Associate in Science Degree (AS)

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The Associate of Science provides the courses of study equivalent to those offered to freshman and sophomore-level students pursuing majors in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics at any four-year college/university. If students receive the AS from DMACC, this degree, in most cases, will meet the lower division requirements of four-year colleges/universities and will admit them to junior status level for a Bachelor of Science degree. Students should contact the desired four-year institution to inquire about course and degree recommendations. The DMACC Advising and Counseling staff can also assist students with the transfer process.

More information on Liberal Arts degrees.

Associate in Science Requirements

To receive an AS degree, students must:

Maintain a 2.0 grade point average on all work applicable to the AS degree.
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.
Complete a minimum of 64 semester credit hours.
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)
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.
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

Communications - 9 Credits

Students must take three courses:

ENG 105 - Composition I Credits: 3
ENG 106 - Composition II Credits: 3 * OR
ENG 108 - Comp II: Technical Writing Credits: 3
Note: Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution are advised to take
ENG 105
and
ENG 106
.

One speech course from the following list:

SPC 101 - Fund of Oral Communication Credits: 3
SPC 122 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3

Social & Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credits

ANT 105 - Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
COM 146 - Gender, Sexuality and Media Credits: 3
COM 148 - Diversity and the Media Credits: 3
ECN 120 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECN 130 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
GEO 111 - Intro to Geography Credits: 3
GEO 124 - Reg Geog of the NonWest World Credits: 3
GEO 125 - Regional Geog of the Dev World 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 257 - African-American History Credits: 3
JOU 110 - Intro to Mass Media Credits: 3
JOU 113 - Gender, Sexuality and Media Credits: 3
JOU 114 - Diversity and the Media Credits: 3
POL 111 - American National Government Credits: 3
POL 112 - Amer State & Local Government Credits: 3
POL 121 - International Relations Credits: 3
POL 125 - Comparative Gov’t & Politics Credits: 3
POL 171 - Intro to Public Administration Credits: 3
PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 121 - Developmental Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 241 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 251 - Social Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 261 - Human Sexuality Credits: 3
SOC 110 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 115 - Social Problems Credits: 3
SOC 120 - Marriage & Family Credits: 3
SOC 200 - Minority Group Relations Credits: 3

Mathematics & Sciences - 20 Credits *

* See program requirements for year of program admission

All Students must take one MAT course and one science from BIO, CHM, ENV, PHS or PHY.

BIO 112 - General Biology I Credits: 4
BIO 113 - General Biology II Credits: 4
BIO 135 - Introduction to Botany Credits: 4
BIO 138 - Field Ecology Credits: 3
BIO 157 - Human Biology Credits: 4
BIO 164 - Essentials Anatomy/Physiology Credits: 5
BIO 168 - Anatomy & Physiology I Credits: 4
BIO 173 - Anatomy & Physiology II Credits: 4
BIO 186 - Microbiology Credits: 4
CHM 122 - Intro to General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHM 132 - Intro to Organic/Biochemistry Credits: 4
CHM 165 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHM 175 - General/ Inorg Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHM 263 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 5
CHM 273 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 5
ENV 115 - Environmental Science Credits: 3
ENV 116 - Environmental Science Lab Credits: 1 (if student has credit for ENV 115 )
ENV 145 - Conservation Biology Credits: 4
MAT 129 - Precalculus Credits: 5
MAT 130 - Trigonometry Credits: 3
MAT 156 - Statistics Credits: 3
MAT 211 - Calculus I Credits: 5
MAT 217 - Calculus II Credits: 5
MAT 219 - Calculus III Credits: 4
MAT 227 - Diff Equations with Laplace Credits: 4
PHS 152 - Astronomy Credits: 4
PHS 166 - Meteorology, Weather & Climate Credits: 4
PHY 160 - General Physics I Credits: 5
PHY 161 - General Physics II Credits: 5
PHY 213 - Classical Physics I Credits: 6
PHY 223 - Classical Physics II Credits: 6

Humanities - 3 Credits

Students must select from the following courses:

ART 101 - Art Appreciation Credits: 3
DRA 101 - Introduction to Theatre Credits: 3
FLA 141 - Elementary Arabic I Credits: 4
FLA 142 - Elementary Arabic II Credits: 4
FLA 241 - Intermediate Arabic I Credits: 4
FLA 242 - Intermediate Arabic II Credits: 4
FLC 141 - Elementary Chinese I Credits: 4
FLC 142 - Elementary Chinese II Credits: 4
FLC 241 - Intermediate Chinese I Credits: 4
FLC 242 - Intermediate Chinese II Credits: 4
FLF 151 - Elementary French I Credits: 5
FLF 152 - Elementary French II Credits: 5
FLF 241 - Intermediate French I Credits: 4
FLF 242 - Intermediate French II Credits: 4
FLG 141 - Elementary German I Credits: 4
FLG 142 - Elementary German II Credits: 4
FLG 241 - Intermediate German I Credits: 4
FLG 242 - Intermediate German II Credits: 4
FLI 141 - Elementary Italian I Credits: 4
FLI 142 - Elementary Italian II Credits: 4
FLI 241 - Intermediate Italian I Credits: 4
FLI 242 - Intermediate Italian II Credits: 4
FLJ 141 - Elementary Japanese I Credits: 4
FLJ 142 - Elementary Japanese II Credits: 4
FLJ 241 - Intermediate Japanese I Credits: 4
FLJ 242 - Intermediate Japanese II Credits: 4
FLS 151 - Elementary Spanish I Credits: 5
FLS 152 - Elementary Spanish II Credits: 5
FLS 241 - Intermediate Spanish I Credits: 4
FLS 242 - Intermediate Spanish II Credits: 4
FLS 181 - Spanish for Heritage Spkrs I Credits: 4
FLS 281 - Spanish for Heritage Spkrs II Credits: 4
HIS 110 - West Civ: Ancient to Early Mo Credits: 3
HIS 111 - Western Civilization: Early.. Credits: 3
HUM 116 - Encounters in Humanities Credits: 3
HUM 120 - Introduction to Film Credits: 3
HUM 121 - America in the Movies Credits: 3
LIT 101 - Intro to Literature Credits: 3
LIT 110 - Amer Literature to Mid 1800s 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 166 - Science Fiction Credits: 3
LIT 185 - Contemporary Literature Credits: 3
LIT 188 - Detective Fiction Credits: 3
LIT 190 - Women Writers Credits: 3
LIT 193 - Humor in Literature Credits: 3
LIT 209 - Literature Film Adaptation Credits: 3
MUS 100 - Music Appreciation Credits: 3
MUS 102 - Music Fundamentals Credits: 3
MUS 202 - World Music Credits: 3
MUS 205 - Jazz History and Appreciation Credits: 3
PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 105 - Introduction to Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 111 - Basic Reasoning Credits: 3
REL 101 - Survey of World Religions Credits: 3

Distributed Requirement - 10 Credits *

* See program requirements for year of program admission.

SDV 108 or HON 101 [Inactive] (1 credit)
Students must select the remaining 9 credits from any of the courses in categories of Communications, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Math & Sciences, and Humanities.

Electives - 16 Credits

Students may include no more than 16 semester credit hours of Vocational courses.
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
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 *
HIS 274 - Women’s History: United State Credits: 3
HSV 135 - Gender Studies 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