Associate of Arts

student in study lab

Program Information

  • Location: Downtown Milwaukee Campus, Mequon Campus, Oak Creek Campus, Online Campus, West Allis Campus
  • Pathway: General Education
  • Program Code: 20-800-1
  • Offering: Online, In-class
  • Degree Type: 2-Year Degree (Associate)
  • Start Dates: August/January

About the Associate of Arts Degree

DESCRIPTION

Liberal Arts and Sciences Four-Year College Transfer Program

The Associate of Arts degree provides you with the first two years of bachelor’s degree credit courses that will transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The courses in this degree emphasize the humanities and allow students many options to analyze information, think critically and creatively, respect diversity and collaborate with others. Courses may be taken online or face to face.

Students who plan to transfer should consult with the four-year college/university regarding specific requirements for a major and the credit transfer details. Contact an MATC advisor for more information. 

Note: It is important to consult the four-year institution regarding transferability of your selected courses. Successful completion of this degree requires a grade-point average of 2.0 (C) or higher, with 25% of the credits taken at MATC.

 

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Related Programs

Associates in arts online image

Associate of Arts Online - Accelerated

This online accelerated degree program provides you with the first two years of bachelor’s degree credit courses that will transfer to four-year colleges and universities. You can complete this degree entirely online and in one year of full-time study through five sessions. A session lasts seven or eight weeks. The degree also can be completed in more time, per your schedule.

Associates in arts community image

Associate of Arts - Community Engagement: Pre-Major

This Associate of Arts program prepares you to create positive change through advocacy and community engagement. The curriculum explores contemporary urban issues with an emphasis on social action and diverse perspectives. Through this program, students earn the first two years of bachelor’s degree credit courses that will transfer to a four-year college/university.

Detailed Program Information

2024-25 Curriculum

Course Course Name Credits
English – 6 credits required 6
ENG-201 English 1 ‡
ENG-202 English 2 ‡
Speech – 3 credits required 3
SPEECH-201 Elements of Speech
(or) SPEECH-203 Interpersonal Communication
(or) SPEECH-206 Intercultural Communication
Humanities – 12 credits required 12
Select credits from 200-level courses in the humanities
(such as English, music, speech, art, foreign language).
Examples: SPEECH-212, FLANG-214.
Three credits must be in 200-level diversity/ethnic
studies courses.
Three credits must be in 200-level fine arts courses.
Examples: MUSIC-205, ART-201, ENG-207 ‡.
Social Sciences – 12 credits required 12
Select credits from 200-level courses in the social sciences. See courses listed on Program Plan. Discuss your selections with your Pathway Advisor. 
World/Foreign Language – 4 credits required 4
Any 200-level FLANG
Most four-year universities require four consecutive
semesters of the same language. Students with prior
experience can place into a higher level with the potential
of earning 2-14 free retroactive credits. Students who
completed four high school semesters of the same
language with a grade of C or better can waive this
requirement; the four waived credits must be made up
with other 200-level credits.
Mathematics – 3 credits required 3
Select from 200-level MATH courses, except MATH-260.
Natural Sciences – 7 credits required 7
Select from 200-level BIOSCI, CHEM, GEOSCI or PHYS courses.
Four credits must be in a laboratory science. See courses listed on Program Plan. Discuss your course selections with Pathway Advisor.
Physical Education – 3 credits required 3
Select any 200-level PHYED course(s).
Additional Electives – 10 credits required 10

Additional foreign language credits are not required but
are recommended.

TOTAL CREDITS

60

‡ Prerequisite required.

Program curriculum requirements are subject to change.

Current MATC students should consult their Academic Program Plan for specific curriculum requirements.

Search for available classes now (link) to see course descriptions, class times and locations.

Already a student? You can visit Self-Service (link) and choose Student Planning to register for classes.

2024-2025 Program Flyer

View/Print pdf

Important Dates

Deadlines and important dates can be found on:
Cost & Aid Deadlines

Also, you can find dates and deadlines on the MATC Events Calendar

Program Outcomes

The Associate of Arts degree (AA) prepares students with the necessary academic and practical skills to complete a program of general education study and successfully transfer to a four-year college/university or to the workforce. The Associate of Arts requires coursework to prepare students to enter into many different areas of study, emphasizing humanities and social sciences.

Specifically, program learning outcomes for graduates of the AA degree include the following:

  • Effective Communication - Students will be able to communicate with different audiences by:
    • Being able to synthesize and organize information for diverse audiences
    • Actively listening in personal and professional relationships
    • Reading and comprehending written materials in content areas

This outcome is aligned with MATC’s Effective Communication Career Essential.

  • Information Literacy - Students will possess basic skills to access, evaluate, and use information technology to support academic, community, and career-related interests.

This outcome is aligned with MATC’s Technological Competency Career Essential.

  • Global Awareness - Students will be able to explain cultural difference and its importance, identify global interdependencies, and work productively with cultural differences.

This outcome is aligned with MATC’s Global Awareness Career Essential.

  • Analytical/Critical Thinking - Students will be able to perform analyses of messages, problems, or issues using a logically structured approach such as qualitative, quantitative, scientific, logical, critical or other human reasoning systems.

This outcome is aligned with MATC’s Effective Problem Solving Career Essential.

  • Professionalism - Students will display the behaviors of successful students and pre-professionals, identify the individual behaviors conducive to learning and succeeding in college, and display the abilities to interact successfully in classes, with instructors, other students, and student life personnel.
    This outcome is aligned with MATC’s Professionalism Career Essential.
  • Scientific Method - Students will be able to conduct research by planning and implementing an appropriate investigative strategy and synthesize results in an academic document.

This outcome is aligned with MATC’s Professionalism Career Essential.

With additional education and work experience, graduates may find employment in a variety of fields and occupations including: Advertising, Art, Counseling, Education, Elementary Education, International Studies, Journalism, Politics, Psychology, Public Relations, Radio/TV/Film, Sales, Social Work/Human Services, Theatre, Translating, etc.

Scholarships

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? 

Use the buttons below to get more information, visit the college or apply now. 

Request Info    Visit Us    Apply Now

 

QUESTIONS?

General Education Academic & Career Pathway
414-297-6584
genedpathway@matc.edu

 

Last updated: 06/21/2024