Associate in Arts, A.A.

The Associate in Arts degree is the legally recognized transfer degree for the Florida College System and is specifically designed for the student who wishes to transfer into the State University System of Florida as a university junior.

To receive the A.A. degree, a student must complete a minimum of 60 college-level credit hours. The 60 hours must include the 36 credit hours of general education requirements and 24 hours of university transfer program prerequisites/electives. In addition to the credit hour requirement listed above, the student must:

1. Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all courses attempted that apply toward the A.A. degree;
2. Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours required for the degree at St. Johns River State College;
3. Satisfy the writing requirements of SBE Rule 6A-10.030 (Gordon Rule) by successfully completing at least 12 hours of courses requiring multiple collegelevel writing assignments;
4. Satisfy the mathematics requirements of SBE Rule 6A- 10.030 by successfully completing at least 6 hours of courses at the level of College Algebra or higher;
5. Complete and submit an application for graduation by the deadline listed in the College calendar;
6. Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.

While the College does not offer the Associate in Arts degree in any “major,” with proper planning of coursework students can complete the degree and many prerequisite courses necessary for admission to a variety of degree programs within the State University System. Each possible transfer major has a distinct listing of common prerequisite courses. Talk with your SJR State advisor about common prerequisites, and check the baccalaureate program website at the specific institution where you plan to transfer for additional important information about required prerequisite courses for your intended major.

Articulation Agreement and Admission to the State University System

Associate in Arts degree graduates are guaranteed certain rights under Florida Statute 1007.23 that establishes the statewide articulation agreement. This agreement governs the transfer of students from Florida College System institutions into the State University System and specifically addresses admission to the university and admission to specific programs within the university.

The articulation agreement designates the Associate in Arts degree as the transfer degree. In doing so, the agreement specifically guarantees that:

1. The degree holder will be granted admission to one of the state universities.
2. The graduate will be awarded at least 60 credit hours toward the baccalaureate degree.
3. Once a student has completed the general education requirement and it is noted on his transcript (regardless of whether an Associate in Arts degree is awarded), no state university or state college to which the student may transfer can require additional courses to the general education core.
4. When transferring among institutions participating in the Statewide Course Numbering System, an institution must accept all courses taken at the transfer institution if the same course with the same course number is offered at the receiving institution.
5. Credits earned through acceleration mechanisms (CLEP, dual enrollment, etc.) within the Associate in Arts degree will be transferable to the State University System.

Students seeking admission to a state university without the Associate in Arts degree are not protected by the articulation agreement and may be denied admission or lose credit hours when transferring. In most cases, these students must meet freshman admission requirements.

Additional transfer agreements exist between SJR State and universities for several Associate in Science degree programs. Students seeking admission to those programs are protected under the articulation agreements.

Admission to a Program Within a State University

The university determines the courses and prerequisites that must be taken in order to earn a baccalaureate degree for a specific program. Although all credit earned toward an Associate in Arts degree will transfer to a university, not all credit may satisfy the program prerequisites or the course requirements for a specific baccalaureate degree. Therefore, it is important to know the program requirements and to meet program prerequisites while completing the Associate in Arts degree. Talk with your SJR State advisor about common prerequisites, and check the baccalaureate program website at the specific institution where you plan to transfer for additional important information about required prerequisite courses for your intended major.

Limited Access Programs

Limited access programs within the State University System are programs that have additional admission requirements that are more restrictive than the university’s general admission requirements. The requirements may include minimum grade point averages, test scores, prerequisite courses, auditions, or portfolios.

Associate in Arts degree graduates are not guaranteed admission into limited access programs, but under the articulation agreement they are guaranteed the same opportunity as a native university student to enroll in a limited access program. Limited access program requirements are published in catalogs, counseling manuals, and other publications. Any changes in program requirements must include sufficient time for students to adjust to meet the program criteria.

Right of Appeal

Should a student be denied any of these guarantees, he has the right to file an appeal. Each State University and Florida College System institution has established appeal procedures. Students may contact the State University or Florida College System institution articulation officer for a copy of these procedures.

Physical Education Courses

Associate in Arts degree students should not use physical education activity courses as elective credit to fulfill the 60 credit hour requirement unless they wish to enter a program within the State University System that specifically requires such courses.

Gordon Rule Requirements

This rule applies to all students prior to receipt of an Associate in Arts degree from a public Florida College System institution or university or prior to entry into upper division of a public university.

For the purpose of this rule, a grade of “C” or better shall be considered successful completion for all courses that meet Gordon Rule requirements.

In accordance with Florida State Board of Education Rule Number 6A-10.030, all students must successfully complete at least 12 hours of courses requiring multiple college-level writing assignments. Students at SJR State may meet this requirement through the completion of ENC 1101 , ENC 1102 , any one of the designated Gordon Rule literature courses, and any one of the designated Gordon Rule humanities courses.

The Gordon Rule also requires all students enrolling in any college for the first time on or after January 1, 1983, to complete satisfactorily a minimum of six semester hours of mathematics. These mathematics courses must be at the College Algebra level or higher.

Foreign Language Requirement

The Foreign Language Competency requirement can be met by completion of two years of the same high school foreign language or completion of two semesters of the same college level foreign language or documented proficiency of a foreign language. If you did not complete two years of the same high school foreign language and do not have documented proficiency of a foreign language, you will need to complete two semesters of the same college level foreign language in order to graduate with your Associate in Arts degree. These foreign language credits will count towards your required general education elective and/or baccalaureate transfer program prerequisites/elective credit hours. Please check with your Academic Advisor or Workforce Outreach and Success Coordinator if you are unsure whether you already meet this requirement.

Native speakers of languages other than English may petition to waive the foreign language coursework requirement.

Native speakers who are able to demonstrate they completed part of their education in a non-English educational system should complete and submit the foreign language coursework waiver petition with proof of enrollment in a foreign language school in which the language of instruction was not English for a specific, prolonged period of concurrent academic years, generally to include at a minimum the completion of at least three years of formal schooling. Additional documentation may be requested at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Native speakers without proof of foreign education have the following options:

• If the language is currently offered by St. Johns River State College, the student may petition to complete a campus based proficiency examination by a qualified SJR State foreign language faculty member.
• If the language is not currently offered by St. Johns River State College and there are therefore no faculty on staff who can evaluate that language, students have several options:
  • submit proof of proficiency in the language through a recognized, standardized test such as CLEP:
  • provide alternative documentation concerning their language proficiency to be approved at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, or
  • complete the foreign language requirement in another language.

For more information or a copy of the foreign language coursework waiver petition, please see your academic advisor.

Civic Literacy Requirement

Associate in Arts students initially entering a Florida College System institution fall semester 2021 or thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy, to include demonstration of the following competencies:

• Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;
• An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;
• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and
• An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

Demonstrating competency of civic literacy is met by both earning credit for one of the approved courses and passing one of the approved assessments prior to graduation:

• Approved Courses:
  • POS 1041 - United States Federal Government  
  • AMH 2010 - United States History to 1877  
  • AMH 2020 - United States History since 1877  
  • AP Government and Politics: United States (minimum score 3)
  • AP United States History (minimum score 4)
  • CLEP: American Government (minimum score 50)
  • CLEP: History of the United States I (minimum score 50)
• Approved Assessments:
  • AP Government and Politics: United States (minimum score 3)
  • AP United States History (minimum score 4)
  • CLEP: American Government (minimum score 50)
  • CLEP: History of the United States I (minimum score 50)
  • Civic Literacy Assessment administered in Florida high schools in US Government course (must appear on high school transcript)
  • Florida Civic Literacy Test (administered by SJR State Testing Department)

Completion of an approved course does not waive the requirement of successfully passing one of the approved assessments, nor does successfully passing one of the approved assessments waive the requirement of successfully passing the approved course, with the following exception: the indicated minimum score on the AP Government and Politics: United States; AP US History; CLEP American Government; or CLEP United States History I assessment meets both the civic literacy course and the civic literacy assessment requirements.

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded an Associate in Arts degree, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Earn a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 as of the last day of the term applied;
2. Complete the required courses set forth in the college catalog;
3. Complete all general education requirements, choosing baccalaureate transfer program prerequisite course and earning a grade of “C” or higher for all courses meeting the area requirements in communications, humanities, and mathematics;
4. Complete a minimum 25% of all credit hours required for graduation through SJR State;
5. Pay all fees and discharge all other obligations to the College;
6. File an application for degree conferral by the date specified in the academic calendar.

This program is designed for students who wish to transfer to a university to earn a baccalaureate degree. The Associate in Arts degree is the legally recognized transfer degree for the Florida College System and is specifically designed for the student who wishes to transfer into the State University System of Florida as a junior. Although there are no “majors” in the Associate in Arts degree, with proper planning of coursework, students can complete the A.A. degree and transfer specific courses necessary for admission to a variety of degree programs within the State University System. For more information, see your SJR State Advisor.