students who successfully complete a planned program of collegiate level work that includes a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education courses and occupational courses.  The curriculum must require demonstrated mastery of skills and knowledge against specified performance standards in at least one specific area or discipline.  The program of study must be developed cooperatively by the student and the institution.  The degree is intended to serve as a flexible program option for students whose needs cannot be met by other programs.  Individual courses may fulfill requirements for transfer toward a baccalaureate degree, direct employment or educational enrichment.  Remedial/ developmental education courses must be used for placement purposes only and cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.  Typically, the field of study is not specified in the degree title. The range of hours is 60-72 semester credit hours.

Based on field of study (major) at participating two- and four-year institutions

For Associates degrees based on specific field of study (e.g. Associate of Science in agriculture, chemistry, business, etc.) only AHECB or the ADHE Director can approve them in specific fields of study. Signed agreements between institutions in which the associate and baccalaureate degrees are articulated must be on file with ADHE. Published statements designating institutions where the degree will fully transfer in that field of study must be made available to the students and the general public.