Staff Policy D-105.02
Institutional Effectiveness Criterion: Scholarship

Associate in Science and Arts (ASA)

The Associate in Science and Arts (ASA) is a liberal arts degree generally pursued by students planning to transfer to a four-year institution or by students who have not decided on an emphasis of study.

1. 2 courses in Composition: 6 semester hours minimum
   English Composition (ENG 111 and 112). A 2.0 or higher in each course is required to satisfy this degree requirement.
2. 1 course in Mathematics: 3 semester hours minimum
   Any entry-level college course that meets the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) math requirement. A 2.0 or higher is required to satisfy this degree requirement.
3. 2 courses in Social Sciences: 6 semester hours minimum
   Group 1* courses must be selected from at least two of the following areas. Not all courses within an area are eligible for fulfilling this requirement . A 2.0 or higher in each course is required to satisfy this degree requirement.
   • Anthropology
   • Economics
   • Geography
   • Political Science
   • Psychology
   • Sociology
4. 2 courses in Humanities: 6 semester hours minimum
   Group 1* courses must be selected from at least two of the following areas. Not all courses within an area are eligible for fulfilling this requirement . A 2.0 or higher in each course is required to satisfy this degree requirement.
   • Art
   • History
   • Humanities
   • Literature
   • Music
   • Philosophy/Religion
   • Second-year foreign language
5. 2 courses in Natural Sciences: 6 semester hours minimum
   Must include one lecture/lab science course.
   Group 1* courses must be selected from at least two of the following areas. Not all courses within an area are eligible for fulfilling this requirement . A 2.0 or higher in each course is required to satisfy this degree requirement.
   • Astronomy
   • Biology
   • Chemistry
   • Environmental Science
   • Physics
6. 1 course supporting Cultural Perspective/Diversity: 3 semester hours
   Choose one course from a list of qualifying courses.*
   This course may also be used to fulfill other degree requirements.
7. Any additional Group 1 course needed for a minimum of 30 semester hours of general education coursework. A 2.0 or higher is required to satisfy this degree requirement.
8. Electives (Group 1* or Group 2*): any credit courses in the college curriculum for a combined total of no less than 60 semester hours.

Notes:

1. Students must complete at least 15 of the 60 semester hours at NMC.
2. A maximum of two physical education credits, two professional development seminar credits, and four academic service learning internship credits may be used toward a degree.
3. Basic skill courses (numbers under 100) do not count toward graduation, even though they may be needed as a prerequisite to required courses.
4. A grade of 1.0 or higher is required for course completion. However, students should be aware that simply completing a course is not always sufficient to meet degree requirements or to satisfy prerequisite requirements for other courses or transfer.
5. Graduation with an Associate in Science and Arts (ASA) from Northwestern Michigan College requires that a student complete at least 60 earned semester hours with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
6. If obtaining an additional degree reference Policy D-105.06 Additional Credits for an Additional Associates Degree
7. To qualify for the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) students must complete the general education requirements of the ASA degree. A 2.0 or higher is required for each course in the 30 semester hours to be counted toward the MTA.

*As designated in the Northwestern Michigan College catalog.

The Vice President for Educational Services, in conjunction with the appropriate faculty and staff, is responsible for the development and publication of any procedures or guidelines that may be necessary to administer this policy effectively.

If any provision(s) of this policy or set of bylaws conflicts with laws applicable to Northwestern Michigan College, including the Community College Act of 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, or the Open Meetings Act, as each may be amended from time to time, such laws shall control and supersede such provision(s).