The Associate in Arts degree is designed for students interested in pursuing a four-year bachelor’s degree. Programs of study leading to the AA degree consist of a common core of general education courses, specific program requirements (if applicable), and elective courses. Students may complete only one AA degree. Those already holding Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degrees are not eligible to enroll in an AA degree program.

The program requirements to enter specific majors within the State University System are quite varied. Students are encouraged to declare an upper-division major when they enroll at Polk State College and follow the state-prescribed advising track for that major. Students should meet with an advisor to assist them in selecting both general education core courses and recommended electives for their selected advising track to prepare for the chosen upper-division major. All PSC advising tracks lead to an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts.

Although the State articulation agreement assures transferability of the AA degree into the State University System, specific prerequisite courses for intended majors must be taken at PSC in order to avoid making up deficiencies after admission to a university. Students should refer to the section on Advising Tracks for more information.

The AA degree requires the general education component of 36 semester credit hours plus 24 other credit hours for a total of 60. The public universities and colleges in Florida agree that once students are certified by PSC as completing the general education requirements, no further general education courses are required of them when they transfer.

Some courses designed for use in AS programs are not used in AA degree programs. AA students should not take these courses, and should consult with an advisor prior to registration.

Note: Per Florida Statue 1009.286, Florida state universities are required to charge students an excess-hour surcharge equal to 50 percent of the tuition rate for each credit hour in excess of 120 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which students are enrolled. Therefore, students enrolled in 120 credit-hour degree programs at a state university will be charged the excess-hour surcharge upon exceeding 144 credits.

Associate in Arts Degree Advising Tracks

The following is a list of AA advising tracks for which specific plans have been developed by Polk State College on the basis of information provided by Florida State University System. All PSC advising tracks lead to an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts. These advising tracks are available in the advising offices. Other plans can be developed for college programs not included here. Advisors have information from all public Florida universities on every program offered. See Appendix E  for the PSC to State University Transfer Matrix. You may also view your degree audit by going to www.facts.org. If you are a current PSC student, you may view your degree audit through PASSPORT at www.polk.edu.

A bachelor’s degree is required in a field of interest for the following majors: Pre-Dental, Pre-Law, Pre-Medical, and Pre-Veterinarian. A student may take pre-admission requirements for these programs at Polk State College.