Associate of Science (AS)
About this degree
The Associate of Science (AS) degree helps develop comprehensive knowledge and good communications skills, while providing a firm grounding in mathematics and the natural sciences. An Associate of Science degree is foundational for students looking toward biological, health and medical undergraduate degrees. Students who plan on going into business, engineering or agriculture may also want to consider this degree.
The Northland Pioneer College Associate of Science (AS) degree is a transfer degree. The general education component of the AS degree fulfills what is known as the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC-S). When completed, the AGEC-S will transfer to the three public Arizona state universities as a block meeting all lower division general education requirements.
Please note that the biggest misconception about an associate degree is that all the courses you take will transfer to a university. While the required general education component courses transfer, not every one of the other courses you take may count toward a bachelor's degree. Courses you select outside of the general education component must be found in university transfer guides in the major you plan to obtain or are NPC prerequisites or electives. So to assure a smooth and efficient transfer, it is smart to work with NPC academic advisers. With their knowledge, not only of NPC courses and programs, but those at other institutions, our advisers provide you with the accurate and up-to-date information you need to ensure a seamless and speedy path to success.
- Click here to see the easy steps to becoming an NPC student.
NPC Requirements
- The Associate of Science (AS) degree requires a minimum of 64 hours of course credits with a grade of C or better in all courses and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Some courses have placement requirements or prerequisites that must be filled. Completion of these can result in coursework beyond the 64 credits. These courses, too, require a grade of C or better. For accurate information about prerequisites see an NPC academic adviser.
- Graduates must complete at least 36 credits of the general education requirements for the Associate of Science. These must include six credits in English composition, four credits in mathematics, six credits from the arts and humanities, 14 credits from the physical and biological sciences, and six credits from the social and behavioral sciences.
- The remaining 28 credits are electives, courses you may select. However, electives must be chosen carefully based on NPC requirements for this degree.
- In most general education courses, special emphasis is placed on developing written communication skills with intensive writing requirements. Race and ethnic issue awareness is also embedded throughout the general education requirements. And specific courses, as noted, meet the requirement for contemporary global/ international or historical awareness.
Degree Requirements
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS • 36 cr.
Completion of the 36 general education course credits fulfills all requirements for the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC-S) requirements.
English • 6 cr.
- ENL 101 College Composition I • 3 cr.
- ENL 102 College Composition II • 3 cr.
Mathematics • 4 cr.
- MAT 221 Calculus I (or a math course for which MAT 221 is a prerequisite) • 4 cr.
Arts and Humanities • 6 cr.
Courses must be selected from the following list and from at least two disciplines:
- ART 101 Understanding Art • 3 cr.
- ART 115 Art History I • 3 cr.
- ART 116 Art History II • 3 cr.
- ENL 220 World Literature I • 3 cr.
- ENL 221 World Literature II • 3 cr.
- ENL 224 English Literature I • 3 cr.
- ENL 225 English Literature II • 3 cr.
- HUM 150 Humanities in the Western World I • 3 cr.
- HUM 151 Humanities in the Western World II • 3 cr.
- MUS 150 Music Appreciation • 3 cr.
- PHL 101 Introduction to Philosophy • 3 cr.
- PHL 105 Introduction to Ethics • 3 cr.
- SPT 130 Introduction to Theatre • 3 cr.
- SPT 150 Introduction to Film • 3 cr.
- SPT 155 History of Television • 3 cr.
Physical and Biological Sciences • 8 cr.
Courses must be selected from the following list:
- BIO 181 General Biology I • 4 cr., AND BIO 182 General Biology II • 4 cr.;
- or
- CHM 151 General Chemistry I • 4 cr., AND CHM 152 General Chemistry II • 4 cr.;
- or
- PHY 113 General Physics I • 4 cr., AND PHY 114 General Physics II • 4 cr.
Social and Behavioral Sciences • 6 cr.
Courses must be selected from the list below and from at least two disciplines. At least one asterisk (*) course must be chosen in order to meet requirements for Contemporary Global/International or Historical Awareness.
- *ANT 102 Cultural Anthropology • 3 cr.
- BUS 140 Principles of Economics - Macro • 3 cr.
- BUS 141 Principles of Economics - Micro • 3 cr.
- *GEO 110 World Regional Geography • 3 cr.
- *HIS 105 U.S. History to 1877 • 3 cr.
- *HIS 106 U.S. History since 1877 • 3 cr.
- *HIS 155 Western Civilization to 1700 • 3 cr.
- *HIS 156 Western Civilization since 1700 • 3 cr.
- POS 110 American Government • 3 cr.
- PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology • 3 cr.
- PSY 200 Psychology of Adjustment • 3 cr.
- PSY 240 Developmental Psychology • 3 cr.
- SOC 120 General Sociology • 3 cr.
- SOC 121 Social Problems in America • 3 cr.
- SOC 130 Racial, Ethnic & Gender Relations in Modern Society • 3 cr.
- SOC 225 Sociology of the Family • 3 cr.
Science/Mathematics Option • 6 cr.
Courses must be selected from the following list:
- BIO 105 Environmental Biology • 4 cr.
- BIO 160 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology I • 4 cr.
- **BIO 181 General Biology I • 4 cr.
- **BIO 182 General Biology II • 4 cr.
- BIO 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I • 4 cr.
- BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II • 4 cr.
- BIO 205 Microbiology • 4 cr.
- **CHM 151 General Chemistry I • 4 cr.
- **CHM 152 General Chemistry II • 4 cr.
- GEO 111 Physical Geography • 4 cr.
- GLG 101 Introduction to Geology I - Physical • 4 cr.
- GLG 102 Introduction to Geology II - Historical • 4 cr.
- MAT 231 Calculus II • 4 cr.
- MAT 241 Calculus III • 4 cr.
- MAT 261 Introduction to Differential Equations • 4 cr.
- **PHY 113 General Physics I • 4 cr.
- **PHY 114 General Physics II • 4 cr.
** If not taken to satisfy Physical and Biological Sciences requirements.
Electives
Electives • 28 cr.
Courses from this area should be selected by the student from:
- Courses identified as Common Courses in university transfer guides in the major of choice working in consultation with an NPC academic adviser.
- 0-16 credits of language, if required in the major of choice at the university the student plans to attend
- Prerequisites
- Electives
The electives component must consist of credits that transfer to all three public Arizona universities as defined in the Course Equivalency Guide of the year the student completes the course. Access to information about degrees and pathways, common courses, Course Equivalency Guides, transfer guides and Arizona college and university catalogs is available through an NPC academic adviser or directly on the Internet at the Arizona transfer website.