Associate of Arts (A.A.)
The Department of Applied Arts and Sciences offers the Associate of Arts degree. The Associate of Arts degree is considered a general education transfer degree and does not include a major or minor course of study. To receive an Associate of Arts degree, students must:
- successfully complete all lower-division general education requirements with a letter grade of C- or better;
- earn a minimum of 60 credits, at least 30 of which must be from UM;
- and maintain an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all UM courses taken for a traditional letter grade (A-F).
Matriculating students may begin coursework in the autumn, spring or summer. Courses numbered below 100 do not count toward the 60 credit requirement or general education course requirements, but do fulfill financial aid credit load requirements.
Students planning on completing a baccalaureate degree are encouraged to select specific general education courses and electives that meet the requirements for that future major. Students work with their advisor to develop an AA degree plan to best prepare them to transition to a four-year degree.
Pathways within the Associate of Arts Degree
Although the AA does not include a major or minor course of study, students may elect to choose classes in a specific area of interest. Recognized pathways within the Associate of Arts degree include:
- Chemical and Addiction Studies
- Business
- Communication Studies
- Health IT
- Professional Communication
- Sociology
- For individuals attending the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, a specialized Associate of Arts degree is offered through a collaboration among Missoula College UM, the University of Montana Department Of Sociology, and the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena, MT.
Concentrations within the Associate of Arts Degree
Similar to pathways or areas of emphasis within the AA degree concentrations are meant to help students focus on communication studies, an area of increasing demand to employers. Unlike areas of emphasis, these concentrations are recorded on the student’s transcript a concentration of the AA degree itself.
Courses
An “R” after the course title indicates students may earn credit for each successful completion to the maximum number indicated after the “R.” Credits earned beyond this maximum will not count towards the total required for the AA degree.
Associate of Arts - General AA
Missoula College
Degree Specific Credits: 60
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Catalog Year: 2017-2018
Note: The AA degree has three requirements:
- completion of UM's lower-division General Education Requirements (GERs),
- a minimum of 60 total earned credits, and
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
At least 30 of the total 60 degree credits must be earned from Missoula College or UM-Missoula. Missoula College students are limited to enrolling in lower-division coursework (course level 100 or 200).
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Perspectives | 21-27 | |
Expressive Arts | ||
Historical & Cultural Studies | ||
Literary & Artistic Studies | ||
Social Sciences | ||
Ethical & Human Values | ||
Democracy and Citizenship Perspectives | ||
Cultural and International Diversity Perspectives | ||
Natural Sciences | ||
| Writing Skills | 6 | |
| AA Degree Electives | 13-27 | |
| Total Hours | 43-64 | |
Mathematics
Rule: Any Mathematics course level 104 or higher (excluding M 111).
Note: Appropriate placement into mathematics courses required. Prerequisites may apply. If a student successfully places into and completes a mathematics (either "M" or "STAT") course that is also considered a Symbolic System, that course may be used to count towards both the Mathematics and Symbolic Systems General Education Requirements.
Minimum Required Grade: C-
3-4 Total Credits Required
Perspectives
Rule: A minimum of 3 credits towards each Perspective Category is required.
Note: Some courses satisfy multiple Perspectives or GER Categories; visit with your advisor for more information. Students who take the maximum number of Perspective "double-dippers" possible will be able to complete the Perspectives with a total of 21 credits.
Minimum Required Grade: C-
21-27 Total Credits Required
Expressive Arts (A)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Literary & Artistic Studies (L)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Historical & Cultural Studies (H)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Social Sciences (S)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Ethical & Human Values (E)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Democracy and Citizenship (Y)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Cultural and International Diversityectives (X)
Rule: A minimum of three credits is required.
Natural Sciences (N)
Rule: A minimum of six credits is required. At least one course must have a laboratory component.
Writing Skills
Rule: Both WRIT 101 AND an Approved Writing Course are required.
Note: NOTE: Students who place into and successfully complete WRIT 201 are considered to have satisfied both the WRIT 101
Minimum Required Grade: C-
6 Total Credits Required
WRIT 101
Rule: Take 1 of the courses below.
Note: Appropriate placement into WRIT 101/ WRIT 201 required. Prerequisites may apply.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| or WRIT 201 | College Writing II | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Lower-Division Approved Writing Course
Rule: Any course designated as an Approved Writing Course during semester it's taken.
AA Degree Electives
Rule: Number of elective credits required varies; student needs to ensure s/he earns at least 60 total credits for the AA degree.
Note: Transfer students may count up to 30 transfer credits towards the total 60 necessary for degree. A maximum of 15 technical credits may be counted towards the total 60. (A student may use 20 technical credits towards the 60 if s/he has earned an AAS degree.)
13-27 Total Credits Required
Health Care Informatics Track Requirements
Rule: All courses are required
This is an advising track only and not an official program as recognized by the University of Montana (UM) or the Montana University System. This information will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication. You do not fill out a major change for a track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AHMS 144 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| CSCI 105 | Computer Fluency | 3 |
| CSCI 110 | Programming - VB I | 3 |
| CSCI 172 | Intro to Computer Modeling | 3 |
| CSCI 240 | Databases and SQL | 3 |
| HIT 101 | Intro to Healthcare Informatic | 3 |
| HIT 265 | Electronic Health Records | 3 |
| ITS 150 | CCNA 1: Exploration | 3 |
| ITS 165 | OS Commands and Scripts | 3 |
| ITS 210 | Network OS - Desktop | 3 |
| ITS 280 | Computer Repair & Maint. | 3 |
| ITS 289 | Professional Certification | 1 |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-