Liberal Arts, A.S.

The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree is awarded to the student who successfully completes a program designed to transfer to a four-year college or university for the purpose of earning a baccalaureate degree. Although the requirements of the Associate of Arts (A.A.) and the Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are similar, the Associate of Science degree includes more science and mathematics.

Liberal Arts is the only major a student may pursue within the A.S. degree.

All courses included in General Education in the A.S. degree are intended to transfer. Occasional elective arts and sciences courses and most career and technical courses may not be accepted for transfer by particular baccalaureate institutions. See Approved Degree Electives  for appropriate electives for the A.S. degree. Once students have determined which baccalaureate institution they wish to transfer to, they should confirm and obtain in writing the receiving institution’s transfer requirements, including a list of specific courses. Students can also consult the website at http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Transfers/ for transfer guides to arts and sciences majors at Colorado’s four-year colleges and universities.

General Requirements for the A.S. Degree

Students pursuing an Associate of Science degree must see an advisor to develop their educational plan. Furthermore, all degree plans must be approved by the faculty advisor and the appropriate Mathematics or Science Department Chair.

The following are general requirements for the A.S. degree:

1. Sixty (60) semester credit hours in approved course work are required for graduation.
2. A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (a ‘C’ average) in the A.S. degree program curriculum. GPA requirements for admission into four year institutions may be higher than 2.0. Students interested in transferring should contact the receiving institution for specific admission requirements.
3. Fifteen (15) semester hours of course work applicable to the degree program and completed prior to graduation must be Aims Community College courses.
4. No courses numbered below 100 may be applied toward completion of the A.S. degree.
5. The A.S. degree is awarded only to those students who have met the minimum degree requirements and who have demonstrated competency in both mathematics and science disciplines. This degree will not be granted to students who have completed only survey type courses in several mathematics and science areas. All course prerequisites must be met; and all mathematics, science, and computer courses applied to this degree must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
6. An advisor in the field of study must review and sign the application for graduation and the degree worksheet to verify that the student has met degree requirements. For the A.S. degree, the Mathematics or Science Department Chair must also sign the application. Required signatures certify that the faculty advisor and the mathematics and science departments have reviewed completion of the student’s degree requirements.

Students seeking the Associate of Science degree must earn minimum credits in the following subject areas:

General Education Credits

• Communication 6
• Arts & Humanities 9
• Behavioral & Social Sciences 9
• Mathematics 3
• Physical & Life Sciences 8
• Electives 25

Total: 60