A.A. Degree General Education
In compliance with Rule 6A-14.0303, General Education Core Course Options, prior to the award of an Associate in Arts degree, students must complete at least one course from each of the General Education subject areas listed in this section. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=6A-14.0303
- Communication:
- ENC X101 English Composition 1; or
- Any student who successfully completes a course with an ENC prefix for which ENC X101 is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the communication core.
- Humanities:
- ARH X000 Art Appreciation;
- HUM X020 Introduction to Humanities;
- LIT X000 Introduction to Literature;
- MUL X010 Music Literature/Music Appreciation;
- PHI X010 Introduction to Philosophy; or
- THE X000 Theatre Appreciation
- Mathematics:
- MAC X105 College Algebra;
- MAC X311 Calculus I;
- MGF X106 Liberal Arts Mathematics I
- MGF X107 Liberal Arts Mathematics II
- STA X023 Statistical Methods; or
- Any student who successfully completes a mathematics course for which one of the general education core courses options in mathematics is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the mathematics core.
- Natural Science:
- AST X002 Descriptive Astronomy;
- BSC X005 General Biology
- BSC X010 General Biology I;
- BSC X085 Anatomy and Physiology I;
- CHM X020 Chemistry for Liberal Studies;
- CHM X045 General Chemistry I;
- ESC X000 Introduction to Earth Science;
- EVR X001 Introduction to Environmental Science;
- PHY X020 Fundamentals of Physics;
- PHY X048 General Physics with Calculus;
- PHY X053 General Physics I; or
- Any student who successfully completes a natural science course for which one of the general education core course options in natural science is an immediate prerequisite shall be considered to have completed the natural science core.
- Social Sciences:
- AMH X020 Introduction to Survey Since 1877 (also meets Civic Literacy Competency);
- ANT X000 Introduction to Anthropology;
- ECO X013 Principles of Macroeconomics;
- POS X041 American Government (also meets Civic Literacy Competency);
- PSY X012 Introduction to Psychology; or
- SYG X000 Principles of Sociology. NOTE: SYG X000 completed in Fall 2024 or after will not satisfy general education core course credit for the subject discipline of social science.
Indian River State College requires all incoming students from the 2018-2019 academic year and beyond, to meet the Civic Literacy requirement. All first-time-in-college (FTIC) students entering all Florida College System (FCS) and State University System (SUS) institutions must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by the time they graduate per Florida Statute 1007.25 and Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.006. There are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying Civic Literacy requirements . As demonstrated below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution. If you are unsure which cohort you fall into, schedule an appointment with your assigned academic advisor.
Cohort 1: Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution between the 2018-19 to 2020-21 school year must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by successfully completing either a course or an exam.
Cohort 2: Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-22 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by successfully completing a course and an exam.
Cohort 3: Prior to the award of an associate in science or associate in applied science degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2022-23 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by successfully completing a course and an exam.
In compliance with the Florida Department of Education Rule 6A-10.02413, students must demonstrate civic literacy competency prior to the award of an Associates or Bachelors degree. The State Board of Education defines civics literacy competency as follows:
- Earning a passing grade in AMH2020 or POS1041 AND earning a passing score on the Florida Civics Literacy Exam
OR
- Passing one of the following exams which gives students credit for the course and civics literacy exam
AP Government and Politics: United States (3)
AP United States History (4)
CLEP: American Government (50).
Required Courses for Graduation - (A.A. Degree) – 36 Semester Hours
The faculty of Indian River State College are committed to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning. The Associate in Arts Program Learning Outcomes represent the essential skills needed for successful transfer from the Associate in Arts to the baccalaureate. The Associate in Arts Program Learning outcomes include the General Education Learning Outcomes as a core component of the A.A. Curriculum.
Associate in Arts Learning Outcomes
- Behavioral and Social Analysis - Demonstrate critical thinking skills in the analysis, evaluation, and formation of ideas about the human experience.
- Communication - Demonstrate effective communication skills for a variety of audiences.
- Critical thinking - Demonstrate ability to interpret meaning and draw conclusions using evidence as support.
- Ethical Reasoning - Demonstrate ability to recognize, understand, and use ethical reasoning.
- Historical Thinking - Demonstrate ability to analyze change, continuity, complexity, context, and causality of historical events, people, ideas, or process.
- Information Literacy - Demonstrate the ability to think critically about how information is created, consumed, and distributed. Recognize when information is needed and demonstrate the ability to locate, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information.
- Mathematical Reasoning - Demonstrate mathematical reasoning in problem solving.
- Scientific Reasoning - Demonstrate scientific reasoning in problem solving.
Degree Requirements
Communications - 6 credits
Students must complete
ENC 1101 to comply with General Education Core Course Options.
| ENC 1101 | English Composition I | 3 credits |
| And | |
| ENC 1102 | English Composition II | 3 credits |
| ENC 1107 | Advanced College Writing | 3 credits |
| ENC 2210 | Technical Writing | 3 credits |
| AML 2010 | American Literature through Reconstruction | 3 credits |
| AML 2020 | American Literature from Reconstruction to Present | 3 credits |
| AML 2600 | Introduction to African American Literature | 3 credits |
| ENL 2012 | English Literature: Medieval to Romantic Era | 3 credits |
| ENL 2022 | English Literature: Romantic Era to present | 3 credits |
| LIT 2110 | World Literature from ancient through the Renaissance | 3 credits |
| LIT 2120 | World Literature from the Enlightenment through the present | 3 credits |
| LIT 2190 | Caribbean Literature | 3 credits |
| MMC 2100 | Writing for Mass Communications | 3 credits |
| SPC 1608 | Public Speaking | 3 credits |
In each of the above courses, students will demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments and complete each course with a grade of "C" or higher.
SPC 1608 changes from A.A. elective credit to Communications General Education credit, effective Spring 2024.
Humanities - 6 credits
Students must complete at least one course from
ARH 1000,
HUM 1020,
LIT 1000,
MUL 2010,
PHI 1010,
THE 1000 to comply with General Education Core Course Options.
| AML 2010 | American Literature through Reconstruction | 3 credits |
| AML 2020 | American Literature from Reconstruction to Present | 3 credits |
| AML 2600 | Introduction to African American Literature | 3 credits |
| ARH 1000 | Art Appreciation | 3 credits |
| DAN 2100 | Dance Appreciation | 3 credits |
| ENC 1102 | English Composition II | 3 credits |
| ENL 2012 | English Literature: Medieval to Romantic Era | 3 credits |
| ENL 2022 | English Literature: Romantic Era to present | 3 credits |
| ENL 2330 | Introduction to Shakespeare | 3 credits |
| HUM 1020 | Introduction to Humanities | 3 credits |
| IDS 1110 | The Pursuit of Knowledge | 3 credits |
| IDS 1955 | Interdisciplinary Study Abroad | 3 credits |
| LIT 1000 | Introduction to Literature | 3 credits |
| LIT 2110 | World Literature from ancient through the Renaissance | 3 credits |
| LIT 2120 | World Literature from the Enlightenment through the present | 3 credits |
| LIT 2190 | Caribbean Literature | 3 credits |
| MMC 2100 | Writing for Mass Communications | 3 credits |
| MUL 2010 | Music Appreciation | 3 credits |
| MUL 2012 | Survey of Music Literature - Musical Theater | 3 credits |
| MUY 2100 | Humanities: Music and Music Therapy | 3 credits |
| PHI 1002 | Philosophical Practice | 3 credits |
| PHI 1010 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 1071 | Eastern Philosophies | 3 credits |
| PHI 1103 | Critical and Creative Thinking | 3 credits |
| PHI 1113 | Reason and Emotion | 3 credits |
| PHI 1624 | Philosophy and Popular Culture | 3 credits |
| PHI 1635 | Ethical Issues in Health Care | 3 credits |
| PHI 1801 | Philosophy of Art | 3 credits |
| PHI 2100 | Introduction to Logic | 3 credits |
| PHI 2620 | Environmental Ethics | 3 credits |
| PHI 2630 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 credits |
| PHP 1791 | Existentialism | 3 credits |
| REL 1300 | Introduction to World Religions | 3 credits |
| THE 1000 | Introduction to Theatre (Drama) | 3 credits |
| THE 2300 | Survey of Dramatic Literature | 3 credits |
In each of the above courses, students will demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments and complete each course with a grade of "C" or higher.
Mathematics - 6 credits
Students must complete at least one course from MAC 1105, MAC 2311, MGF 1106, MGF 1107, STA 2023 to comply with General Education Core Course Options.
2023-2024 is the last year MGF 1106 and MGF 1107 meet General Education Core Course Options for Mathematics subject area.
Effective Fall 2017, Associate in Arts degree-seeking students must enroll in the first required math course appropriate for their degree by the time they have earned fifteen college credits or reached the 25% benchmark toward degree. These students must enroll in a math course each subsequent semester until the math General Education requirement has been met.
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 credits |
| MAC 1114 | Plane Trigonometry | 3 credits |
| MAC 1140 | Precalculus Algebra | 3 credits |
| MAC 1147 | Precalculus/Trigonometry | 5 credits |
| MAC 2233 | Business Calculus I | 3 credits |
| MAC 2311 | Calculus I with Analytic Geometry | 5 credits |
| MAD 2104 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 credits |
| MAP 2302 | Differential Equations | 3 credits |
| MGF 1106 | Survey in Mathematics | 3 credits |
| MGF 1107 | Explorations in Mathematics | 3 credits |
| MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | 3 credits |
| MTG 2204 | Elementary Geometry | 3 credits |
| STA 2023 | Elementary Statistics I | 3 credits |
Students must complete each course with a grade of C or higher.
Science - 6 credits
Students must complete at least one course from
AST 1002,
BSC 1005,
BSC 2010,
BSC 2085,
CHM 1020,
CHM 1045, ESC 1000, EVR 1001,
PHY 1020,
PHY 2048,
PHY 1053 to comply with General Education Core Course Options. IRSC does not offer ESC 1000, or EVR 1001, but does accept the courses as Natural Science General Education.
Consult Enrollment and Student Services about specific science requirements for major and for university transfer.
Social Science - Students must take 6 credits from the following
Students must take at least one course from the following AMH 2020, ANT 1000, ECO 2013, POS 1041, PSY 2012, SYG 2000 to comply with General Education Core Course Options.
NOTE: SYG 2000 completed in Fall 2024 or after will not satisfy general education core course credit for the subject discipline of social science.
Students must take 12 credits total of Social Science courses.
| AMH 2010 | American History: Discovery through Reconstruction | 3 credits |
| AMH 2020 | American History: Reconstruction to the Present | 3 credits |
| WOH 2012 | World History to 1500 | 3 credits |
| WOH 2022 | World History Since 1500 | 3 credits |
| WOH 2040 | World in the 20th Century | 3 credits |
Social Science - Students must take 6 credits from the following
| ANT 1000 | Introduction to General Anthropology | 3 credits |
| DEP 2004 | Human Development | 3 credits |
| ECO 2013 | Principles of Economics Macro | 3 credits |
| ECO 2023 | Principles of Economics Micro | 3 credits |
| INR 2002 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 credits |
| INR 2500 | Model United Nations | 3 credits |
| POS 1041 | American Government | 3 credits |
| PSY 2012 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 credits |
| SPC 1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 3 credits |
| SYG 1361 | Sociology of Death | 3 credits |
| SYG 2000 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits |
| SYG 2010 | Social Problems | 3 credits |
Students must take 12 credits total of Social Science courses.
Electives – 24 Credits
No upper level or courses with the designation (N) are permitted in the Associate in Arts Degree program.
Required Prerequisites
(See Program Listings or Advisor)
To earn the Associate in Arts Degree, certain General Education requirements and elective courses must be satisfactorily completed. Although A.A. students at Indian River State College do not declare majors, students must select prerequisite courses which will best prepare them for transfer into a particular major field at a specific college or university.
In planning the program of study at Indian River State College, students are advised to seek the aid of an advisor. An advisor can help review selections of courses acceptable for meeting the General Education requirements, since specific General Education courses may be recommended for a particular major. In addition, an advisor can suggest prerequisites and sequences of courses for a specific major.
The length of programs may vary depending on the major area of study and the college or university the student plans to attend.
The listings are examples of programs that meet the requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree and include prerequisite electives generally recommended for certain majors at most of the state (public) universities. Students should check, however, that the suggested courses meet the requirement for the major field at the specific college or university that they plan to attend. Choice of program and selection of courses are the student’s responsibility.
The Program Code required for the IRSC Application for Admission is the five digit number following the Program Title.