Oct 15, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Associate of Arts (AA) Degree


Schoolcraft program code # AA.00042

The Associate of Arts (AA) Degree is specifically designed for students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university. It requires students to complete a diverse range of liberal arts courses in areas such as English Communication, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. These courses help meet transfer requirements toward a bachelor’s degree. Students select courses within this degree that meet the eligibility criteria for the Michigan Transfer Agreement  (MTA), fulfilling both the General Education and Core Ability  requirements and the Associate of Arts degree requirements.

General Education Requirements


Students who complete the requirements below will have met the Schoolcraft General Education requirements and be eligible to complete the Michigan Transfer Agreement  (30 credits.)  All courses that apply to this degree must be at the 100- through 400-level with an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.

Degree Requirements


English Communication (minimum 6 credits)


Complete a minimum of one English composition course from the list below:

Complete a second English composition course or a communication arts course from the list below:

Humanities (minimum 4 credits)


  • Complete a minimum of two courses from different   disciplines from the MTA list such as Art, Communication Arts, English (Literature), Foreign Language, History, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, or Theatre, excluding performance or studio classes.

Natural Science (minimum 7 credits)


  • Complete a minimum of two courses from different Natural Science  disciplines from the MTA list such as Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Geography, or Physics. One course must be a lab science course.

Social Sciences (minimum 6 credits)


  • Complete a minimum of two courses from different Social Science  disciplines from the MTA list such as Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology

Major Area of Study


  • Complete an additional 34 credits of courses not previously taken that satisfy transfer and academic goals and requirements.
    • Students may take up to 15 credits of occupational or applied liberal arts courses toward the Associate of Arts degree. Not all occupational courses will transfer to another college or university. Consult transfer and articulation guides.
    • View the 2024-2025 Michigan Transfer Agreement Guide  for a complete list of transferrable courses that also meet the MTA requirements.

Total Credits: 60


PLEASE NOTE: Students may not use the same History course to satisfy both the humanities and social sciences requirements. Additionally, students may not use the same Communication Arts course to satisfy both the humanities and English communication requirements. Only certain Geography courses can be used for a natural science or social science course.

  • Upon finishing the MTA requirements, students will have fulfilled the general education requirements for an Associate of Arts degree at Schoolcraft College. To receive the MTA endorsement, students must request it by sending an email to screcord@schoolcraft.edu after their courses are completed and final grades are posted. The email should include the student’s name and Schoolcraft ID number.
  • It’s worth noting that although students can transfer in credit towards MTA, they must complete at least one credit of MTA applicable coursework at Schoolcraft to receive the endorsement. Occupational credit is not eligible. Additionally, achieving a minimum grade of 2.0 is required for each course that’s used to fulfill the Michigan Transfer Agreement.

Transfer Opportunities


For those seeking a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Schoolcraft College is a fantastic starting point. Whether you already have a transfer destination/program in mind or are still figuring out your major, Schoolcraft College can help you explore a range of transfer options at Schoolcraft Transfer to U.

If you complete your associate degree before transferring to a 4-year college or university, you can save a lot of money on tuition. To find out how much you can save, use our tuition comparison calculator. You can also speak with your advisor to learn how to maximize your savings through a transfer or articulation agreement.