Associate in Arts. The transfer degree. Your Pathway to Success

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Associate in Arts

The transfer degree

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PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE

great place to start!

Whether your goal is to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher or to pursue another career, you can start your education at Palm Beach State College and get on the right track.

Palm Beach State is one path you can take to earn your four-year bachelor’s degree. You can earn your Associate in Arts degree at Palm Beach State first and then transfer to a university to complete the last two years of your bachelor’s degree.

Why earn an A.A. degree?

There are plenty of reasons for earning your A.A.

“transfer degree” first. Since tuition at public community and state colleges in Florida costs less, you can

save thousands of dollars

^.

You are also able to

stay close to home

and

attend smaller classes

^{where you}

are known by professors and fellow students. More importantly, the courses you take for the A.A.

degree are the

same courses

^{you would}

take during the first two years at a university.

The key difference is that you will not pay nearly as much for them. You do the math. Earning an A.A.

degree at Palm Beach State is a great way to start!

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The classes you take for your general education requirements are determined by your career

goals. In other words, it depends on what your major (focus of study) will be when

you transfer. That’s also where your

24 credits

come in. These credits have lots of names–electives,

prerequisites, program transfer courses…but whatever you call them, they’re classes that will be necessary for the major you will pursue for your bachelor’s degree.

So, if you know you want to earn a bachelor’s degree in business, for

Understanding the A.A. degree

In the simplest terms, an A.A. degree is the first two years of your bachelor’s degree. It’s 60 credit hours (36 credit hours of general education classes and 24 credit hours of electives). When you complete your A.A. degree at Palm Beach State, you’re guaranteed admission as a junior to one of the state universities in Florida or to a private college or university that’s part of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). This guarantee does not apply to the university’s limited access programs.

The

36 credit hours

of general education are classes in:

credits

2

2 Degree

AA +

36 24

60 +

here ^years

there ^years

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How do you decide what’s right for you?

See an academic advisor!

Schedule an appointment. Your advisor will consider both the bachelor’s degree you want to pursue and the university you want to attend and guide you to take the classes that the university will expect of you.

One size does not fit all!

This takes a bit of investigating, and Palm Beach State has the advisors to help you get it right.

Below are just a few of the many

majors you can pursue

at your transfer university

upon completing your A.A.

degree. To see a complete list of university majors available in Florida, go to

www.facts.org.

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www .palmbeachstate.edu/ Ar easOfStudy .xml

Honors College

Prepare to be challenged! The Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College offers general education and elective honors courses that focus on

critical

thinking

discussions, presentations and in-depth learning. Completing honors courses may even help you

earn scholarships!

^Depending

on how many honors classes you take and other criteria, you can earn either an Honors Diploma or an Honors Certificate. To find out more, go to

www.palmbeachstate.edu/Honors.xml

^.

Leadership opportunities. Fun.

At Palm Beach State, you will enjoy many of the same experiences that

Bachelor’s degrees at Palm Beach State

Students who receive an A.A. degree also can choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Palm Beach State.

Bachelor of Applied Science:

• Supervision and Management

Concentrations in:General Management Public Safety Management Health Management

• Information Management

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Other important facts you need to know

The guarantee of university admission with an A.A. degree does not guarantee admission to a

“limited access”

program. In a limited access program, the admissions requirements may include a higher grade point average, higher test scores, auditions and/or portfolios. Selection is competitive, but A.A. grads have the same opportunity to enroll in these programs as students who begin at that university.

While you may not have the same guarantee at a university

outside Florida

^{, many of}

your A.A. courses will transfer, but it depends upon the individual university.

If you don’t finish

your A.A.

at Palm Beach State, the courses you take here are not guaranteed to transfer to a university in Florida unless the university offers that same course.

The guarantee comes with A.A.

degree completion!

If you

change your

mind

about your major or the university you want to attend, be sure to see an advisor. Together, you can work out the needed

If you’re not sure what major you want, or you need more information about various careers before making a decision,

schedule an appointment with a career counselor at Palm Beach State Career Centers. They have a wealth of resources to help you

identify your goals

^and

how to reach them.

You have one other tool to help you plan:

www.facts.org

^.

This online system gives you access to information on

programs and courses at Florida’s 28 colleges and 11 universities.

You can access transcripts and grades and compare colleges and universities, plus access other helpful information. Click on

“Site Tour” to explore the site.

Keep in mind, however, that exploring www.facts.org is

no substitute

for seeing an advisor regularly for the most up-to-date, accurate guidance.

Now you’re ready to move forward and go for that A.A.

degree…

apply

now!

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Palm Beach State College