General Ed Degree Plan

[Gaz]

The difference between a BS and BA is not the same as the difference between a AS and AA.

An AA is broader and in most states is designed to fulfill all the general education requirements for a BS/BA degree. It allows you to transfer into any major as a junior. An AS has a specific focus like business administration, nursing, computer networking, etc. It is designed to prepare you for the workforce AND transfer to university. Yes, very similar to an AAS.
I did not assume anything. Don't take my word for it, check out university transfer policies.

This is from St. Leo University:

"If you have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution, you may transfer as many as 64 credits.

All Other Undergraduate Degrees and Course Credits:
Your credits will be evaluated by the Saint Leo Registrar on a course-by-course basis if you have credits from a regionally accredited institution, or an associate's degree other than an Associate of Arts (e.g. Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, Associate in General Studies, Associate in Business, or other associate degree)."

It is true that you should pick the degree that suits your situation best; however, an AA is more widely accepted in transfer.

For example, I am currently in nursing school. It is an AS program, 72 credits. Assume that those are the only credits I ever earned, when I transfer to the BS in Nursing program I will be required to complete more math, english, humanities. However, that will not be the case because I have an AA degree. The requirements for my AA were not the same as the requirements for one at my current college. It does not matter, I have an AA and therefore meet all the general education requirements.

This is from my school's BSN FAQ: (St Petersburg College)

Q: I have an A.S. (or A.A.S.) degree. Will I need to take general education courses in addition to the
nursing curriculum?
A: Yes, you will need to complete all lower division (a.) state-mandated prerequisite, (b.) general education/AA
degree, and (c.) foreign language requirements listed on the Admission Guide/Checklist before taking
the upper division courses in the BSN curriculum. You may complete your lower division requirements at
your local regionally accredited college or at SPC.

Q: I have an A.A. degree. Will I need to take general education courses in addition to the nursing
curriculum?
A: No. Having a regionally accredited Associate in Arts (AA) degree exempts you from general education
courses.

[clep3705]

The difference between an A.A. and an A.S. varies. At the second largest community college system in the United States, the A.A. and the A.S. share a common core curriculum of 42 hours as evidenced by this: Core Requirements for the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science. The A.S. requires one more math course and two more science courses than the A.A. The A.S. is highly transferrable and for those pursuing a science, math, or engineering degree, the A.S. is more transferrable than the A.A.

In Texas, the completion of either an A.A. or A.S. degree means that the graduate is Texas Academic Core Curriculum complete and all state funded universities are compelled by law to consider a person who is core complete from a community college (even if the A.A. or A.S. wasn't completed) to have satisfied all general education requirements.

An Associate of Applied Science or A.A.S. is more of a technical or vocational degree than an academic degree. Nursing and emergency services degrees tend to be A.A.S. at the community college level.

[publius2k4]

My plan at the moment is to just get an AA in General Ed and then transfer to a university (hopefully in VA)... I was thinking about following Cookderosa's plan (Cookderosa's AA in General Education - Degree Forum Wiki), but I see that FEMA is no longer in play. Any suggestions on what to fill out free electives with? Or a different plan altogether?

Do you have any courses already?

[Gaz]

Right, it does vary and that is why I said in most states. By "widely accepted" I mean in the broadest sense, the most places possible. For instance, the AS degree that is "more transferable" than the AA degree in Texas is not as transferable in Florida and many other places. Don't get me wrong, I do realize Texas is a massive place. :-)

[publius2k4]

Here is an outline for an AA from COSC:

Written Communication:
CLEP College Composition - 6 Credits

Oral Communication:
DSST Principles of Speech - 3 Credits

Information Literacy:
Cornerstone Course taken at COSC - 3 Credits

Ethical Decision Making:
DSST Ethics in America - 3 Credits

American History/Government:
CLEP American Government - 3 Credits

Global Understanding:
DSST Intro to World Religions - 3 Credits

Literature and the Fine Arts:
CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature - 6 Credits

Social/Behavioral Sciences:
CLEP Introductory Psychology - 3 Credits

Mathematics:
CLEP College Algebra - 3 Credits

Natural Science:
CLEP Natural Sciences - 6 Credits
Straighterline Intro to Biology Lab - 1 Credit


Free Electives:
CLEP Social Sciences - 6 Credits
CLEP College Mathematics - 6 Credits
FEMA Courses -9 Credits


Total of 49 Liberal Arts Credits (enough for an AA and only 11 away from enough liberal arts credits for the BS). I'd recommend racking up more liberal arts credit rather than FEMA, but FEMA is an option.

With this plan, if you were to continue to a BA or BS at COSC, all of your General Education Requirements would have been met. You would simply need to complete your concentration requirements and more electives.

Keep in mind that there are MANY options for fulfilling the general education requirements. You can view the COSC Exam Master List (linked earlier in this thread) and adjust the plan as you see fit.

Another thing to note: If you were to drop the two exams I have listed for your electives, you could fill all your electives with FEMA. However, this would grant you an AS instead of an AA.

EDIT: I've posted this degree plan in the Wiki for future reference: http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/COSC_Degree_Plans

[theXodus]

Do you have any courses already?

Just ENG101 from 2 years ago at a community college...

[theXodus]

Right, it does vary and that is why I said in most states. By "widely accepted" I mean in the broadest sense, the most places possible. For instance, the AS degree that is "more transferable" than the AA degree in Texas is not as transferable in Florida and many other places. Don't get me wrong, I do realize Texas is a massive place. :-)

The smoke is beginning to clear thanks for the insight!

Here is an outline for an AA from COSC:

Written Communication:
CLEP College Composition - 6 Credits

Oral Communication:
DSST Principles of Speech - 3 Credits

Information Literacy:
Cornerstone Course taken at COSC - 3 Credits

Ethical Decision Making:
DSST Ethics in America - 3 Credits

American History/Government:
CLEP American Government - 3 Credits

Global Understanding:
DSST Intro to World Religions - 3 Credits

Literature and the Fine Arts:
CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature - 6 Credits

Social/Behavioral Sciences:
CLEP Introductory Psychology - 3 Credits

Mathematics:
CLEP College Algebra - 3 Credits

Natural Science:
CLEP Natural Sciences - 6 Credits
Straighterline Intro to Biology Lab - 1 Credit


Free Electives:
CLEP Social Sciences - 6 Credits
CLEP College Mathematics - 6 Credits
FEMA Courses -9 Credits


Total of 49 Liberal Arts Credits (enough for an AA and only 11 away from enough liberal arts credits for the BS). I'd recommend racking up more liberal arts credit rather than FEMA, but FEMA is an option.

With this plan, if you were to continue to a BA or BS at COSC, all of your General Education Requirements would have been met. You would simply need to complete your concentration requirements and more electives.

Keep in mind that there are MANY options for fulfilling the general education requirements. You can view the COSC Exam Master List (linked earlier in this thread) and adjust the plan as you see fit.

Another thing to note: If you were to drop the two exams I have listed for your electives, you could fill all your electives with FEMA. However, this would grant you an AS instead of an AA.

EDIT: I've posted this degree plan in the Wiki for future reference: COSC Degree Plans - Degree Forum Wiki

Thanks for the awesome plan! It really does help me a lot...cheersmate