Associate in Science Degree (AS)

Associate in Science Requirements

To receive an AS degree, students must:

1. Maintain a 2.0 grade point average on all work applicable to the AS degree.
2. Earn at Des Moines Area Community College a minimum of 1/3 of the semester credit hours applicable to the degree being pursued. No more than 43 transfer semester credit hours may be applied toward the degree.
3. Complete a minimum of 64 semester credit hours.
4. Include at least 48 semester credit hours of Core courses:
   • Communications 9 credits
   • Social & Behavioral Sciences 6 credits
   • Math & Sciences 20 credits
   • Humanities 3 credits
   • Distributed Requirements 10 credits (includes SDV 108)
5. Include at least 16 semester credit hours of elective credit.
   1. Students may include no more than 16 semester credit hours of vocational/ technical credit.
   2. Students may have up to 8 semester credit hours of Independent Study Courses; up to 4 semester credit hours of Independent Study may be earned in any single semester.
6. Complete 3 semester credit hours to satisfy the Diversity Requirement with a minimum grade of “C.” The Diversity Requirement does not increase the number of credits required for graduation. The course used to fulfill the Diversity Requirement may also be used to fulfill three credits of Core requirements in Communications, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Humanities or Distributed Requirements if the diversity course is listed as fulfilling Core requirements in Communications, Social & Behavioral Sciences or the Humanities. If the course does not fall under any of the Core groups, the course used to fulfill the Diversity Requirement may count as an elective.

Courses that satisfy the Diversity Requirement at Des Moines Area Community College may or may not satisfy diversity requirements at other academic institutions. Students planning to transfer should contact their transfer institutions to verify the transferability of courses.

Information on each program is found in the “Programs Available ” section of this catalog.

Semester 1

• SDV 108 - The College Experience Credits: 1
• AS degree Core Communication Credits: 3
• AS degree Core Social & Behavioral Science Credits: 3
• AS degree Core Humanities Credits: 3
• AS degree Core Math/Science Credits: 4
• * DMACC Elective Credits: 3

Semester 2

• AS Core Communication Course Credits: 3
• AS Core Math/Science Courses (may need to take more than one course) Credits: 6
• AS Core Distributed Course Credits: 3
• * DMACC Elective - Credits: 3

Semester 3

• AS Core Communication Course Credits: 3
• AS Core Math/Science Courses (may need to take more than one course) Credits: 6
• AS Core Distributed Course Credits: 3
• * DMACC Elective - Credits: 3

Semester 4

• AS Core Social & Behavioral Science Course Credits: 3
• AS Core Math/Science Course Credits: 4
• AS Core Distributed Course Credits: 3
• * DMACC Electives - (will need to take more than one course) Credits: 7

Total AS Degree Requirements - 64 Credits

* Students may include no more than 16 semester credit hours of Vocational courses.

Core Requirements - 48 credits

Electives - 16 Credits

1. Students may include no more than 16 semester credit hours of Vocational courses.
2. Students may include no more than 8 semester credit hours of Independent Study courses; no more than 4 semester credit hours of Independent Study may be earned in any single semester.

Diversity Requirement

One course is required, but this course may count in the areas above. Students must earn a grade of “C” or above for the course that is used to fulfill the Diversity Requirement. The courses marked with an asterisk (*) will satisfy the Diversity Requirement and will also fulfill requirements in Communications, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Humanities or Distributed areas above. The courses that are not marked with an asterisk will satisfy the Diversity Requirement and will count as electives.

• ANT 105 - Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3 *
• ANT 125 - Applications of Anthropology Credits: 3
• ANT 150 - Global Issues-Local Perspec Credits: 3
• ASM 150 - Communication with Elderly Credits: 1
• ASM 155 - Impact of Demographics Credits: 1
• ASM 160 - Aspects of Aging Credits: 1
• ASM 165 - Healthy Aging Credits: 1
• ASM 180 - Cultural Diversity Credits: 1
• ASM 200 - Depression, Death & Grieving Credits: 1 (Three ASM courses must be taken because the courses are one credit each.)
• BUS 220 - Intro International Business Credits: 3
• COM 146 - Gender, Sexuality and Media Credits: 3 *
• COM 148 - Diversity and the Media Credits: 3 *
• FL___ - All Foreign Language Courses *
• GEO 111 - Intro to Geography Credits: 3 *
• GEO 124 - Reg Geog of the NonWest World Credits: 3 *
• GLS 200 - Country Study Credits: 3
• GLS 210 - International Year Seminar Credits: 3
• GLS 220 - The Middle East and Islam Credits: 3
• GLS 230 - Latin America Credits: 3
• GLS 235 - Intro to International Studies Credits: 3
• HIS 110 - West Civ: Ancient to Early Mo Credits: 3 *
• HIS 111 - Western Civilization: Early.. Credits: 3 *
• HIS 151 - U.S. History to 1877 Credits: 3 *
• HIS 152 - U.S. History Since 1877 Credits: 3 *
• HIS 201 - Iowa History Credits: 3
• HIS 257 - African-American History Credits: 3 *
• HSV 135 - Women’s Issues Credits: 3
• HSV 185 - Discrimination and Diversity Credits: 3
• HUM 116 - Encounters in Humanities Credits: 3 *
• HUM 120 - Introduction to Film Credits: 3 *
• HUM 121 - America in the Movies Credits: 3 *
• ITP 133 - Deaf Culture and Community Credits: 3
• ITR 101 - Intro Interpret & Translation Credits: 3
• JOU 113 - Gender, Sexuality and Media Credits: 3 *
• JOU 114 - Diversity and the Media Credits: 3 *
• LIT 101 - Intro to Literature Credits: 3 *
• LIT 111 - Amer Lit Since Mid 1800’s Credits: 3 *
• LIT 130 - African-American Literature Credits: 3 *
• LIT 142 - Major British Writers Credits: 3 *
• LIT 150 - World Literature I Credits: 3 *
• LIT 151 - World Literature II Credits: 3 *
• LIT 190 - Women Writers Credits: 3 *
• MGT 145 - Human Relations in Management Credits: 3
• MUS 202 - World Music Credits: 3 *
• MUS 204 - History of Rock and Roll Credits: 3
• MUS 205 - Jazz History and Appreciation Credits: 3
• PEH 178 - Sports Diversity Credits: 3
• POL 111 - American National Government Credits: 3 *
• POL 121 - International Relations Credits: 3 *
• POL 125 - Comparative Gov’t & Politics Credits: 3 *
• POL 129 - Politics of Terrorism Credits: 3
• PSY 241 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3 *
• PSY 251 - Social Psychology Credits: 3 *
• REL 101 - Survey of World Religions Credits: 3 *
• SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 *
• SOC 115 - Social Problems Credits: 3 *
• SOC 200 - Minority Group Relations Credits: 3 *
• SOC 225 - Social Gerontology/Appl Credits: 4
• SPC 120 - Intercultural Communication Credits: 3
• SPC 122 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3