Associate of Arts

Campus Location: Calmar, Peosta, Dubuque, Online

Program Entry: Enrollment may occur during any term

Award: Associate of Arts degree

Refer to the “Degree and Diploma Requirements ” section of this catalog.

Enrollment Process: See Enrollment Process  

The Associate of Arts degree provides a course of study which, if satisfactorily completed, will readily transfer to most colleges and universities. College parallel-transfer curricula permit completion of the equivalent of the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program in numerous institutions.

General education core courses completed for the degree are useful regardless of whether you terminate your formal education at NICC or continue your formal education at another college. Recommendations for electives related to areas of interest are provided to guide students interested in pursuing a four-year degree in the area of emphasis.

If you plan to transfer to a four-year college, you should select courses to satisfy requirements of the specific institution to which you intend to transfer. Consult your advisor at the transferring four-year institution anytime you have questions about course selection.

The Associate of Arts degree is a useful beginning if you want to get a professional degree in business, education, engineering, social work and other areas.

General Degree Requirements

1. The Associate of Arts degree will include a minimum of 60 semester hours of courses designed and acceptable for transfer, and may include up to 16 semester hours of career-technical courses. Note: Students not ready to begin college/transfer level writing and math courses may need additional prerequisite coursework that requires them to exceed the 60 credit hours minimum.
2. Students transferring an Associate of Arts degree to a public university must have maintained a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 on all graded arts and sciences courses acceptable for transfer.
3. A 2.0 cumulative GPA and a passing grade in all required courses.
4. Earn a minimum of 18 credit hours at NICC that meet degree requirements.
5. Demonstrated computer literacy is a requirement for graduation. This requirement may be met with BCA 112 , BCA 212 , CSC 110 , GIS 111 .
6. Completion of SDV 179 - The College Experience  course.

Specific Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree

1. Meet minimum general education core requirements in each of the following areas:
   1. Communication: ENG 105 , SPC 112  and ENG 106 . 9 Credit(s)
   2. Math and Science (transfer-level): Minimum of one math and one science course: BIO, CHM, ENV, MAT, PHS, PHY. One science course must include a lab component. 10 Credit(s)
   3. Social Science (transfer-level): Select courses from at least two different disciplines in this teaching area: ECN, GEO, POL, PSY, SOC. 9 Credit(s)
   4. Humanities (transfer-level): Select courses from at least two different disciplines: ART, ASL, CLS, DRA, FLS, HIS, HUM, LIT, MUA, MUS, PHI, REL. 12 Credit(s)
   5. College Experience: SDV 179  3 Credit(s) One of the following Literature courses is required: LIT 101 , LIT 110 , LIT 111 , LIT 142 , LIT:145, LIT 186 .
      
      One of the following History courses is required: ART 203 , ART 204 , HIS 131 , HIS 132 , HIS 151 , HIS 152 , HIS 214 .
      
      One of the following diversity courses is required: ASL 131 , ASL 161 , ASL 241 , ASL 271 , CLS 150 , COM 148 , FLS 141 , FLS 142 , FLS 242 , FLS 282 , HIS 214 , HUM 108 , HUM 170 , LIT 115 , LIT 186 , SOC 208 .
2. Remaining Requirements: The remaining 20 semester hours will be accepted from arts and sciences electives designed and acceptable for transfer, with the understanding that up to 16 semester hours of career-technical credit could be applied. (See the Course Classification and Description System .)