Associates' degree (AA or AS) requirements

The General Education program at Ferris State University for associate degrees is composed of five demonstrable student competencies organized into two tiers.

Tier1: Foundation Competencies

 Communication Competency

To meet the Communication competency, the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree student must prove proficiency through a 200-level Written communication and 1 Oral communication course. A student must meet all of the following: 

• The associate degree student must prove proficiency through a 200-level with Written communication attribute.
• 2 courses, or the equivalent, must have the Written communication attribute
• 1 course must have Oral communication attribute

 Quantitative Literacy Competency

To meet the Quantitative Literacy competency, a student must meet one of the following:

• Complete or received credit for 1 course, MATH 109 or higher, with the Quantitative Literacy attribute
• Submission of an official Accuplacer score of 75 or higher in Elementary Algebra
• Submission of an official SAT math score of 500 or higher
• Submission of an official ACT math subtest score of 19 or higher

Tier 2: Distribution Competencies

Natural Sciences Competency 

To meet the Natural Sciences competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 2 courses, with a minimum of 6 credits, with the Natural Sciences attribute
• 1 of the 2 courses must have the Natural Sciences w/lab attribute

Culture Competency

To meet the Culture competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, with a minimum of 9 credits, with the Culture attribute
• The 3 courses must be from at least two different disciplines
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must be 200-level or higher
• A maximum of 3 of the 9 credits can have the Activities attribute

Self and Society Competency

To meet the Self and Society competency, a student must meet all of the following:

• 3 courses, with a minimum of 9 credits, with the Culture attribute
• The 3 courses must be from at least two different disciplines
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must be 200-level or higher
• At least 1 of the 3 courses must have the Self and Society Foundation attribute (the foundations course can be the 200+ level course)

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NOTE: All Bachelor Degrees at Ferris also require 1 course with the Global Diversity and 1 course with the U.S. Diversity attribute. For students wishing to continue to a Bachelor Degree, completion of these requirements within the Associate Degree is recommended. These requirements can be met without additional coursework because many Culture and Self and Society courses also meet the needed Diversity requirements.