Nov 04, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 College Catalog

Associate in Arts Degree Requirements


(For students planning to transfer to a four-year institution or entering a bachelor’s program at CF after completing two years of studies)

In addition to the General Education Common Core requirements noted previously, Associate in Arts students must:

  1. Complete at least 60 credit hours, all of which must be transferable academic work exclusive of occupational courses and wellness/fitness courses, unless required in program. (15 credits General Education Common Core, 21 or 22 credits General Education requirements, 24 credits General Education electives). Note: A.A. degree-seeking students who plan to transfer to a four-year program should be aware that a D grade may not transfer to the institution of their choice.
  2. Achieve a grade point average of at least 2.0 (C) in all college work and at CF.
  3. Complete at least 15 semester hours in residence at CF (minimum 25 percent of semester hours) and attend during the semester that the degree is earned.
  4. To satisfy F.A.C. Rule 6A-10.30 (the Gordon Rule), complete with a grade of C in designated Gordon Rule classes (noted within Course Descriptions for applicable courses).
  5. To satisfy F.A.C. Rule 6A-10.30 (the Gordon Rule), complete six semester credit hours of mathematics at the level of MAC1105 - College Algebra , MGF1130 - Thinking Mathematically  , STA2023 - Elementary Statistics  or higher. This rule is met when students complete, with a grade of C or better, six or more hours from the courses listed in the mathematics section of the General Education course requirements.
  6. Complete 24 credit hours of elective courses, which include the required prerequisites for degree programs at the university. See your advisor for pathways for each program of study. Elective courses should be determined by the student’s area of interest and the requirements of the four-year college to which the student plans to transfer. Courses used to satisfy foreign language requirements will count as electives.
  7. Effective Fall 2014, F. S. s. 1007.262, requires demonstration of foreign language competency for Associate in Arts degreeseeking students. Foreign language competency must be demonstrated through the completion of either two sequential courses in high school foreign language or the equivalent at the postsecondary level. Students enrolled in foreign language courses at CF must earn a grade of C or better before advancing to the next level. Students should consult with an advisor if they wish to satisfy this requirement with a CLEP exam score.
  8. Effective Fall 2021, to satisfy F.A.C. 6A-10.02413, competency in civic literacy is a requirement for all students receiving an associate degree. Competency in civic literacy must be demonstrated in the following ways:
    • Successful completion of either POS2041 American National Government, AMH2010 United States History to 1877 or AMH2020 United States History Since 1877, and
    • Achieving a standard score on an approved assessment. Current approved assessment options include the following:
      Assessment Standard Score
      AP Government and Politics: United States 3
      AP United States History 4
      CLEP: American Government 50
      CLEP: History of the United States I 50
      Florida Civic Literacy Examination  60%
  • ​Students who previously completed the civic literacy competency requirement at a Florida College System or State University System institution are considered to have met the requirement. They are not required to repeat it.
  • Students who earn credit by AP or CLEP exams will receive credit for both the course and the exam.  
  1. Effective Fall 2005, competency in the use of computers is a requirement for all degree-seeking students. This requirement may be satisfied through one of the following options:
    • satisfactory completion of a proficiency examination
    • satisfactory completion of one of the following industry certifications, within the past five years: Microsoft Word, IC3, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, A+, Network+, Security+ or Server+
    • satisfactory completion of an approved college computer course, within the past five years (See below for applicable courses)

Students are strongly recommended to meet the computer competency requirement through one of the options listed above prior to the completion of 24 college level credit hours.

Computer Competency Course Options


To take the computer competency proficiency exam contact the Assessment and Testing Center, Bryant Student Union, Room 205.

Credit courses that meet the computer competency requirement are:

Computer Competency for Health Sciences Programs


The following courses have been approved to satisfy the computer competency requirement for students in Health Sciences programs:

Transfer Pathway: Education


Students planning to study education in the State University System must complete, as a prerequisite for admission, ACT or SAT and the following:

  • Credits: 3
  • A minimum of 15 hours of supervised volunteer field experience in a school setting is required for this course. Students interested in the education field should contact the teacher education advisor at 352-854-2322, ext. 1620 for additional program information and requirements.

General Education Course Requirement


In addition to the state General Education core courses, each A.A. degree-seeking student MUST complete the following requirements (21 credits).

A.A. degree-seeking students must select courses from the General Education Institutional core course requirements. Each course addresses institutional competencies and outcomes, and satisfies the Florida State Board of Education standards to meet the Gordon Rule requirements for writing and mathematics. All Gordon Rule writing and mathematics courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. General Education core courses (36 hours in total) must be passed with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Gordon Rule courses are noted with ** throughout the catalog.

Note: A.A. degree-seeking students who plan to transfer to a four-year program should be aware that a D grade may not transfer to the institution of their choice.

ENC1101  is a prerequisite for all courses used to satisfy the Gordon Rule writing requirement. Courses used to satisfy the Gordon Rule requirement must be passed with a grade of C or better.

English


9 Credit Hours Required

(3 hours from State Core, 3 hours from Institutional Core and 3 hours from Oral Communications)

Required State General Education Core Course


Institutional General Education Core Course


Choose One Communications Institutional General Education Core Course

Oral Communications Requirement


Choose One Course to Satisfy Oral Communications Requirement

Humanities


6 Credit Hours Required

(3 hours from State Core, 3 hours from Institutional Core)

Social Sciences


9 Credit Hours Required

(3 hours from State Core, 3 hours from Institutional Core, 3 hours from Personal Development)

Mathematics


6 Credit Hours Required

(3 hours from State Core and 3 hours from either State Core or Institutional Core)

Note: Any student who successfully completes a mathematics course for which one of the general education core course options in mathematics is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered tohave completed the mathematics core.

Natural Sciences


6 Credit Hours Required

(3 hours from State Core and 3 hours either State Core or Institutional Core)

Electives - 24 Credit Hours


You may choose any of the General Education courses or the General Electives on the following pages.

See an A.A. advisor for preprofessional course requirements for your area of interest.

Completion of Computer Literacy Requirement


Refer to the list of options.

Summary of Associate in Arts Degree

GENERAL EDUCATION:   36 HOURS
  English   9 Hours
  Humanities   6 Hours
  Social Science   9 Hours
  Mathematics   6 Hours
  Natural Science   6 Hours
ELECTIVES:   24 HOURS
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS   60 HOURS

 

General Electives


In addition to the common core courses and the General Education course requirements, each A.A. degree-seeking student MUST complete 24 credit hours of the following general electives. The following courses may be used to satisfy the requirement for 24 elective hours. Gordon Rule courses from the General Education listings may also be used as electives, according to your planned field at a university. Gordon Rule courses require a passing grade of C or better.

Mathematics (Non-Gordon Rule)


See courses in General Education section.