Associate of Arts Degree
The Associate of Arts (AA) focuses on education across academic disciplines. Focusing on integration of information while increasing a student’s employability, the AA focuses on transferability to a baccalaureate program.
To receive the AA degree, the following requirements must be completed:
- Montana University System Core Requirements (31 semester hours);
- Computer Skills/Usage requirement (3 semester hours);
- 9 credits of coursework in the arts, humanities and social sciences;
- 17 credits of Electives; and
- A final cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
Courses taken to fulfill one specific requirement, including courses in the Concentration or Elective blocks, may not be used to fulfill another specific requirement; thus, a course taken to fulfill the Cultural Diversity requirement in the Montana University System Core may not be used as an Elective.
Outcomes: Graduates are prepared to:
- Demonstrate the outcomes achievable by completing the Montana University System Core;
- Select and use the appropriate technologies for personal, academic or career tasks;
- Think critically about theories and applications from multiple disciplines when evaluating information, solving problems, and making decisions.
Estimated Resident Program Cost:
| Tuition and Fees | $7498.40 |
| Application Fee | $30 |
| Lab Fees | $60 |
| Books | $750 |
| TOTAL: | $8338.40 |
I. Montana University System Core Courses -
31 Semester Hours
Offered Online and On Campus
(Need 3 writing & 3 verbal credits)
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| ENGL | 121** | Composition I AND 1 of the following |
3+ |
| COLS | 101 | First Year Seminar | 3+ |
| COMM | 130 | Public Speaking | 3+ |
| COMM | 135 | Interpersonal Communication | 3+ |
Mathematics - 3 credits
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| MATH | 130** | Precalculus Algebra | 4+ |
| MATH | 131** | Precalculus Trigonometry | 3+ |
| MATH | 150** | Math for Liberal Arts | 3+ |
| MATH | 161** | College Algebra w/ Science App | 3+ |
| MATH | 181** | Calculus I | 4+ |
| MATH | 216** | Basic Statistics | 4+ |
Humanities/Fine Arts - 6 credits
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| ART | 101 | Intro to Visual Arts | 3+ |
| ART | 114 | Art Fundamentals | 3+ |
| ART | 140 | Drawing I | 3+ |
| DE | 161 | Introduction to Design | 3+ |
| ENGL | 114 | Intro to Literature | 3+ |
| ENGL | 210* | World Literature I | 3+ |
| ENGL | 211* | World Literature II | 3+ |
| ENGL | 217 | Creative Writing | 3+ |
| HUM | 242 | Gender & Equality | 3+ |
| MUS | 102 | Fundamentals of Music | 3+ |
| MUS | 210 | Music Appreciation | 3+ |
| MUS | 212 | American Music | 3+ |
| MUS | 214 | World Music | 3+ |
| PHIL | 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3+ |
| PHIL | 232 | Basic Ethics | 3+ |
Natural Science - 7 credits
(Must include 1 lab course)
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| BIO | 103** | Introduction to Biology/Lab | 4+ |
| BIO | 107** | Fund of Human Biology/Lab | 4+ |
| BIO | 151* | Molecular & Cellular Biology/Lab | 4+ |
| BIO | 152 | Organismal Biology/Lab | 4+ |
| BIO | 205 | Personal Nutrition | 3+ |
| CHM | 111* | Inorganic Chemistry/Lab | 4+ |
| CHM | 131* | General Chemistry I | 4+ |
| CHM | 132* | General Chemistry II | 4+ |
| GEOL | 101 | Introduction to Geology | 4+ |
| PHYS | 110 | Survey of Natural Sciences | 3+ |
| PHYS | 130 | Fund Physical Science Lab | 4+ |
Social Sciences/History - 6 credits
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| ECON | 102 | Economics I (Macro) | 3+ |
| ECON | 201 | Economics II (Micro) | 3+ |
| HIST | 103N | History of the U.S. I | 3+ |
| HIST | 104N | History of the U.S. II | 3+ |
| HIST | 106 | History of Western Civ I | 3+ |
| HIST | 107 | History of Western Civ II | 3+ |
| HIST | 210N | Montana History | 3+ |
| PSY | 101 | General Psychology | 3+ |
| PSY | 109 | Lifespan Development | 3+ |
| SOC | 111 | Introduction to Sociology | 3+ |
| SOC | 115 | Survey of Criminal Justice | 3+ |
| POLS | 206 | U.S. Government | 3+ |
Cultural Diversity - 3 credits
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| ANT | 101 | Intro to Anthropology | 3+ |
| BUS | 249 | Global Marketing | 3+ |
| ENGL | 214N | Literature of the West | 3+ |
| HUM | 244 | American Cultural Values | 3+ |
| ML | 121 | Intro to American Sign Lang | 3+ |
| NAS | 201N | Montana's American Indians | 3+ |
| NAS | 215N | Native American Religious Trad | 3+ |
CULTURAL HERITAGE OF AMERICAN INDIANS--3 CREDITS
Courses with an “N” behind the course title will fulfill the Cultural Heritage of American Indians requirement as well as a designated core area requirement.
II. Computer Skills / Usage - 3 credits
| Course | No. | Title | Credits |
| CIT | 110 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
| CIT | 111 | Intro to Computers for Tech Majors | 3 |
| OR any CIT 3 credit hour course that has CIT 110 as a prerequisite |
No more than 5 credits of courses numbered 116 may be applied toward the Degree.
III. Concentration in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences - 9 credits
Students may choose coursework numbered 100 or above from any of the following discipline areas to complete the required 9 credits of coursework in arts, humanities, and social sciences.
(ART) Art, (ANTH) Anthropology, (COMM) Communication, (ECON) Economics, (EDPY) Educational Psychology, (ENGL) English (except ENGL 118, ENGL 119 or ENGL 120), (HIST) History, (HUM) Humanities, (MUS) Music, (ML) Modern Languages, (NAS) Native American Studies, (POLS) Political Science, (PHIL) Philosophy, (PSY) Psychology, (SOC) Sociology
IV. Electives - 17 credits
Students may choose coursework numbered 100 or above from any discipline area to complete the required 17 credits of electives. Students may not choose or may not count the following courses:
MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 104, MATH 108, ENGL 118, ENGL 119, ENGL 120
Total Program Credits: 60
~Many students need preliminary math, English or biology courses before enrolling in the program requirements. These courses may increase the total number of program credits. Students should review their math and English placement before planning out their full program schedules.
+ A grade of "C-" or above required for graduation
* Indicates prerequisites needed
** Placement in course(s) is determined by placement assessment
