The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) is a state approved type of associate's degree that is intended to prepare graduates for direct entry into the workforce. An AAS may also help to prepare students for career advancements, occupational licensure, or further study toward a baccalaureate degree. Below are the general education requirements that make up an AAS program. Students must declare an AAS in a specific subject, they cannot be awarded an AAS with no specialization. 

Credit Changes in AAS Degrees

When the college approves changes in credits to require “in the discipline” courses, a student transcript may indicate an overall credit shortage. The college will allow the Registrar’s Office to apply any unused course credit from within the discipline to meet the required credit count. And, the student may take any additional coursework within the discipline, as needed, to fulfill the total required credits for the degree and catalog year in question.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the degree is awarded.

Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).

Associate of Applied Science Degrees Offered:

Related Instruction Requirements

All courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better.

Writing

Four (4) credit hours from:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
WR115	Fundamentals of Report Writing	4
WR121Z	Composition I	4
WR122Z	Composition II	4

Communication

One (1) course taken from:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
COMM100Z	Introduction to Communication	4
COMM111Z	Public Speaking	4
COMM218Z	Interpersonal Communication	4
COMM219	Small Group Discussion	4

Computation

Select four (4) credit hours of college-level mathematics from MTH65 or higher, excluding MTH211:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
MTH65	Beginning Algebra I	4
MTH80	Technical Mathematics I	4
MTH81	Applied Mathematics for Culinary Arts	4
MTH82	Business Mathematics	4
MTH98	Math Literacy	4
MTH105Z	Math in Society	4
MTH111Z	Precalculus I: Functions	4
MTH112Z	Precalculus II: Trigonometry	4
MTH212	Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics II	4
MTH213	Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics III	4
MTH231	Elements of Discrete Mathematics I	4
MTH232	Elements of Discrete Mathematics II	4
MTH241	Calculus for Bus and Soc Science I	4
MTH242	Calculus for Bus and Soc Science II	4
MTH244	Probability & Statistics II	4
MTH251	Calculus I Differential Calculus	4
MTH252	Calculus II Integral Calculus	4
MTH253	Calculus III Infinite Sequences And Series	4
MTH254	Vector Calculus I	4
MTH255	Vector Calculus II	4
MTH256	Differential Equations	4
MTH260	Matrix Methods and Linear Algebra	4
STAT243Z	Elementary Statistics I	4

Health, Wellness, and Fitness

Three (3) credits of health/PE: Three (3) credits of PE185 sport/activity courses or HE250 Personal Health or PE231 Wellness for Life.

Human Relations

Three (3) credits or as specified in AAS degree program:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BA120	Leadership Development	3
BA285	Human Relations in Organizations	3
PSY100	Introduction to Psychology	4
PSY201Z	General Psychology	4
PSY202Z	General Psychology	4
PSY203	General Psychology	3

Electives

The balance of the requirements may not be a prerequisite course to the degree/program requirements and may not include remedial or developmental courses. Prerequisites are designated in each program.

Students graduating from Southwestern with a two-year degree are expected to have gained the knowledge, skills and attitudes (dispositions) and to demonstrate competency for the following institutional general learning outcomes:

Communication

Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, presentation of self and information.

Computation

Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes in technology skills, computer proficiency, math proficiency, decision analysis (synthesis & evaluation), understanding of and ability to apply mathematical concepts and reasoning, analyzing and using numerical data.

Creative, Critical and Analytical Thinking

Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills and attitudes using curiosity, learning strategies, information gathering, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, creativity, research, and problem solving.

Community/Global Consciousness and Responsibility

Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective knowledge, skills, and attitudes involving respect, citizenship, cultural awareness, interpersonal skills, ethics, lifelong learning, community service, self-esteem, integrity, and empathy.

Discipline Content

Students completing a degree will be able to demonstrate effective skills and attitudes that are specific to a discipline or career.