General Studies, A

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Program Mission

The Associate Degree in General Studies is a transfer program. It is designed to meet the needs of students who have a variety of backgrounds and interests. This program appeals to students who have identified distinct careers but find no matching curricula available and to those who need to explore interests and test their potential for satisfactory performance in selected areas of a curriculum. Students, in conjunction with an advisor, can design a unique program by selecting courses from among several different disciplines while fulfilling the basic degree requirements of the College.

Program Goals

To provide an opportunity for students to acquire the general education competencies expected of an Associate of General Studies graduate
To provide coursework that will allow students to transfer with minimal or no loss of credit to a variety of baccalaureate degree programs offered by public 4-year institutions
To provide an opportunity for students to develop unique career goals and marketable skills for the chosen concentration area in order to complete their four year degree or enter the workplace.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Associate of General Studies degree will

Demonstrate competence in written and verbal communication skills, quantitative reasoning and critical thinking
Be able to use information technology in their personal and professional lives
Acquire and demonstrate knowledge and skills delivered through the content of concentration area courses
Be a critical thinker who connects core knowledge and skills to discipline-specific information at a higher level of study

Specific Degree Requirements

Students wishing to earn an Associates of General Studies Degree from South Louisiana Community College must:

Have a degree program adjusted SLCC cumulative average of 2.0.
Have earned at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree through SLCC courses.
Have earned at least a “C” in each course unless stated by a specific program.
Used no more than one-third credit in required major courses and no more than 50 percent of credit hours total from non-traditional sources, Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), to meet the degree requirements, unless required by a specific program.
Have completed at least the number of credits stipulated in the degree program.

General Education Requirements

(27 Total credit hours)

English 6 Credits
Mathematics 3 Credits
Natural Science 6 Credits
Social/Behavioral Science 6 Credits *
Fine Arts 3 Credits
Humanities 3 Credits

*3 hours must be at the sophomore level

Elective Credit Requirements

(33 Total Credit Hours)

Note:

Students who plan to transfer after completion of the degree should discuss their plans with an advisor from the college of intended transfer to assure transferability of credits.

Curriculum Guide

Semester 1

ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition 3 Credits
MATH 1105 College Algebra 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits ⁵ (Recommend: SFSE 1003)
Social/Behavioral Science 3 Credits ⁴
Fine Arts Elective 3 Credits³

Total: 15

Semester 2

ENGL 1020 Composition & Critical Thought 3 Credits
Humanities 3 Credits ¹
Natural Science 3 Credits ² (Lab Optional)
Elective 3 Credits ⁵
General Education Elective 3 Credits ⁷

Certificate of General Studies Total: 15

Semester 3

Social/Behavioral Science 3 Credits ⁴
Elective 3 Credits ⁵(Recommend: English Literature)
Natural Science 3 Credits ² (Lab optional)
Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Elective 3 Credits ⁵

Total: 15

Semester 4

Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Elective 3 Credits ⁵
Elective 3 Credits ⁵

Total: 15

Associate of General Studies Total Credits: 60

Must have a grade of “C” or higher in all courses

¹Humanities options: HIST, 2XXX ENGL (except ENGL 2045 and 2070), or CMCN (except CMCN 1170, 1270, and 2145)

² Choose from BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, PHSC, PHYS. Most science lecture courses have an associated lab course, which may or may not be required depending on student’s intended major after transfer - for the SLCC AGS degree only the 6 lecture credits are required. Students planning to continue their education at a baccalaureate institution are encouraged to complete courses in the same science discipline (e.g. in-sequence BIOL or in-sequence CHEM).

³ Fine Arts options: ARTS, MUSC, THEA

⁴ Social/Behavioral Science options: ANTH, CJUS, ECON, GEOG, POLI, PSYC, SOCI, one must be 2000 level

⁵ Electives should be selected with the assistance of an advisor, and may be taken from any of the above areas as well as Foreign Languages (FREN or SPAN), MCIS, ACCT, GBUS, SPCH and CMCN 1270. Students planning to continue their education at a baccalaureate institution are encouraged to consult that institution to maximize transferability. SFSE is now an elective credit, but should be taken by first-year students (within 1st 24 credits of enrollment), especially for those also enrolled in 00XX MATH and ENGL 00XX courses and for students intending transfer to 4-year institution with similar requirement (ULL). For transfer it is also recommended that students take a 2nd MATH beyond MATH 1105 and an ENGL 2000-level lit course (not including 2045/2070) for two of the elective slots. SPCH courses are highly recommended as many 4-year transfer programs require Public speaking or some form of Human Communication course - students are urged to check the requirements of intended transfer institutions and programs.

⁶ The total AGS Degree credits must be 60, but if optional labs are taken or if student takes a 4-Credit Foreign language the total number may exceed 60. If enrollment in labs and/or combination of one (1)-credit options adds up to 3 credits then one less elective may be taken so long as the total number of credits equals 60.

25% (15 credits) must be completed at SLCC to qualify for AGS degree.