General Studies, A.S.

CIP Code: 24.0199
NOVA Code: 6990

Offered through AL, AN, LO, MA, NOL, WO

Purpose: This program is a flexible associate degree. For students who plan to transfer, the degree can parallel the first two years of a four-year bachelor of science program if they choose courses that match the transfer institution’s requirements. For those students who do not plan to transfer, the degree allows them to structure a program to suit their needs using accumulated credits from a variety of formal and experiential sources.

Transfer Information: Students are advised to work closely with the faculty and counseling staff for program and course scheduling. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet requirements of the transfer institution. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student. Students are encouraged to complete the A.S. degree before transferring. Some Virginia colleges and universities exclude General Studies graduates from participating in guaranteed admission programs.

Two Years

1st Semester

Total 14 credits

2nd Semester

CST Elective (3 CR.) ²
ENG 112 - College Composition II (3 CR.)
HIS Elective (3 CR.) ³
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 CR.) ⁴
Physical or Life Science Elective w/ Lab (4 CR.) ¹

Total 16 credits

3rd Semester

Open Elective(9 CR.)⁵
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 CR.) ⁴
Social/Behavioral Science Elective (3 CR.) ⁶

Total 15 credits

4th Semester

Open Electives (12 CR.) ⁵
Social/Behavioral Science Elective (3 CR.) ⁶

Total 15 credits

Total credits for the A.S. Degree in General Studies: 60 credits

¹ See biology, chemistry, ENV 121 -ENV 122 , physics, geology, or natural science courses with a lab component, listed under General Education Electives (excluding NAS 161 -NAS 162 ). Some four-year colleges require a two-semester sequence.

² Select from the following: CST 100 , CST 110 , CST 126 , or CST 229 .

3 See HIS courses listed under social/behavioral sciences under General Education Electives .

⁴ See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives . Elective should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

⁵See a list of Open Elective

6 If transfer to another college is planned, the elective courses should be selected based on the requirements of the transfer institution.

⁷ See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives .