Degree Overview
The Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree at Florida Gateway College (FGC) provides students with a strong foundation in general education coursework and various electives in the liberal arts and sciences. The A.A. degree represents the freshman and sophomore years of a four-year bachelor’s degree. A.A. students learn to communicate clearly; think critically; apply quantitative and scientific reasoning skillfully; use information effectively and ethically; and demonstrate cultural awareness relative to the human experience. FGC offers a wide range of courses designed to prepare students to transfer successfully to a bachelor’s program at another college or university or to one of FGC’s bachelor’s programs.
Program Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the A.A. degree program, a student must satisfy the following requirements:
- Have a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma (e.g., GED®), or completed an approved home education program;
- Submit an admission application to FGC;
- Take a college placement test unless exempt by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.0315. (For additional information, please visit the Testing, Advising, & Registration section of the catalog.)
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with an A.A. degree from FGC, students must fulfill the following requirements:
- Fulfill general education requirements (36 credit hours), including general education core courses, and elective courses (24 credit hours) to complete a minimum of 60 credit hours;
- Complete 12 credit hours of Gordon Rule writing courses and 6 credit hours of Gordon Rule math courses with a grade of C or better as part of the general education requirements;
- Demonstrate competence in oral communication;
- Demonstrate competence in computer literacy;
- Demonstrate foreign language competency;
- Complete civic literacy requirements;
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all college credit courses;
- Complete the college residency requirement, which is a minimum of 25 percent of credits of the program at Florida Gateway College, before graduation;
- Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
About the Graduation Requirements
General Education Requirements
- Satisfactorily complete a total of 36 credit hours in the general education areas below. Complete one general education state core course in each of the general education areas (see the General Education Core Requirements section for additional information.)
- Communications: 9 credit hours
- Mathematics: 6 credit hours
- Natural Sciences: 6 credit hours
- Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 credit hours
- Humanities: 6 credit hours
- “Student Choice” General Education Course: 3 credit hours
General Education Core Requirements
In accordance with Rule 6A-14.0303, F.A.C., students entering a Florida College System institution in the Fall 2015 term or thereafter must complete at least one core course from each of the general education subject areas prior to the award of an Associate in Arts degree.
General Education Core Course Options
Please visit the General Education section of the catalog to view a list of the general education core course options.
Gordon Rule Courses
To graduate with an A.A. degree, students must complete all “Gordon Rule” writing and mathematics courses with a grade of C or better. Please visit the General Education section of the catalog to learn more about the Gordon Rule.
Electives
In addition to 36 credit hours of general education coursework, the A.A. degree requires that students complete 24 credit hours of coursework classified as Associate in Arts transferable electives (AATR). Electives are prerequisite, background, or specialization courses required for junior and senior year coursework. With the assistance of an academic advisor, students should determine their electives based on their intended transfer major and institution. Any general education credit hours over 36 will be applied as elective credit. Courses designated as “AATR” in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog are acceptable A.A. electives.
Competence in Oral Communication
FGC requires A.A. students to demonstrate oral communication competency. Competency is defined as the ability to observe, organize, demonstrate, interpret, and evaluate effective oral presentation. Students who were admitted for first-time registration for the summer of 2001 and after (or students who have not been enrolled for at least one semester for every year of enrollment) are required to prove competency by passing one of the following courses before graduation: SPC 1017 Oral Communications or SPC 2608 Public Speaking .
Competency in Computer Literacy
Associate degree-seeking students are required to demonstrate computer competency by completing the computer competency course within Canvas. Alternatively, students can fulfill this requirement by earning a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses:
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the computer competency during the first semester of enrollment and before registering for the second semester.
Foreign Language Requirement
Students are required to demonstrate foreign language competency before earning an A.A. or bachelor’s degree. For additional information, please visit the State Requirements for Degree Programs section of the catalog.
Civic Literacy Requirement
Prior to the award of an A.A. or bachelor’s degree, students initially entering a Florida College System (FCS) institution in the Fall 2021 term or thereafter must meet civic literacy requirements as outlined by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.02413. For additional information, please visit the State Requirements for Degree Programs section of the catalog.
Associate in Arts Degree Requirements
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