Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2019-2020 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Studies, AA


Contact Information

Dr. Frank Van Nuys
Department of Social Sciences
Classroom Building 305
(605) 394-2489
E-mail: Frank.VanNuys@sdsmt.edu

The Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies is a two-year degree program that provides a student the opportunity to complete a curriculum in traditional fields of study. The total semester credits required is 60. The curriculum offers a broad and varied background in general education as well as opportunities to explore a number of disciplines as a basis for entrance into a four-year degree program. Completion of the A.A. degree will fulfill the general education requirements for an associate degree at the state universities of South Dakota. Approved general education courses from other state universities may be used to satisfy the School of Mines general education requirements. The program of studies is as follows:

Associate of Arts Degree General Education Requirements


The AA degree requires 24 semester credits of general education coursework. Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog. For General Education courses that are not offered at SDSMT, please consult the General Education Requirements Checklist .

A. Written Communication (Goal 1)


A minimum of 6 semester hours is required. Courses offered at Mines include the following:

B. Oral Communication (Goal 2)


A minimum of 3 semester hours is required. Courses offered at Mines include the following:

Note(s):


Students who intend to continue at or return to Mines for a BS degree are recommended to take a sequence of ENGL 101 , ENGL 279 , ENGL 289  to complete their Goals 1 and 2. 

C. Social Sciences (Goal 3)


Courses in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology may be used. A minimum of 3 semester hours is required. Courses offered at Mines include the following:

Note(s):


Students who intend to continue at or return to SD Mines for B.S. degree should take a minimum of 6 semester hours in two different disciplines, with two different prefixes.

D. Arts and Humanities (Goal 4)


Courses in western civilization, literature, philosophy, religion, non-English languages, art, music, and theatre may be used. A minimum of 3 semester hours is required. Courses offered at Mines include the following:

Note(s):


ART and ARTH are considered the same prefix.

Students must complete three semesters/three credits in MUS 117  to earn Humanities general education credit.

Students who intend to continue at or return to SD Mines for B.S. degree should take a minimum of 6 semester hours in two different disciplines, with two different prefixes.

E. Mathematics (Goal 5)


A minimum of 3 semester hours of college algebra or a math course with college algebra as a prerequisite is required.

F. Natural Sciences (Goal 6)


A minimum of 6 semester hours in the natural sciences is required plus one semester hour of laboratory (for an actual total of 7 credits in natural sciences). Courses in biology, chemistry, earth science, geology, and physics may be used. The following courses are offered at Mines:

Electives


Total semester credits required to graduate with the AA degree is 60. The number of elective credits will vary depending on the courses selected in humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. All elective courses must be approved by the student’s academic advisor.

Other Degree Requirements


Students must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in order to graduate with this degree.

After completion of 45 credit hours, students may register for up to nine hours of 300 level courses.

Students must meet the Institutional Credit Requirements, which include completion of a minimum of 15 credits from School of Mines. In addition, 8 of the last 15 credits counted toward the degree must be taken from School of Mines.

Students must be enrolled in at least one course during the semester of graduation.

This information and an A.A. worksheet may be found at: http://is.sdsmt.edu.