Requirements for the Associate in General Studies Degree (A.G.S. - RVC curriculum #0100)

The Associate in General Studies Degree is designed primarily for students who have chosen to pursue a broad general program rather than a specific occupational-oriented or baccalaureate-oriented program. THIS DEGREE IS NOT DESIGNED TO TRANSFER to a four-year institution and general education requirements do not meet IAI General Education Core Curriculum guidelines.

It is an individualized program, permitting flexibility in the selection of courses. Students will qualify for the Associate in General Studies degree when they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Enter into a contract with an academic advisor establishing an individualized program. This contract will include the following points agreed upon by the student and their counselor and approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
   1. A general education component which must include:
      • ENG 101 and SPH 131.
      • A mathematics course numbered 100 or above.
      • A social sciences course numbered 100 or above.
      • A humanities course numbered 100 or above (as defined in the A.A. degree humanities requirement).
      • A science course numbered 100 or above.
      • Career requirement (1-3 semester credits). Students must complete one course from the following electives:
        STU 101 (Career Planning),
        BUS 101 (Introduction to Business),
        BUS 105 (Consumer Economics and Personal Finance),
        CIS 102 (Introduction to Computers and Information Systems).
   2. A minimum of 15 semester credits of the following areas of concentration from one or more:
      • Business - all courses in the Business Division.
      • Communication - all courses numbered 100 to 299.
      • Computers and Information Systems - all courses in CIS, PCT, and WEB.
      • Humanities - all courses in Art, Music, Literature, Philosophy, THE 133, HUM 111, HUM 112, HUM 114, and SPH 202.
      • Life/Physical Sciences - all courses in the Life and Physical Sciences departments.
      • Mathematics - all Mathematics courses numbered 100 to 299.
      • Modern Languages - all Modern Language courses.
      • Fitness, Wellness, & Sport - all 200 level courses (FWS).
      • Health and Service Careers - all courses in the Allied Health Programs.
      • Social Sciences - all courses in the Social Sciences and Humanities Division.
      • Technical - all courses in the Technical Programs.
   3. Electives - to be discussed with an Academic Advisor
2. Complete all provisions of the contract. Once the agreement has been defined, it cannot be changed without the approval of an Academic Advisor and the Chief Academic Officer (CAO).
3. Earn a minimum of 12 semester credits at Rock Valley College in fall and spring semesters or summer sessions following the term in which the student entered into the contract.
4. Earn a minimum of 64 semester credits in courses numbered 100 through 299 (excluding certificate-level courses so indicated under “Course Descriptions”) with a grade point average of at least 2.0.
5. Successful completion of 20 semester credits at Rock Valley College. Students may earn a maximum of four (4) semester credits in physical education activity classes (FWS 100-199) toward the Associate in General Studies Degree.