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General Studies

Program Description

Associate of General Studies degree is a flexible program designed to help students reach their educational or occupational goals. The degree provides an opportunity for students to earn an associate degree when their specific needs are not met through other degree options.

The degree also allows students to explore a variety of academic fields before selecting a specific educational or career path. The Associate of General Studies degree is designed with three primary components. Graduates must complete the general education core, an area of concentration, and general education electives.

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General Education

General Education courses should be selected with academic advisor assistance and may be taken from any courses listed within the concentration area.

Students will need to select a concentration to complete the Associate of General Studies.

Fine Arts & Humanities

Courses in ARTS, THEA, ENGL (Higher than ENGL 1020), FREN, HIST, RELG, SPAN, SPCH.

If a student intends to transfer into a four-year institution or complete a Universal Transfer Pathway, it is recommended they choose either HIST 2010 American History I or HIST 2020 American History II.

Natural Science/Mathematics

Courses in BIOL, CHEM, ENSC, PHSC, PHYS, MATH (Higher than MATH 1100), and MEDL 1300.

Social/Behavioral Science

Courses in CRMJ, ECON, EDUC, GEOG, POLI, PSYC, SOCL, BUSI 1030, and BUSI 1090.


Curriculum

Students wishing to earn an Associate of General Studies must complete the General Education Core, Area of Concentration and General Education Electives.

Associate of General Studies
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit HrsTotal Contact Hrs
First Semester
ENGL 1010 or 1016English Composition I30345
MATH 1100 (or Higher)College Algebra (or Higher)30345
Natural Science Course30345
Natural Science Lab*01145
Concentration30345
General Education *30345
15115-16225-270
Second Semester
ENGL 1020English Composition II30345
Natural Science Course30345
Natural Science Lab*01145
Concentration30345
General Education *30345
General Education *30345
15115-16225-270
Third Semester
Humanities *30345
Social/Behavioral30345
Concentration30345
Concentration30345
Elective *30345
15015225
Fourth Semester
Fine Arts30345
Social/Behavioral30345
Concentration30345
Concentration30345
Elective *30345
15015225
AGSAssociate of General Studies60-68900-1200

*The total Associate of General Studies degree credits must be at least 60. If optional labs are taken, the total number of credits may exceed 60. If enrollment in labs and/or combination of one (1)-credit option adds up to 3 credits, then one fewer general education elective may be taken as long as the total credits number 60.

Certificate of General Studies
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit HrsTotal Contact Hrs
First Semester
ENGL 1010 or 1016English Composition I30345
MATH 1100 (or Higher)College Algebra (or Higher)30345
Humanities Course30345
Natural Science Course30345
Natural Science Lab01145
Social Science Course*30345
15115-16225-270
Second Semester
ENGL 1020English Composition II30345
General Education Course*30345
60690
Third Semester
Elective Course*30345
30345
Fourth Semester
Fine Arts30345
Elective Course*30345
60690
CGSCertificate of General Studies30-31450-495

Universal Transfer Pathways

Universal Transfer Pathways are a Louisiana Board of Regents initiative designed to aid students in seamlessly transferring between a two-year and four-year degree. SOWELA offers five Universal Transfer Pathway concentrations under the Associate of General Studies. Students must take specific courses for the Universal Transfer Pathway concentration (if they choose one of these options). The following are the course sequences for each of these concentrations.

Biology Universal Transfer Pathway
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabCredit Hrs.
Semester 1
ENGL 1010 or EquivalentEnglish Composition I303
MATH 1100 or HigherCollege Algebra or higher303
BIOL 1033Biology I303
BIOL 1031Biology I Lab011
CHEM 1010General Chemistry I303
CHEM 1011General Chemistry I Lab011
Fine Arts303
15217
Semester 2
ENGL 1020English Composition II303
BIOL 1043Biology II303
BIOL 1041Biology II Lab011
CHEM 1020General Chemistry II303
CHEM 1021General Chemistry II Lab011
MATH 2100Elementary Statistics303
12214
Semester 3
PHYS 2100General Physics I303
PHYS 2110General Physics I Lab001
BIOL 2253Human Anatomy & Physiology I303
BIOL 2251*Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab011
Humanities303
Humanities303
12214
Semester 4
PHYS 2200General Physics II303
PHYS 2210General Physics II Lab011
BIOL 2103General Microbiology303
BIOL 2101*General Microbiology Lab011
Social/Behavioral Science303
Social/Behavioral Science303
Humanities303
15217

**BIOL 2251 and BIOL 2101 are recommended course but not required to complete the AGS degree.

Criminal Justice Universal Transfer Pathway
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit HrsTotal Contact Hrs
Semester 1
ENGL 1010 or ENGL 1016English Composition I30345
MATH 1000, or higherApplied Algebra or higher30345
Natural Science30345
CRMJ 1110Introduction to Criminal Justice30345
SPCH 1200Introduction to Speech30345
15015225
Semester 2
ENGL 1020English Composition II30345
Natural Science30345
CRMJ 1120Introduction to Corrections30345
MATH 2100Elementary Statistics30345
Humanities30345
15015225
Semester 3
HIST 2010American History I30345
POLI 1100American Government30345
Natural Science30345
English higher than ENGL 102030345
12012180
Semester 4
Fine Arts30345
SOCL 2010Introduction to Sociology30345
CRMJ 1220Police Systems and Practices30345
CRMJ 2422Judicial Process30345
PSYC 2010Introduction to Psychology30345
15015225
Total Credits for Criminal Justice60900
History Universal Transfer Pathway
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit HrsTotal Contact Hrs
Semester 1
ENGL 1010 or ENGL 1016English Composition I30345
MATH 1000, or higherApplied Algebra or higher30345
Natural Science30345
HIST 1010 or HIST 1210Western Civilization I or World Civilization I30345
Social Science30345
15015225
Semester 2
ENGL 1020English Composition II30345
Natural Science30345
HIST 1020 or HIST 1220Western Civilization II or World Civilization II30345
MATH 2100Elementary Statistics30345
Social Science30345
15015225
Semester 3
HIST 2010American History I30345
Social Science30345
Social Science or Humanities30345
Social Science or Humanities30345
English higher than ENGL 102030345
15015225
Semester 4
Fine Arts30345
HIST 2020American History II30345
Social Science or Humanities30345
Social Science or Humanities30345
BIOL or PHYS30345
15015225
Total Credits for History60900
  • Natural Science - 1 Biological Science, 1 Physical Science, and choose between 1 Biological OR Physical Science (must be in the same discipline as one of the other two courses)
  • Two Math Electives or 1 math elective and 1 analytical reasoning (philosophy)
  • Social Science includes HIST, EDUC, GEOG, POLI, PSYC, SOCL.
  • Humanities includes ENGL higher than 1020, FREN, HIST, RELG, SPAN, SPCH.
  • Students may choose either a Social Science or Humanities sequence for their electives.
Nursing Universal Transfer Pathway
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit HrsTotal Contact Hrs
Semester 1
ENGL 1010 or ENGL 1016English Composition I30345
MATH 1100, 1106, or higherCollege Algebra or higher30345
BIOL 2253Anatomy & Physiology I30345
BIOL 2251Anatomy & Physiology I Lab01145
PHIL 1013Introduction to Philosophy30345
12113225
Semester 2
ENGL 1020English Composition II30345
BIOL 2263Anatomy & Physiology II30345
BIOL 2261Anatomy & Physiology II Lab01145
CUL 2223Nutrition and Diet Therapy30345
MATH 2100Elementary Statistics30345
SPCH 1000Fundamentals of Speech Communication30345
15116270
Semester 3
HIST 2010American History I30345
PSYC 2010Introduction to Psychology30345
BIOL 2103General Microbiology30345
BIOL 2101General Microbiology Lab01145
ENGL 2110American Literature I30345
Humanities30345
15116270
Semester 4
Fine Arts30345
SOCL 2010Introduction to Sociology30345
CHEM 1010General Chemistry I30345
CHEM 1011General Chemistry I Lab01145
PSYC 2335Psychology of Human Development30345
ENGL 2120American Literature II30345
15116270
Total Credits for Nursing611035
ENGL 2120. American Literature II
Lecture 3, Lab 0, Credit 3
A survey of American writers from the Civil War to the present; includes literary analysis and writing about literature. Term paper required.
Prerequisite: Require a “C” or better in ENGL 1020 to enroll.
[LCCN: CENL 2163]
Psychology Universal Transfer Pathway
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit HrsTotal Contact Hrs
Semester 1
ENGL 1010 or EquivalentEnglish Composition I30345
MATH 1100 or Equivalent or HigherCollege Algebra or Higher30345
PSYC 2010Introduction of Psychology30345
Fine ArtsARTS 1200 or THEA 101330345
Concentration Course30345
15015225
Semester 2
ENGL 1020English Composition II30345
MATH 1020, 1120 or HigherMath Elective Course30345
PSYC TBDSocial Psychology Course30345
BIOLBiology Elective Course30345
Concentration Course30345
15015225
Semester 3
ENGL 1500 or HigherEnglish Elective30345
PSYC 2335Development Psychology30345
BIOLBiology Elective Course30345
Humanities Elective Course30345
SOCL 1010Introduction to Sociology30345
15015225
Semester 4
Natural Science Elective Course30345
Humanities Elective Course30345
Humanities Elective Course30345
Concentration Course30345
Concentration Course30345
15015225
Associate of General Studies (AGS) UTP-Psychology60900

Program Information

CIP Code: 240102

Program Type: Associate of General Studies

Program Length: 60-68 Semester Credit Hours

Contact Information

Dr. Cole Cheek - Dean

Arts & Humanities Building, Room 215

cole.cheek@sowela.edu

(337) 421-6991