The Associate in Arts (AA) degree is designed to provide two academic years of college study for transfer to a four-year university or upper-division college toward a Bachelor of Arts degree. The AA is comprised of two main areas, general education requirements (39-43 credit hours) and electives until the student meets the 60-credit hour threshold. Many students choose courses from an area of concentration that interests them, generally in the areas of English, history, humanities, psychology, physical education or social science.
It is strongly recommended that students consult with their assigned Success Coach at Richland and with an academic advisor at their transfer institution. While not part of the Core Curriculum, foreign language competency may be required for Bachelor of Arts degrees.
Curriculum Requirements
Communications
Number of Courses Required: 3, Number of Credit Hours Required: 9.00. All courses required. ‘C’ or better required in both ENGL 101 and ENGL 102
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Number of Courses Required: 3, Number of Categories to Be Completed: 2, Number of Credit Hours Required: 9.00
African American Studies
| AFAM 100 | Intro to African American Studies | 3.0 |
Anthropology
Economics
History
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Humanities and Fine Arts
Number of Courses Required: 3, Number of Categories to be Completed: 2, Number of Credit Hours Required: 9.00
Note: Courses that meet the non-western/diversity requirement include AFAM 103, AFAM 104, AFAM 120, AFAM 140, ENGL 160, ENGL 280, HIST 201, HIST 202, HIST 270, HUMAN 106, MUSIC 180, PHIL 210, PHIL 215, SIGN 105
Fine Arts
Humanities
Life and Physical Science
Number of Courses Required: 2, Number of Categories to be Completed: 2, Number of Credit Hours Required: 7.00
One course must be a laboratory course. One course from life science and physical science required.
Life Science
Physical Science
Math
Number of Courses Required: 1, Number of Credit Hours Required: 3.00
| MATH 110 | Concepts of Mathematics | 4.0 |
| MATH 112 | Math for Elem Sch Teaching 2 | 4.0 |
| MATH 113 | Intro to Applied Statistics | 4.0 |
| MATH 121 | Calculus & Analytic Geometry 1 | 5.0 |
| MATH 122 | Calculus & Analytic Geometry 2 | 4.0 |
| MATH 160 | Finite Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | 4.0 |
| MATH 171 | Concepts of Statistics | 4.0 |
| MATH 190 | Calculus for Business & Social Science | 4.0 |
| MATH 221 | Calculus & Analytic Geometry 3 | 4.0 |
Area of Concentration/Electives
Hours vary. Students must take transfer courses until they meet the total credit hour threshold (60 credit hours). Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree with a major in one of the areas listed are offered the following suggestions regarding courses to be included during their first two years of study. These suggestions are designed for students who have not yet selected a four-year college. In all cases, any student who has chosen a transfer college or university should consult that institution’s Catalog or transfer handbook in planning a program.
Accounting
Agriculture
African-American Studies
| AFAM 100 | Intro to African American Studies | 3.0 |
| AFAM 103 | African-American Experience through the Arts | 3.0 |
| AFAM 104 | African-American Experience Through Literature | 3.0 |
| AFAM 120 | African American Experience | 3.0 |
| AFAM 140 | African American Women | 3.0 |
American Sign Language
Anthropology
Art
Other Suggested Courses:
ART 113,
ART 114,
ART 117,
ART 118,
ART 121,
ART 122,
ART 123,
ART 124,
ART 125,
ART 126,
ART 127,
ART 129,
ART 151,
ART 152,
ART 171,
ART 172,
ART 173
Business
Business – International
Communication
Economics
English
Other Suggested Courses: economics, foreign language, history, or political science
Foreign Language
Two years of study in the chosen language
Other Suggested Courses: one sequence in history, and literature and humanities related to the foreign language
History
Other suggested courses: courses in economics, foreign language, history, literature, or political science
Media
Music
Philosophy
Other Suggested Courses: humanities and/or history courses
Political Science/Pre-Law
Psychology
Sociology
Teacher Education
To teach in Illinois public schools, teachers must be certified by the State of Illinois. To transfer into an approved baccalaureate program as a junior in early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education, students must complete a minimum of 60 semester credits (up to a maximum of 64 semester credits) as well as required classroom field experiences. Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree with electives in Education coursework prior to transfer. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required.
Students planning to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a degree from a college of arts and sciences should be alerted to the probable need to complete a foreign language and should complete their foreign language requirement before transfer. Additional coursework may be required by the transfer institution.
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
| ED 105 | Using Technology in the Classroom | 3.0 |
| ED 200 | Educational Psychology | 3.0 |
| ED 205 | Foundations of Education | 3.0 |
| ED 220 | Exceptional Child | 3.0 |
| MATH 112 | Math for Elem Sch Teaching 2 | 4.0 |
| PSYCH 150 | Child Psychology | 3.0 |
| SOCIO 200 | Marriage and the Family | 3.0 |
| | Literature and Non-Western History Elective | |
Other Suggested Courses: ED 107, ED 108, ED 109
Note: Some transfer institutions may require a foreign language course - students should complete up to nine sophomore-level semester credits in one academic discipline (i.e., social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, or English)
Secondary Education
| ED 105 | Using Technology in the Classroom | 3.0 |
| ED 200 | Educational Psychology | 3.0 |
| ED 205 | Foundations of Education | 3.0 |
| ED 220 | Exceptional Child | 3.0 |
| POL S 110 | American National Government | 3.0 |
| PSYCH 145 | Human Growth & Development | 3.0 |
| SOCIO 200 | Marriage and the Family | 3.0 |
| | Literature and Non-Western History Elective | |
Note: Some transfer institutions may require a foreign language course - students should complete up to nine sophomore-level semester credits in one academic discipline (i.e., social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, science, or English)
Theatre
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