Associate of Arts

What is the Associate of Arts program?

The Associate of Arts degree is composed of two parts which are the equivalent to the first half of a Baccalaureate degree.

The first and largest element of the Associate of Arts degree is the completion of the Core Curriculum (14 classes). These courses provide you well-rounded educational experiences in communication, mathematics, life & physical sciences, language, philosophy & culture, creative arts, American history, government, social & behavioral sciences, and global languages. These courses also prepare you for success in the higher-level courses in universities when you complete your Baccalaureate degree.

The second element of the Associate of Arts degree is 6 additional academic courses that you choose based on your pre-major as well as your Transfer Agreement, if applicable, for the degree and university plan to transfer to. Your Certified Advisor can help guide you through these course and transfer decisions.

St. Philip’s College offers many Pre-majors in the Associate of Arts degree that connect you to your passions:

What will I learn?

The Associate of Arts degree provides deep skill building in these areas:

These essential skills are highly desired by employers and will help you navigate decision-making throughout your life.

What can I do with this course of study?

The Associate of Arts degree is designed to transfer into and set you up for success in a Baccalaureate degree.

What's special about the program?

Associate of Arts graduating students are now offered a capstone experience!

In your last semester before graduating, you will have the opportunity to earn the SPC Associate of Arts Resiliency Badge.  This capstone opportunity is a free online Canvas course and takes about 4 hours to complete.

Resiliency represents the culmination of critical thinking, personal & social responsibility, communication, quantitative analysis, and teamwork. This capstone Resiliency Badge focuses on these life and employment skills:

1. Self-Awareness: the ability to critically reflect on your performance, understand your relative strengths and weaknesses, and prioritize areas for growth and improvement
2. Focus on Solutions: the ability to set goals and expectations to help focus on solutions
3. Learning from Experience: the ability to manage emotions, revisit goals, receive and apply feedback, and shift focus to align with priorities  
4. Flexibility: the ability to deal with the unexpected and stay flexible under pressure  

The SPC Associate of Arts Resiliency Badge is a real micro-credential recognized by employers—and it is the “extra something” that can lift you above competitors when you enter the job market.  

Digital badges are valuable because they: 

• Belong to the badge earner 
• Are shareable on e-portfolios and social media
• Are proof you can demonstrate a specific marketable skill 
• Allow you to discuss your experience with certain marketable skills during the hiring process.