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Associate in Arts

Degree, Online, On Campus

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Program Overview

The Associate in Arts degree is designed for students interested in transferring to a four-year institution and majoring in a non-STEM subject (something other than science, technology, engineering, or math). For example, the AA is appropriate for students majoring in Art, Business, Communications, Criminal Justice, Education, English, History, Languages, Marketing, Music, Philosophy, Physical Education, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, Social Work, etc.

Students who complete the associate’s degree are considered to have fulfilled the institution-wide, lower division requirements of the receiving institution. Graduates of the Associate in Arts degree program (60-61 semester hour credits) will be eligible to transfer to all constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina with junior status if admitted into the institution.

Students should select courses based on their intended major and transfer university requirements. The same course cannot be counted in more than one category. Students must meet the receiving institution's foreign language and/or health & P.E. requirements, if applicable, prior to or after transfer. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counted toward graduation and to ensure course transferability to the University of North Carolina system. Students interested in taking advanced Spanish language courses may also be interested in adding the Spanish Language Certificate to the Associate in Arts degree.

ONLINE PROGRAM INFORMATION: Surry offers this program online. Go to Online Learning for more information.

Program Contacts:

Dr. Ashley Morrison

Vice President of Instruction

Degree Curriculum

Academic Transition

ACA-122 College Transfer Success 1

Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) - 31-32 Credit Hours

English Composition (UGETC)

ENG-111 Writing and Inquiry 3
AND
ENG-112 Writing and Research in the Disciplines 3

Communication/Humanities/Fine Arts (UGETC) - Select Two Courses From Two Disciplines

COM-231 Public Speaking 3
ART-111 Art Appreciation 3
ART-114 Art History Survey I 3
ART-115 Art History Survey II 3
ENG-231 American Literature I 3
ENG-232 American Literature II 3
ENG-241 British Literature I 3
ENG-242 British Literature II 3
MUS-110 Music Appreciation 3
MUS-112 Introduction to Jazz 3
PHI-240 Introduction to Ethics 3

Literature Requirement (UGETC) - Select One Course

ENG-231 American Literature I 3
ENG-232 American Literature II 3
ENG-241 British Literature I 3
ENG-242 British Literature II 3

Social/Behavioral Science (UGETC) - Select Two Courses From Two Disciplines

ECO-251 Principles of Microeconomics 3
ECO-252 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
HIS-111 World Civilizations I 3
HIS-112 World Civilizations II 3
HIS-131 American History I 3
HIS-132 American History II 3
POL-120 American Government 3
PSY-150 General Psychology 3
SOC-210 Introduction to Sociology 3

History Requirement (UGETC) - Select One Course

HIS-111 World Civilizations I 3
HIS-112 World Civilizations II 3
HIS-131 American History I 3
HIS-132 American History II 3

Mathematics (UGETC) - Select One Course

MAT-143 Quantitative Literacy 3
MAT-152 Statistical Methods I 4
MAT-171 Precalculus Algebra 4

Natural Sciences (UGETC) - Select One Course

BIO-110 Principles of Biology 4
BIO-111 General Biology I 4
CHM-151 General Chemistry I 4
PHY-110 Conceptual Physics 3
AND
PHY-110A Conceptual Physics Lab 1

General Education Courses - 14 Credit Hours

Second Math - Select One Course

MAT-143 Quantitative Literacy 3
MAT-152 Statistical Methods I 4
MAT-171 Precalculus Algebra 4
MAT-172 Precalculus Trigonometry 4
MAT-263 Brief Calculus 4
MAT-271 Calculus I 4
MAT-273 Calculus III 4

Second Natural Science - Select One Course

BIO-110 Principles of Biology 4
BIO-111 General Biology I 4
BIO-112 General Biology II 4
BIO-120 Introductory Botany 4
BIO-130 Introductory Zoology 4
BIO-140 Environmental Biology 3
AND
BIO-140A Environmental Biology Lab 1
CHM-131 Introduction to Chemistry 3
AND
CHM-131A Introduction to Chemistry Lab 1
CHM-132 Organic and Biochemistry 4
CHM-151 General Chemistry I 4
CHM-152 General Chemistry II 4
PHY-110 Conceptual Physics 3
AND
PHY-110A Conceptual Physics Lab 1
PHY-151 College Physics I 4
PHY-152 College Physics II 4
PHY-251 General Physics I 4
PHY-252 General Physics II 4

Additional General Education - Select six Hours From Any Previous Listing Or From The Following

ANT-210 General Anthropology 3
CIS-110 Introduction to Computers 3
DRA-111 Theatre Appreciation 3
DRA-126 Storytelling 3
ECO-151 Survey of Economics 3
ENG-113 Literature-Based Research 3
ENG-114 Professional Research & Reporting 3
ENG-131 Introduction to Literature 3
ENG-261 World Literature I 3
ENG-262 World Literature II 3
GEO-111 World Regional Geography 3
HUM-110 Technology and Society 3
HUM-115 Critical Thinking 3
HUM-120 Cultural Studies 3
HUM-122 Southern Culture 3
HUM-130 Myth in Human Culture 3
HUM-220 Human Values and Meaning 3
MUS-210 History of Rock Music 3
PSY-239 Psychology of Personality 3
PSY-241 Developmental Psychology 3
PSY-281 Abnormal Psychology 3
REL-110 World Religions 3
REL-211 Introduction to Old Testament 3
REL-212 Introduction to New Testament 3
REL-221 Religion in America 3
SOC-213 Sociology of the Family 3
SOC-220 Social Problems 3
SOC-225 Social Diversity 3
SOC-230 Race and Ethnic Relations 3
SPA-111 Elementary Spanish I 3
SPA-112 Elementary Spanish II 3
SPA-211 Intermediate Spanish I 3
SPA-212 Intermediate Spanish II 3

Elective Courses - Select 14 Hours From Any Previous Listing Or From The Following:

ACC-120 Principles of Financial Accounting 4
ACC-121 Principles of Managerial Accounting 4
ART-121 Two-Dimensional Design 3
ART-122 Three-Dimensional Design 3
ART-131 Drawing I 3
ART-132 Drawing II 3
ART-140 Basic Painting 2
ART-214 Portfolio and Resume 1
ART-215 Visual Art Portfolio 3
ART-240 Painting I 3
ART-241 Painting II 3
ART-244 Watercolor 3
ART-264 Digital Photography I 3
ART-281 Sculpture I 3
ART-283 Ceramics I 3
ART-284 Ceramics II 3
ART-285 Ceramics III 3
ART-286 Ceramics IV 3
BIO-143 Field Biology Minicourse 2
BIO-145 Ecology 4
BIO-146 Regional Natural History 4
BIO-155 Nutrition 3
BIO-163 Basic Anatomy & Physiology 5
BIO-168 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
BIO-169 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
BIO-250 Genetics 4
BIO-275 Microbiology 4
BUS-110 Introduction to Business 3
BUS-115 Business Law I 3
BUS-137 Principles of Management 3
CHM-251 Organic Chemistry I 4
CHM-252 Organic Chemistry II 4
CJC-111 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
CJC-113 Juvenile Justice 3
CJC-121 Law Enforcement Operations 3
CJC-141 Corrections 3
CJC-212 Ethics & Community Relations 3
CSC-134 C++ Programming 3
CSC-139 Visual BASIC Programming 3
CSC-151 JAVA Programming 3
CSC-239 Advanced Visual BASIC Programming 3
EDU-144 Child Development I 3
EDU-145 Child Development II 3
EDU-216 Foundations of Education 3
EDU-221 Children With Exceptionalities 3
EGR-150 Intro to Engineering 2
ENG-125 Creative Writing I 3
ENG-126 Creative Writing II 3
ENG-272 Southern Literature 3
HEA-110 Personal Health/Wellness 3
HIS-145 The Second World War 3
HIS-163 The World Since 1945 3
HIS-221 African-American History 3
HIS-226 The Civil War 3
HIS-227 Native American History 3
HIS-237 The American Revolution 3
HIS-262 Middle East History 3
HUM-123 Appalachian Culture 3
HUM-180 International Cultural Exploration 3
HUM-230 Leadership Development 3
JOU-110 Introduction to Journalism 3
MAT-280 Linear Algebra 3
MAT-285 Differential Equations 3
PED-110 Fit and Well for Life 2
PED-111 Physical Fitness I 1
PED-112 Physical Fitness II 1
PED-117 Weight Training I 1
PED-118 Weight Training II 1
PED-119 Circuit Training 1
PED-120 Walking for Fitness 1
PED-142 Lifetime Sports 1
PED-143 Volleyball-Beginning 1
PED-144 Volleyball-Intermediate 1
PED-148 Softball 1
PED-150 Baseball - Beginning 1
PED-151 Baseball/Intermediate 1
PED-165 Sport Science As a Career 3
PED-170 Backpacking 1
PED-171 Nature Hiking 1
PED-252 Officiating Baseball and Softball 2
PED-256 Coaching Baseball 2
PSY-231 Forensic Psychology 3
PSY-243 Child Psychology 3
PSY-263 Educational Psychology 3
SOC-234 Sociology of Gender 3
SOC-244 Sociology of Death & Dying 3
SPA-141 Culture and Civilization 3
SPA-221 Spanish Conversation 3
SPA-231 Reading and Composition 3

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Associate in Arts program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate thinking that is clear, accurate, precise, relevant, logical, deep, broad, and fair, while analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating – Critical Thinking
  2. Produce writing that is clear, precise, organized, incisive, and correct (according to the guidelines of Standard Written English) for a variety of purposes and audiences – Writing
  3. Read actively and analytically at the college level and synthesize and apply information across disciplines – Reading
  4. Speak in a manner that is clear, precise, coherent, perceptive, audience-aware, and correct (according to SWE) in both small and large group settings – Speaking
  5. Recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information – Information Literacy

The AA is available online. Online degree students follow the same degree requirements and program learning outcomes as students earning the degree in the traditional format.

Related Programs

Program Name Program Type Delivery Method
Associate in Arts Pathway Degree On Campus
Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts Pathway Degree On Campus
Associate in General Education Degree On Campus
Associate in Science Pathway Degree On Campus

Program Facts

Students attending Surry Community College for two years instead of going straight to a four-year college or university typically save

$25,000

On average students who transfer from a community college outperform students who go straight to a four-year school.

Jewel Carrie Parker Vertical
Attending SCC is a great way for students to gain an affordable college education. The faculty and staff are extremely supportive and offer top-quality education.

Jewel Carrie Parker

SCC Graduate

Want to Learn More?

Choosing a college is an important decision, and we’re pleased that you’re interested in Surry Community College.