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Arkansas State University
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Arkansas State University
Assoc. of Gen. Studies

Associate of General Studies Online


Program Overview

Learn More About Our Online General Studies Associate Degree


Explore a wide range of interests with the multidisciplinary Associate of General Studies online degree program. Gain a well-rounded education and a solid foundation of viable skills that will serve you well both now and in the future.

icon $269 Per Credit Hour
icon Varies Program Duration
icon 60 Credit Hours
icon $269 Per Credit Hour
icon Varies Program Duration
icon 60 Credit Hours
Have questions or need more information about A‑State's online programs?

The versatile Associate of General Studies online degree program gives you ultimate flexibility. Many students start college with a predetermined major, only to discover that it's not the career path they visualize for their future. This degree combines a broad base of core courses with numerous elective courses so you can explore different areas of study and learn more about what truly suits your interests and talents. Upon graduation, you will have both the work-relevant skills to begin a successful career immediately as well as a solid academic foundation if you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree.

By taking courses across a wide range of disciplines, including communications, math, science and the arts and humanities, you will learn how to think critically, communicate effectively and solve problems creatively and strategically.

The Right Skills to Get the Job Done

Learn the communications, collaboration and problem-solving skills that will enhance your ability to succeed both independently and as a productive team member in a wide range of industries and professions.

In-Demand Skills:

Gain the knowledge and industry-relevant skills employers seek:

  • Problem-solving
  • Store operations
  • Effective communications
  • Customer service
  • Product sales

Top Careers

Prepare for a broad range of professional roles, including:

  • Store Manager
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Insurance Account Manager
  • Retail Sales Agent

Projected Job Growth:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment for individuals with an associate degree to grow 4.9% from 2019 to 2029, resulting in about 600,102 new jobs nationwide.

Also available:

Have questions or need more information about A‑State's online programs?

Tuition

Financial Aid Packages Are Available for Those Who Qualify


A-State's online programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.

The Associate of General Studies online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition.

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Tuition Per Credit Hour $269
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Tuition Per Course $807

Transfer your credits for lower tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

Transfer Credits:
Your Estimated Tuition: $
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

Per Credit Hour Per Course
U.S. Resident Tuition Required Fees Total U.S. Resident Tuition Required Fees Total
$229.00 $40.00 $269.00 $687.00 $120.00 $807.00

Calendar

A-State Online Dates and Deadlines


Our Associate of General Studies is a flexible online program featuring accelerated, 7-week courses and multiple start dates per year.

Next Start & Application Due Dates:

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Apply By:
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Start Class:
Term Length Course Begin Course End Application Deadline Document Deadline Registration Deadline Payment Deadline Last Day to Withdraw
Summer 2023 5 wk 05/30/2023 06/30/2023 05/15/2023 05/19/2023 05/25/2023 05/26/2023 06/19/2023
5 wk 07/03/2023 08/04/2023 06/19/2023 06/23/2023 06/29/2023 06/30/2023 07/21/2023
Fall 2023 7 wk 08/21/2023 10/06/2023 08/07/2023 08/11/2023 08/17/2023 08/18/2023 09/22/2023
7 wk 10/16/2023 12/08/2023 10/02/2023 10/06/2023 10/12/2023 10/13/2023 11/17/2023
Spring 2024 7 wk 01/08/2024 02/23/2024 12/15/2023 12/19/2023 01/04/2024 01/05/2024 02/09/2024
7 wk 03/04/2024 04/26/2024 02/19/2024 02/23/2024 02/29/2024 03/01/2024 04/05/2024
Summer 2024 5 wk 05/28/2024 06/27/2024 05/14/2024 05/17/2024 05/23/2024 05/24/2024 06/14/2024
5 wk 07/02/2024 08/01/2024 06/18/2024 06/21/2024 06/27/2024 06/28/2024 07/26/2024
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Admissions

Are You Ready to Apply? Check Our Admission Requirements First


A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the Associate of General Studies online program should review and follow the requirements for admission below.

There are several paths to admittance at A-State:

  • If you have 13 or more transferrable college credit hours, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 on previous college coursework
  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been out of high school for five years or more, you would be admitted if you:

    • Have a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent
    • Have completed 12 or fewer earned college hours
    • Have never enrolled as a student at A-State

    Note: If you're admitted as a non-traditional first-time freshman, you may be required to successfully complete a predesignated curriculum of 12 hours (Certificate or Non-Degree). Upon successful completion, you will be transitioned to a degree seeking program.

  • If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been in high school within the last 5 years, you would be admitted if you have one of the following:
    • 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (or GED test score equivalent), OR
    • 19 minimum ACT super score or minimum 990 combined SAT super score, OR
    • Class rank in the top 20% of your graduating class

Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.

  1. When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
  2. Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
  3. Submit all official college transcripts.
  4. Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
  5. Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).

Note: If you have 0-12 transferrable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE); however, they are not needed for an admission decision. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores.

If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.

Additional Information

Students who have attended any other institution of higher education must meet the following requirements.

For students who have:

  • Fewer than 12 college hours: Submit official final high school transcript and official test scores.
  • 13 - 23 college hours: Have a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on cumulative transcripts and official test scores.
  • 24 or more college hours: Have a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on cumulative transcripts.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

Academic Partnerships
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

Courses

A Look at the General Studies Associate Degree Online Curriculum


To earn your Associate of General Studies, you need to complete 60 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 25 credit hours of general education courses and 35 credit hours of elective courses. Students can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.

Students must take the following courses.

Communication Requirement:

Students must complete 6 credit hours of the following courses.

ENG 1003: Composition I

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication, including principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Prerequisite, with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.

ENG 1013: Composition II

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Continues the practice of ENG 1003 to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development, including research and documentation.

Mathematics Requirement:

Students must complete 3 credit hours of either College Algebra or any higher-level mathematics course for which College Algebra is a prerequisite.

MATH 1023: College Algebra

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, and miscellaneous topics. No credit given if taken following MATH 1054.

MATH 1043: Quantitative Reasoning

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Quantitative Reasoning Quantitative reasoning as the approach to understanding relationships using mathematical and algebraic methodologies. Contemporary topics will be used to identify, analyze, generalize, and communicate quantitative relationships.

Arts and Humanities Requirement:

Students must complete 3 credit hours of Arts and Humanities courses. The first two courses listed below are offered online.

ENG 2003: Introduction to World Literature I

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.

ENG 2013: Introduction to World Literature II

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.

MUS 2503: Fine Arts – Music

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal musical training or experience. A study of musical styles and composers and their cultural and historical contexts.

Social Sciences Requirement:

Students must complete 9 credit hours of Social Sciences courses. At least one course must be selected from POSC 2103, SOC 2213 or HIST 2773.

POSC 2103: Introduction to US Government

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.

SOC 2213: Principles of Sociology

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Human society and social behavior.

PSY 2013: Introduction to Psychology

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.

Natural Sciences Requirement:

Students must complete 4 credit hours of Natural Sciences courses, including one course and one lab.

BIO 1003: Biological Science

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 3

The major characteristics and processes of life emphasizing the human organism. Promotes understanding of diversity and unity among living organisms with focus on ecological interactions and responsibilities of people within their social and natural environment. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Must be taken with BIO 1001.

BIO 1001: Biological Science Lab

Duration: 7 weeks  |  Credit Hours: 1

Laboratory, must be taken with BIO 1003. There will be a fee when purchasing the LabKit. Please visit the tuition and fees page for pricing.

CHEM 1043: Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry I

Duration: Varies  |  Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Fall, Summer.

CHEM 1041: Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry Lab

Duration: Varies  |  Credit Hours: 1

Special course fees apply. Prerequisite or co-requisite of CHEM 1043. Fall, Summer.

Students must take 35 credit hours of electives to satisfy the 60 credit hours required for this program. Courses may be chosen with the assistance of an advisor and per your degree plan. Electives can come from any courses offered so long as prerequisites are met.

You may be closer to graduation than you think!

A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.

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