Associate in Arts (AA) (Transfer Degree)
Program Description
Palm Beach State College's Associate in Arts (A.A.) transfer degree is designed for the student who plans to transfer to a Florida public university or state college as a junior to complete a bachelor's degree.
During their AA program at Palm Beach State, students complete their lower-division coursework by taking the same courses that they would take as a freshman or sophomore at a university. That means a student plans his/her program of study around a planned major or career and the state university or state college he/she wants to attend. A student graduates with an A.A. degree from Palm Beach State, transfers to a university or state college to complete their final two years, and earns a bachelor's degree in one of hundreds of different major areas available at the state universities/colleges.
The A.A. degree requirements include:
- 36 credit hours of General Education courses and
- 24 credit hours of university transfer program courses.
It is important that a student select appropriate courses in both the General Education and university/college transfer program areas. A Palm Beach State advisor can assist with course selection, or students can use the FloridaShines.org on-line system, as detailed in this catalog section.
The Associate in Arts degree contains 36 hours of General Education. Each A.A student must complete these courses with a “C” or higher to meet graduation requirements. The student must carefully choose the courses that will satisfy General Education requirements. By checking the FloridaShines.org system, students can determine which courses the university to which they would like to transfer accepts as satisfying program requirements. For example, MGF1130 Mathematical Reasoning in Context 1 (AA) will satisfy the Associate in Arts degree requirements in mathematics but will not satisfy entrance requirements for a student who wishes to transfer to an upper division business administration program. It is imperative to check the www.FloridaShines.org Web site to find the correct courses, or see a Palm Beach State advisor.
Career Path Notes
Associate in Arts degree transfer programs - State universities/colleges in Florida offer more than 200 different majors that Palm Beach State students can pursue. Before planning a major, students are advised to:
- speak with a Palm Beach State advisor and
- consult the Catalog or the specific department at the university/college to which they plan to transfer to confirm which courses they should take at Palm Beach State.
All Florida college Associate in Arts graduates are guaranteed certain rights under the statewide Articulation Agreement listed in Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.024. The Articulation Agreement governs the transfer of students from Florida public colleges to the state university system. Guarantee of university/college admission does not guarantee admission to a limited access program. In a limited access program, the admissions requirements are more selective and may include a higher grade point average (GPA), higher test scores, auditions and/or portfolios. Selection for admissions to university/college limited access programs is competitive. However, college A.A. graduates have the same opportunity to enroll in these programs as students who began at the university.
Admission Requirements
Students must:
Have a standard high school diploma or GED;
Complete an Application for Admission located at www.pbsc.edu/admissions
For additional Information regarding admission requirements, please see the Admissions section of this catalog.
Completion Requirements
Students must successfully complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program. Responsibility for understanding and meeting the requirements for graduation rests with the student. In accordance with Florida State Board of Education Administrative Rule 6A-10.02413 students must meet the Civic Literacy Competency requirement. For additional information regarding graduation requirements, please see the Graduation section of this catalog.
Transfer Guidelines
Foreign Language Requirement
For undergraduate admission to a state university, students must have earned two credits of sequential foreign language at the high school level. If a student did not complete this requirement while in high school, the requirement can be met through successful completion of eight credit hours in one foreign language, or demonstration of proficiency by:
• Presenting an evaluated transcript indicating a high school education has been earned from an institution where the primary language of instruction is something other than English.
• Presenting an evaluated transcript showing transferred credits earned at an institution of higher education where the primary language of instruction is something other than English.
• Submitting proof of a score sufficient to earn foreign language level 2 units via CLEP, SAT II, AP, AICE, IB, or other appropriate exam accepted for credit or placement at Palm Beach State College.
Satisfaction of this university admission requirement may not satisfy a specific university graduation requirement of foreign language for certain majors. Students are encouraged to determine the graduation requirements for the university they plan to attend.
Choosing the Proper Courses to Satisfy University/College Admission Requirements
All state universities/colleges have provided lists of courses that meet admission requirements for each of its majors. These lists, also known as “common prerequisites,” detail the Required Courses needed in both General Education and university transfer program courses. In order to have each course at Palm Beach State count towards A.A. graduation and facilitate transfer to the desired major at the university/college, students should target their desired transfer university/college and major early in their coursework at Palm Beach State. Once a student has identified the university/college and program, finding the correct courses to take at the College can be accomplished by:
Meeting on a regular basis with a Palm Beach State advisor who can track your progress and make sure you are taking the correct courses for your desired university and major;
OR
Using the Web site developed by the State of Florida to facilitate student transfer called www.FloridaShines.org (a service of Florida Virtual Campus), which is detailed at the end of this section.
Other Transfer Opportunities for the Associate in Arts Degree
Palm Beach State College has transfer agreements with several private colleges and universities from around the nation. Included are all the members of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). For transfer agreement information, visit www.pbsc.edu/ Transfer
Program Length
Students may complete the program in two years if they attend full-time.
Location
The program is offered at all Palm Beach State College campuses.
Required courses
Required Courses (Credit Hours: 36)
ENC1101 | English Composition 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
ENC1102 | English Composition 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
HSC2100 | Health Concepts and Strategies (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
| Any 3-5 credit hour course from Areas-I-V | |
SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 Credits |
Select two courses from AREA II (Humanities) (Credits: 6)
Select two courses from AREA III (Mathematics) (Credits: 6)
Select two courses from AREA IV (Science) (Credits: 6)
Select two courses from AREA V (Social Science) (Credits: 6)
Common Prerequisite Courses (Credit: 24)
Total Credit Hours: 60
Selecting common prerequisite courses - overview of “FloridaShines” (a services of Florida Virtual Campus)
The FloridaShines online system provides comprehensive access to information for Florida high school and college students. The system, found at www.FloridaShines.org provides the student with access to information on programs and courses at Florida's 28 community colleges and 12 universities. Students can access transcripts and grades, and they can compare degrees to see how effectively their credits can transfer to other colleges and universities. To fully appreciate the scope and depth of the information provided, you are encouraged to explore the Go to College, Succeed in College and Plan Your Career sections of the FloridaShines site.