Program: General Studies, A.A. - South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Apr 13, 2025

2016-2017 SDSM&T Academic Catalog

Contact Information

Dr. Frank Van Nuys
Department of Social Sciences
Classroom Building 305
(605) 394-2481
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 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 a baccalaureate 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

Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

A. Written and Oral Communication

A minimum of 9 semester hours is required. This requirement can be met by taking one of two sequences of courses. Either:

ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 279 Technical Communications I Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 289 Technical Communications II Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 201 Composition II Credits: (3-0) 3
SPCM 101 Fundamentals of Speech Credits: (3-0) 3

Note(s):

Students who intend to continue at or return to Mines for a B.S. degree should take the first sequence—ENGL 101 , ENGL 279 , ENGL 289 .

B. Humanities

Courses in western civilization, literature, philosophy, religion, non-English languages, art, music, and theatre may be used. A minimum of 6 semester hours in two disciplines (i.e., two different course prefixes or a two-semester sequence in a foreign language) is required. Courses offered at Mines include the following:

ART 111/111A Drawing I Credits: (3-0) 3
ART 112/112A Drawing II Credits: (3-0) 3
ARTH 211 History of World Art I Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 210 Introduction to Literature Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 212 World Literature II Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 221 British Literature I Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 222 British Literature II Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 241 American Literature I Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 242 American Literature II Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGL 250 Science Fiction Credits: (3-0) 3
GER 101 Introductory German I Credits: (4-0) 4 AND
GER 102 Introductory German II Credits: (4-0) 4
HIST 121 Western Civilization I Credits: (3-0) 3
HIST 122 Western Civilization II Credits: (3-0) 3
HUM 100 Introduction to Humanities Credits: (3-0) 3
HUM 200 Connections: Humanities & Technology Credits: (3-0) 3
MUS 100 Music Appreciation Credits: (3-0) 3
MUS 117 Music in Performance I Credits: (1-0) 1
PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy Credits: (3-0) 3
PHIL 200 Introduction to Logic Credits: (3-0) 3
PHIL 220 Introduction to Ethics Credits: (3-0) 3
PHIL 233 Philosophy and Literature Credits: (3-0) 3
SPAN 101 Introductory Spanish I Credits: (4-0) 4 AND
SPAN 102 Introductory Spanish II Credits: (4-0) 4

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.

C. Social Sciences

Courses in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology may be used. A minimum of 6 semester hours in two disciplines (i.e., two different course prefixes), is required. Courses offered at Mines include the following:

ANTH 210 Cultural Anthropology Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOG 101 Introduction to Geography Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOG 200 Introduction to Human Geography Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOG 210 World Regional Geography Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOG 212 Geography of North America Credits: (3-0) 3
HIST 151 United States History I Credits: (3-0) 3
HIST 152 United States History II Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 100 American Government Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 165 Political Ideologies Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 250 Introduction to International Relations Credits: (3-0) 3
PSYC 101 General Psychology Credits: (3-0) 3
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology Credits: (3-0) 3
SOC 150 Social Problems Credits: (3-0) 3
SOC 250 Courtship and Marriage Credits: (3-0) 3

D. Mathematics

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

MATH 102 College Algebra Credits: (3-0) 3

E. Natural Sciences

A minimum of 6 semester hours in the natural sciences is required including one semester hour of laboratory. Courses in biology, chemistry, earth science, geology, and physics may be used. The following courses are offered at Mines:

BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
BIOL 151L General Biology I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 153 General Biology II Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
BIOL 153L General Biology II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
GEOL 201 Physical Geology Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
GEOL 201L Physical Geology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
PHYS 111 Introduction to Physics I Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
PHYS 111L Introduction to Physics I Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
PHYS 113 Introduction to Physics II Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
PHYS 113L Introduction to Physics II Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
PHYS 211/211-A University Physics I/Recitation Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 213/213-A University Physics II/Recitation Credits: (3-0) 3 AND
PHYS 213L University Physics II Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1

Electives

Total semester hours required to graduate 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 are required to pass the CAAP proficiency examination unless they meet criteria required for exemption. For additional information on this examination, contact the Office of the Registrar and Academic Services at (605) 394-2400.

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.