Planning a Two-Year Program for an Associate of Arts Degree

There is no standard program for completion of an associate of arts degree at North Central. However, an associate of art degree consists mostly of required courses, so planning your program isn't difficult.

Freshman Year: You have 45 General Education and 3 Theology credits (together, 48 credit hours -- about 76% of your total 63-credit degree) to take before you need to worry about your 15-credit concentration (your "major"). Concentrations are currently available in: Biblical Studies, Business, Deaf Culture Studies, Humanities, Intercultural Studies, Psychology, and Theater. Please check the current Academic Catalog for complete details.

Don't worry about anything except required courses during your first semester, unless you're very certain about the concentration in which you'd like to specialize. You should visit the Student Success Center during your first semester and take the Strong Interest Inventory or another vocational interest test. A vocational interest test can help you sort through the Associate of Arts concentrations offered at North Central and help determine the one that's best for you. Remember to show your test results to your advisor. Please know that vocational interest tests sometimes will point you toward careers that require a four-year degree.

During the second semester of your freshman year, continue to take required courses but also take a course or two in the department offering the concentration which you think you might like best. Talk to your advisor early during the second semester about how you like your courses, particularly those in your possible concentration. Associate of Arts students have to make decisions about courses for their third semester about half-way through their second semester; it would be good for you to have an approximate idea of what your concentration might be by then. If you can't decide at this point, remember that you still will have about a semester's worth of required courses to take during your second year -- you can mix them with potential concentration courses during your third, and even fourth, semesters.

Sophomore Year: At the beginning of your third semester, try to change your schedule if you've decided to switch concentrations. Continue to consult the vocational interest tests that you've taken and talk to your advisor, other teachers, and friends whose opinions you trust. Your third semester should consist of both required and concentration courses; your fourth semester will include mostly courses from your concentration.

Please contact the chairperson of the Arts & Sciences Department at any time if you have questions or concerns about your major -- even if he or she isn't your advisor. The Department chair wants you to succeed, and he or she will always be happy to discuss your program with you!