Associate of Arts
Explore the Associate of Arts degree program at the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±
Prepare for specialized undergraduate degree programs, entry-level jobs and career advancement, and community engagement in diverse populations and environments in Alaska and beyond.What is an associate degree?
A general studies major, мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±â€™s Associate of Arts degree program helps you build a foundation for academic and career success. Whatever your ambitions, мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± can help you reach new heights in your personal and professional endeavors.
A diverse community
Join general studies majors at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± who come from different backgrounds and experiences. Some just graduated from high school, others are returning to college after starting a family, some are first-generation college students, others are active or veteran military members. Wherever you come from, wherever you’re going, there’s a place for you at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±.
Academic advisors
Work with an advisor who is dedicated to helping general studies majors in мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±â€™s Associate of Arts degree program. Academic advisors help you develop a plan that fits your goals and interests. You can build a schedule that balances personal responsibilities with degree program requirements while getting guidance on how to seamlessly transition into a bachelor’s degree program.
Course credits
Earn credit for previous academic experiences to help you save money and graduate faster. Contact an academic advisor to learn more about credit exams, credit transfers, placement tests such as AP and CLEP, DSST for ACE military credit and other possibilities.
Online classes and satellite campuses
Earn your entire degree online, enroll in online courses, or receive face-to-face classroom instruction to earn your degree at other мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± campuses throughout the region, including Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Mat-Su College and Prince William Sound College. Regardless of where you attend classes, your associate degree from the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± offers a high-value return on investment for your education and your future.
Did you know..
General studies majors in мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±â€™s Associate of Arts degree program complete all general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree except for the integrative, upper-division capstone course.
What can you do with an Associate of Arts degree from мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±?
In the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±â€™s A.A. degree program, you can pursue general studies that cover a variety of interests and prepare you for a smooth transition into a bachelor’s degree program. The associate degree is also great if you’re a working professional who wants to develop job skills and earn a degree that will help you advance in your career.Bachelor’s degree programs
After completing the A.A. degree program, you can continue your education to earn a bachelor’s degree from мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±. These are some of the most popular undergraduate programs at the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±:
- B.S. in biological sciences
- B.A. in history
- B.B.A. in accounting
- B.F.A. in art
- B.A. in elementary education
- B.S. in nursing science
мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± alumni with an associate degree work in a wide variety of professions and industries, including:
- Healthcare
- Marketing and management
- Sales
- Education
- Technical writing
- Criminal justice
By the numbers..
Associate of Arts degree program highlights
From practical jobs skills to academic resources, discover what makes an associate degree from the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± a valuable choice for your future.- Develop foundational, high-demand job skills, such as a strong work ethic and other personal attributes that will help you achieve success in any job. The associate degree program at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± focuses on developing skills to help you communicate effectively, think critically, reason empirically and evaluate analytically.
- Receive high-quality instruction from nationally renowned faculty, including Ph.D.-level instructors. In fact, several professors are мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± alumni who got their start in the Associate of Arts degree program.
- Graduate with program honors. As a general studies major, you can take classes that align with мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±â€™s Honors College, fulfilling associate degree program requirements to graduate with honors.
- Get additional help and guidance from campus resources to help you succeed. Learn more about ±«´¡´¡â€™s&²Ô²ú²õ±è;communication and presentation coaching, supplemental instruction, writing center and peer tutors, just to name a few.
Amazing stories from general studies majors
I received my Associate of Arts degree from UA Kodiak College (now part of the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± system) in 1990. The outstanding education, the engaging research and field experiences and the supportive environment that I received there gave me a solid foundation in liberal arts. This gave me the confidence to pursue and obtain a Bachelor of Science and then a doctoral degree in biological sciences at the University of South Florida. I am proud to be back at the University of Alaska, this time in Anchorage.
Associate of Arts degree program curriculum
Get the full college experience with high-quality classroom instruction and flexible course offerings — and earn credit toward a bachelor’s degree. мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±â€™s general studies associate degree program enables you to strengthen your knowledge and skills in traditional academic disciplines while completing prerequisites for bachelor’s degree programs and upper-division courses.Choose from a growing selection of academic opportunities, from undergraduate research and education abroad to civic engagement and service learning. The Associate of Arts degree at мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± is intentionally and cooperatively aligned with general education requirements, including art, business and English courses, so you can explore your interests and still graduate on time.
Top classes for general studies majors
- Survey the diverse cultural worlds of Alaska Native peoples in Alaska Native Perspectives.
- Apply biological sciences theory and practice in the classroom and the lab with Principles and Methods in Biology.
- Explore the core practices of working with children in Intro to the Field of Early Childhood Education.