A student enrolled at Drake State in an Associate in Arts degree program in Liberal Arts must complete 61 semester hours of general education requirements distributed among four core discipline areas (Areas I - IV) to satisfy the requirements for graduation and to receive the Associate in Arts degree.
Associate in Arts - Guided Pathway Options
Liberal Arts
English
*Students must check with the Senior Institution to determine which courses are required.
Note: The detailed degree plans for the Associate in Arts (AA) Guided Pathway Options are available on the website. The Guided Pathway AA - Options will bridge to a Baccalaureate Degree (BA).
Area I: Written Composition - 6 Credit Hours
Area II: Humanities and Fine Arts - 12 Credit Hours
Notes: Must complete 3 semester hours in literature* and 3 semester hours in fine arts. The remaining semester hours are to be selected from humanities and/or fine arts.
Humanities and fine arts disciplines include but are not limited to area/ethnic studies, art and art history, foreign languages, music and music history, philosophy, ethics, religious studies, and speech. (Prerequisites and/or developmental courses may be required prior to enrolling in these courses).
*Must complete a 6-semester hour sequence in literature or history.
Area III: Natural Sciences and Mathematics - 11 Credit Hours
Notes: Must complete 3 semester hours in mathematics at the pre-calculus algebra (remove the comma between pre-calculus and algebra) (MTH 112) or finite math (MTH 110) level or above. Students must complete 8 semester hours in the natural sciences, which must include laboratory experiences. (Prerequisites and/or developmental courses may be required prior to enrolling in these courses).
In addition to mathematics, disciplines in the natural sciences include astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, geology, physical geography, earth science, physics, and physical science.
**NOTE: CIS 146 does not fall under math or science and should be listed under Area V.**
Area IV: History, Social and Behavioral Sciences - 12 Credit Hours
Notes: Must complete 3 semester hours in history* and at least 6 semester hours in other disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. Social and behavioral sciences include, but are not limited to anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology.
*Must complete a 6-semester hour sequence in history or literature.
Area V: Pre-professional, Major and Elective Courses - 18 Credit Hours
Note: To satisfy Area V requirements, The Associate in Arts degree plan requires 15 additional hours from Areas II and IV in addition to CIS 146. The same courses cannot be used to satisfy requirements in multiple areas. Students completing courses that have been approved for the General Studies Curriculum and are appropriate to their major and/or degree program may transfer these courses with credit applicable to their degree program among two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Institutional Requirements - 2 Credit Hours
Note: ORI 101 must be taken in the first semester. BSS 220 must be taken in the final semester.