The A.A. degree prepares students for transfer as juniors to a Florida public university; however, students need to be aware of specific courses required for acceptance into most majors. With careful selection, these courses may be used as either general education requirements or as electives. The A.A. degree guarantees admission to a Florida public university but not necessarily to an upper division, limited access program which may have additional requirements.
Financial Aid
Any course taken above the minimum credit hours required for the AA degree (60 credit hours) may not be covered by financial aid. Only required courses for an LSSC degree or qualified college credit certificate program are eligible for federal financial aid. Consult your program plan in Degree Works and/or an academic advisor prior to enrolling in any course to ensure program alignment.
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Degree Requirements
Writing Emphasis or "Gordon Rule" Requirement
In addition to the two required Area I: Communications courses, A.A. students must select two additional courses from the list below to complete the remaining 6 credit hours of the 12 credit hour Writing Emphasis or "Gordon Rule" Writing (GRW) requirement. Courses used toward the satisfaction of this 12 credit hour Writing Emphasis (GRW) requirement must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Click here for Writing Emphasis Courses
Foreign Language Requirement
- Competency in a Foreign Language is required for completion of the AA degree either by:
- Completion of two (2) credits at the secondary (high school) level in the same language
- Complete and pass the elementary 2 level or higher of one foreign language at the college level
Civic Literacy Requirement
As per the amended Florida Rule 6A-10.02413, prior to the award of an associate in arts, associate in science, or baccalaureate degree, LSSC students under the 2022-2023 Catalog and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:
- successfully passing POS 2041 American National Government or AMH 2020 U.S. History Since 1877 or AMH 2010 U.S. History to 1877 beginning Fall 2024 forward and achieving a 60% or higher on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam , or
- successfully passing a prescribed assessment:
- AP Government & Politics Test: United States (passing score of 3), or
- AP U.S. History Test (passing score of 4), or
- CLEP: American Government (passing score of 50)
- CLEP: History of the United States I (passing score of 50)
To verify your Civic Literacy Requirement, please visit Degree Works
Students must complete 25% of the AA degree's total credits (15 credit hours) at LSSC to qualify for graduation.
For information about career options, visit www.lssc.edu/careers.