General Studies, Associate of Arts (A.A.)

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The Associate of Arts in General Studies degree provides students, especially adult learners, the opportunity to pursue a flexible degree program to meet their unique interests, career goals, and academic needs. Reflecting EKU’s commitment to a liberal arts education, the degree allows students to concentrate in an area of interest while selecting from a wide variety of courses to meet personal, educational, or career goals. This degree is designed for students for whom this will be their first college degree and who wish to advance in their careers, change careers, pursue a lifelong interest beyond their careers, or use the degree as a pathway to a baccalaureate degree. Students who are admitted as “Special Admittance/Conditional Admittance” (see page 10 of the Catalog), will be initially admitted into the Associate of Arts in General Studies degree program.

Opportunities

The Associate of Arts in General Studies degree has become more attractive with the growth of business and industry in the area and with the increase of minimum educational requirements for employment or promotion. In addition to those students wishing to enhance their employability, other students will find the program offers numerous opportunities to seek a degree for their own personal satisfaction. The degree allows students to gain confidence in their abilities by earning a degree at the associate level prior to enrolling in a baccalaureate program. The associate degree also provides opportunities for students who wish to consolidate previously earned credits to complete their first degree.

Serving students from a varied background of college readiness, this degree provides students a defined path to success in earning one or more degrees. Upon successful completion of EKU’s Associate of Arts in General Studies degree, the student will have met all General Education requirements, which will apply toward a four-year program at EKU or any other regional Kentucky institution.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

CIP Code: 24.0102

Major

University Graduation Requirements
Essential Education30
Student Success Seminar
GSD 101Foundations of Learning3
Major Requirements
Core Courses
Courses are within an individual College and exclusive of general education requirements. One of the concentrations below may be used to fulfill this requirement.12
Optional Departmental Concentration
Students may select a concentration of interest. Students with a declared departmental concentration will be advised by faculty of that department and will be officially affiliated with that department. The Associate of Arts in General Studies concentration will be reflected on the student's transcript.
Choose from one of the following:0-15
Anthropology
Applied Engineering and Technology
Broadcasting and Electronic Media
Communication Studies
Computer Networking Systems
Education
Electricity and Electronics
English
Geographic Information Systems
Geography
Geology
History
Homeland Security
Informatics
Mathematical Sciences
Military Studies
Physics and Engineering
Political Science
Pre‑Business
Psychology
Security Operations
Sociology
Veterans Studies
Free Electives
Choose from 12 to 15 hours of Free Electives12-15
Total Hours60

(Precise degree requirements will vary based upon concentration selected and student’s specific orientation course needs.)

Major Requirements

  • Students should refer to their Degree Works audit for General Education course selections.
  • Students should consult with an advisor to choose an appropriate General Education math course.
  • AA in General Studies students must earn a institutional GPA of 2.0 on all work earned at EKU, as well as an overall GPA of 2.0 on combined transfer and EKU graded coursework.
  • AA in General Studies students must complete at least 15 semester hours at EKU.
  • AA in General Studies students must complete an approved 12-hour emphasis with an overall 2.0 GPA within an individual college beyond the General Education requirement.

The Associate of Arts in General Studies is intended to be a first degree and is not appropriate for a secondary degree. Students who declare the AA in General Studies should pursue that program as their primary degree and apply for graduation as soon as they approach completion of its requirements. Students seeking only an associate degree may not declare a minor.

Optional A.A. in General Studies Concentrations

The following concentrations are available in the Associate of Arts in General Studies degree program:

Anthropology Concentration

ANT 120Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ANT 200Archaeology and Human Cultures3
ANT 201Introduction to Biological Anthropology3
One upper-division ANT course (300 or above)3
Total Hours12

Applied Engineering and Technology Concentration

AEM 201Metallic Material Processes3
EET 251Electricity and Electronics3
AEM 195Computer Aided Drafting3
TEC 161Computer Applications in Technology3
Total Hours12

Broadcasting and Electronic Media Concentration

BEM 295Video Production I4
Choose from two of the following:6
BEM 202
Information Gathering
BEM 203
introduction to Media Writing
BEM 301
Multimedia Newswriting
BEM 353
The Art and Craft of Screenwriting
Choose from two hours of the following:2
BEM 349
Applied Learning in Broadcasting (1 hour)
BEM 398
Electronic Video Practicum (1 hour)
BEM 491
Senior Seminar
Total Hours12

Communication Studies Concentration

CMS 200Interpersonal Communication3
CMS 205W3
CMS 210Public Speaking3
or CMS 215 Business and Professional Presentations
CMS 2503
or CMS 275 Applied Organizational Communication Skills
Total Hours12

Computer Networking Systems Concentration

NET 302PC Troubleshooting & Construction3
NET 303LANs & PC Communications3
NET 354Microcomputer and Network Security3
Choose from three hours of NET coursework3
Total Hours12

Education Concentration

EDF 203Educational Foundations3
EDF 204Emerging Instructional Technologies2
EDF 2053
SED 104Special Education Introduction3
Total Hours11

Students planning to apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program after completing the AGS degree should also enroll in CMS 100 Introduction to Human Communication or CMS 210 Public Speaking, BIO 102 Inquiry Biology for Teachers or PHY 102 Inquiry Physics for MS Teachers, and HIS 202 .

Students should confer with a College of Education Advisor to determine the required math course for each specific program.

Electricity and Electronics Concentration

EET 251Electricity and Electronics3
EET 252Digital Electronics3
EET 257Electronic Devices and Circuits3
EET 2533
or EET 351 Programmable Logic Controllers
Total Hours12

English Concentration

ENG 301Advanced Composition3
ENG 302Principles of Literary Study3
Choose from six hours of ENG courses 16
Total Hours12
1

ENG 210 Enjoying Literature,  ENG 211 Survey of World Literature I, and ENG 212 Survey of World Literature II may count toward the concentration but will not count toward the B.A. English degree major requirements.

Geographic Information Systems Concentration

GEO 110Environmental Geography3
or GEO 210 Introduction to Physical Geography
GEO 353Geographic Information Systems3
Choose from six hours of the following:6
GEO 351
Geoscience Data and Techniques
GEO 453
Advanced GIS
GEO 455
GIS Cartography
GEO 456
Remote Sensing
GEO 458
Advanced Geographic Imagery
GEO 501
Advanced Geography:___
GLY 351
Field Methods
GLY 408
Process Geomorphology
Total Hours12

Geography Concentration

GEO 100Regions and Nations of the World3
GEO 110Environmental Geography3
or GEO 210 Introduction to Physical Geography
Choose from six hours of GEO electives6
Total Hours12

Geology Concentration

Choose from two of the following:6
GLY 104
The Ocean World
GLY 107
Gold and Diamonds
GLY 108
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
GLY 109
Great Moments in Earth History
GLY 302
Earth Science
GLY 305
Dinosaurs
GEO 210
Introduction to Physical Geography
Choose from two of the following:6-8
GLY 210
Introduction to Geochemistry
GLY 303
Environmental Geoscience
GLY 309
Mineralogy
GLY 315
Hydrology
GLY 408
Process Geomorphology
GLY 415
Sedimentary Geology
GEO 353
Geographic Information Systems
GEO 456
Remote Sensing
Total Hours12-14

History Concentration

HIS 102American Civilization to 18773
HIS 103American Civilization Since 18773
Choose from six additional hours of HIS courses 16
Total Hours12
1

Of those 6 additional hours at least 3 must be in a course listed in Area II (Europe) or Area III (Non-Western). HIS 290 Historical Research and Methods and HIS 450W may not count toward the concentration.

Homeland Security Concentration

HLS 101Introduction to Homeland Security3
HLS 210Cyber and Physical Security3
HLS 260Disaster Preparedness & Response3
HLS 301Critical Infrastructure Protection3
Total Hours12

Students planning to later enroll in the B.S. Homeland Security should take as part of their General Education courses:

EES 250 (Element 1C)3
STA 215Introduction to Statistical Reasoning (Element 2)3
GEO 210Introduction to Physical Geography (Element 4)3
HIS 203 (Element 5A)
POL 100Principles of Politics and Government (Element 5B)3
or POL 101 Introduction to American Government

Informatics Concentration

INF 104Computer Literacy with Software Applications3
or CIS 212
INF 307Cyberspace Security and Ethics3
INF 314MS Office & Data Analysis3
INF 318Mobile Device Security & Privacy3
Total Hours12

Completion of this concentration also fulfills requirements for the Certificate in Informatics. Students must formally declare their intention to earn the certificate before it can be awarded.

Mathematical Sciences Concentration

MAT 234Calculus I4
MAT 244Calculus II4
STA 270Applied Statistics4
Choose from one of the following:3
CSC 160
Introduction to Web Programming
CSC 177
Introduction to Visual Basic
CSC 190
Object-Oriented Programming I
Total Hours15

A minimum grade of “C” is required of all courses counted toward the concentration.

Military Studies

Choose from 12 hours of a combination of the following: 112
MSL courses
Military services (ACE) credit
PHE 190
PLS 375
Terrorism/ Counterterrorism
Total Hours12
1

At least 3 of the 12 hours must be earned in residence at EKU.

Physics and Engineering Concentration

MAT 234Calculus I4
PHY 201University Physics I5
PHY 202University Physics II5
Total Hours14

Students should note that each has prerequisites.

Political Science Concentration

POL 100Principles of Politics and Government3
POL 101Introduction to American Government3
POL 212Introduction to Comparative Politics3
POL 220Introduction to World Politics3
Total Hours12

Pre-Business Concentration

ACC 200Survey of Accounting3
BUS 101Nature of Business3
CIS 2123
or BUS 206 Fundamentals of Problem Solving with Excel
Choose 3 hours from the following:3
BUS 204
Fundamentals of Business Law and Ethics
BUS 207
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Business Commmunication
CCT 201
Professional Communication
CCT 270
Entrepreneurship
GBU 204
Legal and Ethical Environments of Business
Total Hours12

A minimum grade of “C” is required of all courses counted toward the concentration.

Psychology Concentration

PSY 200Introduction to Psychology3
PSY 240Scientific Literacy in Psychology3
Choose from six hours of PSY courses 16
Total Hours12
1

Excluding PSY 349 Applied Learning in Psychology, PSY 402 Independent Work in Psychology, and PSY 403 ). PSY 280 Lifespan Developmental Psychology may count toward the concentration but will not count toward the B.S. Psychology degree major requirements.

A minimum grade of “C” is required of all courses counted toward the concentration.

Security Operations Concentration

HLS 210Cyber and Physical Security3
HLS 310Personnel Security3
HLS 320Security Management3
HLS 350Workplace Investigations3
Total Hours12

Students planning to later enroll in the B.S. Homeland Security should take as part of their General Education courses:

EES 250 (Element 1C)3
STA 215Introduction to Statistical Reasoning (Element 2)3
GEO 210Introduction to Physical Geography (Element 4)3
HIS 203 (Element 5A)
POL 100Principles of Politics and Government (Element 5B)3
or POL 101 Introduction to American Government

Sociology Concentration

SOC 131Introductory Sociology3
SOC 232Social Statistics3
SOC 2353
One upper-division SOC course (300 or above)3
Total Hours12

These courses will count toward the B.A. Sociology degree major requirements.

Veterans Studies Concentration

VTS 200Intro to Veterans Studies (Gen. Ed. E-6) (must be taken before beginning elective studies)3
Choose from at least three of the following:9
CDF 331
Marriage and Intimate Relationships
CDF 437
Family Stress and Resilience
ENG 386
War & Peace in Literature Since 1900
MSL 303
PLS 375
Terrorism/ Counterterrorism
POL 320
POL 415
Terrorism and Political Violence
PSY 308
Abnormal Psychology
PSY 320
Health Psychology
SWK 440
Addictions
WGS 304
Gender Perspectives on Contemporary Terrorism
VTS 350
Special Topics:___
Total Hours12