Associate in Arts

Richmond Community College offers two associate degree programs designed to allow seamless transition to four-year institutions: Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.).

The Associate in Arts program is designed for students desiring a bachelor's degree and/or pre-professional training in areas other than fine arts and natural/biological/mathematical sciences. Students who plan to major in such disciplines as art, business, economics, history, humanities, liberal arts, liberal arts education, music, political science, psychology, and sociology should consult a counselor about enrolling in the AA program.

The Associate in Arts degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit (SHC) of college transfer courses. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and basic computer use.

The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) and the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) enables North Carolina community college graduates of two-year associate in arts programs who are admitted to constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina and to Signatory Institutions of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities to transfer with junior status.

Community college graduates must obtain a grade of "C" or better in each course and an overall GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to transfer with a junior status. Courses may also transfer through bilateral agreements between institutions.

Transfer programs such as this require a "C" or better in all classes to graduate.