Undergraduate Programs
Associate's Degree Program
The Associate of Arts (A.A.) is a 62 credit hour program that is essentially the first two years of the Bachelor of Arts program. Students are expected to meet the degree requirements in effect on the date of their admission to the IU School of Liberal Arts. However, should the requirements change after that date, students have the option of choosing the new requirements with the approval of the Miriam Z. Langsam Office of Student Affairs.
Students intending to use the A.A. degree as the first two years of a B.A. degree should work with the A.A. Advisor, in the Miriam Z. Langsam Office of Student Affairs (Cavanaugh Hall 401), to select courses that will also apply to the B.A. degree.
Requirements
Candidates for the Associate of Arts must satisfy three types of requirements: general education requirements, distribution requirements, and concentration requirements.
I. General Education Requirements (62 cr.)
- 62 credit hours of regular university courses,
- a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C),
- completion of at least 30 credit hours in residence at any Indiana University campus with at least 15 credit hours of the concentration at IUPUI,
- courses taken under the Pass/Fail option may not be applied toward the A.A. degree,
- by special permission from the Miriam Z. Langsam Office of Student Affairs, a maximum of 6 credit hours may be taken by correspondence through the Independent Study Division.
II. Distribution Requirements (44 cr.)
All students must complete the following:
First-Year Experience (1-3 cr.)
See B.A. distribution requirements for acceptable courses. (Transfer students with 18 credit hours are not required to take this course.)
English Composition (6 cr.)
Competency in English composition is required. Each course for this requirement must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0). This requirement may be satisfied in the following ways:
- by completing ENG W131 (or Honors ENG W140) and ENG W132 (or Honors ENG W150 or ENG W231);
- by testing out of ENG W131 through the IUPUI English Placement Exam and completing ENG W132 or ENG W231;
- for transfer students, by completing course work equivalent to ENG W131 and ENG W132 (or ENG W231) at another campus or institution.
Speech Communication (COMM) R110 (3 cr.)
Students with previously acquired competency in public speaking may be eligible for special credit and exemption from this requirement; contact the Department of Communication Studies in Cavanaugh Hall 309 or call (317) 274-0566.
Language (10 cr.)
This requirement may be satisfied by completing first-year courses with passing grades or by completing a second- or third-year course. See B.A. distribution requirements for more detailed information.
Analytic Skills (3 cr.)
See B.A. distribution requirements for acceptable courses.
Natural Sciences (9 cr.)
See B.A. distribution requirements for acceptable courses.
(One course should be a laboratory course and no more than 5 credit hours should be in geography if students plan to complete the B.A. degree.)
Arts and Humanities (6 cr.)
See B.A. distribution requirements for acceptable courses.
Social Sciences (6 cr.)
See B.A. distribution requirements for acceptable courses.
III. Concentration Requirements (18 cr.)
The purpose of the concentration is to provide students with a focus in a single discipline/area, which may or may not include course work that fulfills requirements for a particular major for the Bachelor of Arts degree. See the A.A. advisor in the Miriam Z. Langsam Office of Student Affairs if you need assistance selecting a concentration and if you plan to pursue a B.A. degree.
The student may concentrate in either Option I, the Arts and Humanities, or Option II, the Social Sciences, explained below. Courses counted toward the distribution requirements cannot be counted toward the 18 credits in the concentration area.
Option I: Arts and Humanities: Complete both A and B below.
A grade of C or higher is required in each course.
A. Students choose one discipline in the Arts and Humanities and take 12 credit hours in that discipline (see the disciplines listed under ‘‘Arts and Humanities’’ in the ‘‘B.A. Distribution Requirements’’—students cannot concentrate in fine arts for the A.A. degree).
B. Students complete 6 credit hours of course work in other disciplines listed under ‘‘Arts and Humanities.’’ These courses may be in a single discipline or in more than one discipline. However, any particular course cannot count toward both distribution requirements and the concentration requirements.
Option II: Social Sciences: Complete both A and B below.
A grade of C or higher is required in each course.
A. Students choose one discipline in the Social Sciences and take 12 credit hours in that discipline. (See the disciplines listed under ‘‘Social Sciences’’ in the ‘‘B.A. Distribution Requirements’’—students cannot concentrate in psychology or linguistics for the A.A. degree).
B. Students complete 6 credit hours of course work in other disciplines listed under ‘‘Social Sciences.’’ These courses may be in a single discipline or in more than one discipline. However, no specific course can be used to satisfy both distribution requirements and the concentration requirements.