General Studies (A.A.)

Program Coordinator/Contact
Christy Osborne, Coordinator and Advisor
College of Arts and Sciences
Wintrode Student Success Center 102
605-688-4691
E-mail: christy.osborne@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/cee/degrees/general-studies

Program Information
The Associate of Arts degree in General Studies provides a foundation of general education courses at the university level supporting bachelor’s degree programs, lifelong learning, leadership, service, and careers requiring general education coursework. Students completing this degree will have fulfilled the Board of Regents general education core requirements for a bachelor’s degree at any of the Regental universities in South Dakota.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates from the Associate of Arts in of General Studies will be able to:

• achieve the seven goals and associated learning outcomes for the system general education requirements related to:  written and oral communication, the social sciences, the fine arts and humanities, mathematics, the natural sciences and information literacy.
• use knowledge across a wide diversity of subjects, views, works, and authors, from which they will have a general academic foundation.
• identify their personal, academic, and professional/career goals and strategies that are integrated within a meaningful approach to life.
• read, write, and analyze effectively across a number of disciplines.
• identify issues and problems, then formulate and frame solutions to these problems.

Academic Requirements
Each student enrolled in an Associate of Arts degree program must take the Proficiency Examination after the completion of 32 passed credit hours or prior to graduation. The student must have completed, or be enrolled in courses required to complete the 18 credit hours specified below. Students who do not complete the proficiency exam requirements cannot continue registration at the university.

Course Delivery Format
Students will have the ability to complete the associate of arts in General Studies online, on main campus, or through an attendance center (Capital University Center in Pierre, University Center in Sioux Falls, or University Center in Rapid City).