Dec 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Associate of Science (AS) Degree


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The Associate of Science (AS) degree is a general transfer degree that indicates a student has completed a course of study equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. This degree is not specific to any major or minor area of study.

An Associate of Science degree from FVCC prepares students to transfer to any Montana University System school with the guarantee that the lower division general education core at the transfer school is complete.

Degree Outcomes


Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to

  • Evaluate purpose and audience to create a well-developed, supported, and stylistically fluent response.
  • Demonstrate awareness of self as a member of a multicultural, global community.
  • Examine the nature of human experience and/or artistic expression. 
  • Use mathematical techniques to problem solve.
  • Apply scientific concepts and methods of inquiry.
  • Evaluate the legitimacy of multiple perspectives to reach an informed conclusion.
  • Demonstrate organization, coherence, and clarity in writing.

Requirements


To earn an AS degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 60 semester credits in courses numbered 100 and above. A single course cannot satisfy more than one general education core or graduation requirement.
  2. Completion of a general education core curriculum (30 credits).
  3. Completion of the designated additional degree requirements: 6 semester credits of Mathematics (M) or Natural Science (N, L, or NL).
  4. Final cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above. A grade of “C-” or better is required in all courses other than electives unless otherwise stated.
  5. At least 20 semester credits earned at FVCC.
  6. A limit of 15 semester credits graded “S” may count toward the associate degree, excluding AP and IB credits. Transfer students should check with the transfer institution regarding the acceptance of “S” grades.

To earn both the AS and the AA degree, requirements must be met for each degree plus completion of a minimum of 75 semester credits in courses numbered 100 and above. A single course cannot satisfy more than one general education core or graduation requirement. 

General Education Requirements


To complete the General Education Core Curriculum, students must complete 30 credits from eight categories as detailed below. Click on the categories to see the corresponding course lists. 

Communication (C)


Communication (C) Courses : 3 credits

Fine Arts (F) or Humanities (H)


Fine Arts (F) Courses  or Humanities (H) Courses : 3 credits

Global Issues (G)


Global Issues (G) Courses : 3 credits 

Humanities (H)


Humanities (H) Courses : 3 credits 

Mathematics (M)


Mathematics (M) Courses : 3 credits

Natural Science (NL)


Natural Science (NL) Courses : 3 credits

Natural Science (N) or Natural Science (NL)


Natural Science (N) Courses  or Natural Science (NL) Courses : 3 credits

Social Sciences (A)


Social Sciences (A) Courses : 3 credits

Social Sciences (B)


Social Sciences (B) Courses : 3 credits

Writing (W)


Writing (W) Courses : 3 credits

Additional Degree Requirements


Choose one course from any category below


Mathematics (M) Courses  or Natural Science (N) or (L) Courses  or Natural Science (NL) Courses : 6 credits

Electives


Courses chosen in specific subjects to prepare for transfer: 24

Total Credits for AS Degree: 60


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