Associate in Science (A.S.)

Click on the tabs above for complete information regarding the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree.

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is the two-year career education degree offered by Florida colleges to prepare students for direct entry into the workforce. Some A.S. degrees will transfer to Florida colleges making it possible for students to complete a Bachelor’s degree.

In the A.S. degree program, students will take courses in two basic areas:

1. Major Courses: These are specialized courses in the program you choose. For instance, students who are going to study business administration will be taking specialized courses such as business, marketing, and accounting.
2. General Education: General education courses are designed to help the student become a well-rounded individual. Courses in general education, such as English composition and mathematics, will enhance overall employment potential.

Students who choose an A.S. degree program are not necessarily preparing for transfer to a state university. Earning one of these degrees should prepare the student for a successful and rewarding career. If however, the student later decides that they would like to earn a Bachelor's Degree, there are several options: transferring into EFSC's BAS degree or into specific 2+2 bachelor’s degree programs that are offered at Florida State Colleges.

Click on the tabs above for information regarding requirements for admission to and graduation from an A.S. degree. 

The Program and Admission Requirements chart lists specific admission requirements by program, such as if the program is limited access or requires a specific degree, certification or license, and if the program is financial aid eligible. The Program of Study page for each program will outline program-specific courses and other requirements.

Several EFSC Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees have multiple specializations. Students can only select one specialization, and may receive the specific A.S. degree only one time. While students may take courses from more than one specialization,  the specific degree will be awarded only once. 

Admission Requirements

1. Submit an application for admission.
   1. For information about applying for admission to Eastern Florida State College, visit the Admissions website.
2. Students must hold a standard high school diploma or equivalent
3. Submit final official transcripts: high school and all prior colleges.
4. An additional application to the specific program may be required if it is limited access.
5. All new (first time in college) students must meet the entry-level assessment requirements for placement into reading, writing and mathematics courses prior to registration. Visit the  Placement Testing website for more information and FAQs.

Graduation Requirements 

Responsibility for meeting the requirements for graduation with an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree rests with the student.  To be awarded an A.S. degree from Eastern Florida State College a student must do the following:

1. File an Intent to Graduate Application and pay the graduation fee. Visit the How to Apply for Graduation website for more information.
   • Applications submitted after the published deadline will incur a late fee.
2. Complete all admission requirements, including the submission of all necessary transcripts and other required documents.
3. Satisfy entry assessment requirements and/or completed with a grade of “S” or better all required developmental education in reading, writing, and mathematics.
4. Satisfactorily complete a prescribed course of study totaling at least 60 semester hours, including a minimum of 15 credits of general education core coursework. 
5. Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree through traditional instruction at EFSC.
   • A maximum of 45 credits may be in any combination of articulated credits earned through mechanisms such as Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), credit-by-examination, credit for licensure or certification, etc.
6. Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0.
   • College developmental courses, audited courses, 3000-4000 (upper-level) courses, clock hour courses, and continuing education courses are not applicable toward credits for the A.S. degree. 
   • Transfer courses with a grade of T% do not calculate into the GPA.
7. Complete all coursework with a final grade. Students with a grade of “I - Incomplete” will not be processed for graduation until a final grade is posted.
   • For graduation in the term of application, the final grade must be posted within the first three weeks of the following term. If the final grade is not posted within the first three weeks of the following term, student must reapply and repay for graduation in the term they complete all requirements. Student may request through the instructor to have the “I” converted to a permanent "F" if the course is not required to graduate.
8. Satisfy the civic literacy competency requirement. 
9. Remove all financial obligations to the college.
10. Students who are applying for an A.S. degree with imbedded College Credit Certificates (C.C.C.) do not need to apply for the C.C.C.s. They will be awarded automatically for any or all certificates for which requirements have been met.

A.S. Degrees and Specializations

Please be aware that EFSC offers several A.S. degrees with multiple specializations. Students can only select one specialization, and may receive the specific A.S. degree only one time. While students may take courses from more than one specialization,  the specific degree will be awarded only once. The transcript and diploma will be posted with the degree name, not the specialization.

A.S. programs require a minimum of two years of study. Programs contain a minimum of 15 credit hours of General Education Core courses and a minimum of 45 credit hours of career specific courses.

• The General Education Core courses are designed to provide students with the general knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a work environment.
• Faculty develop the career specific courses to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for initial employment. These courses may be divided into program specific groupings such as Major Courses, Support Courses and Technical Electives. 

It is very important that students meet with an academic advisor to carefully plan their schedule to efficiently facilitate completion of the A.S. degree program. Certain programs require students to complete technical courses in a specific sequence to ensure learning is maximized. Additionally, courses in A.S. degree programs may only be offered on certain campuses and/or may be offered only during a specific semester.

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General Education Core Course Requirements

All A.S. degree seeking students are required to complete, with a grade of "C" or higher, one general education core course in each area of Communication, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social/Behavioral Science/Core-Civic Literacy to graduate. 

• Some degrees specify which courses the student must take. If not specified, student may select any course from the respective area below. All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher. Equivalent honors-level courses may be used in a ny area. 

  Visit the Core Courses website for more information.

  Effective fall 2024, Core Courses are:

Written Communications Core Requirement: 3 Credits

• ENC 1101 Composition 1

Humanities Core Requirement: 3 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
ARH 2000	Art Appreciation	3
HUM 1020	Introduction to the Humanities	3
LIT 1000	Introduction to Literature	3
MUL 2010	Survey of Music Literature	3
PHI 2010	Introduction to Philosophy	3
THE 2000	Theatre Appreciation	3

Mathematics Core Requirement: 3 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
MAC 1105	College Algebra	3
MAC 2311	Calculus 1 with Analytic Geometry	5
MGF 1130	Mathematical Thinking	3
STA 2023	Statistics	3

Natural Science Core Requirement: 3 Credits

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
AST 1002	Introduction to Astronomy	3
BSCC 1005	Fundamentals of Biology	4
BSCC 1010	General Biology 1	4
CHM 1045	General Chemistry 1	3
EVR 1001	Introduction to Environmental Science	3
GLY 2010	Introduction to Physical Geology	3
OCE 1001	Oceanography	3
PHY 2048	General Physics 1	4
PHYC 2053	College Physics 1	4

Social/Behavioral Science/Core-Civic Literacy Requirement: 3 Credits

Students must select one course from the following to satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement. These courses also satisfy the FLDOE Core Course Requirement.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
AMH 2010	US History to 1877	3
AMH 2020	US History Since 1877	3
POS 2041	American National Government	3

In addition to specified coursework, students should be aware of the following:

• Civic Literacy requirement: All Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Bachelor students must satisfy the civic literacy competency by taking a specified civic literacy course and passing the Florida Civic Literacy Exam. 
• Academic Communities
• Digital Badges

Digital Badges

Digital badges help students highlight their credentials in the expanding online environment. These badges are electronic symbols used as micro-credentials to document skills and knowledge you've added through completing an EFSC course. Digital badges offer students a new way to showcase their skills as they can be added to your social media, résumé, or job application site. 

All Florida state colleges (including EFSC) and state universities are now awarding digital badges under a new statewide plan which started with the 2022-23 academic year (Fall 2022). The badges begin with a communications course, and will eventually expand to include other general education core courses that demonstrate career readiness.

Benefits of Badges

• Build on skills to help differentiate students academically and professionally
• Showcase student achievements and competencies with employers when applying for a job
• Use in digital résumés and on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
• Appear automatically on a student's official and unofficial college transcripts, making them easy to share

Visit the Digital Badges at EFSC website for more information.

Catalog Year and Continuous Enrollment (Governing Catalog)

The Eastern Florida State College catalog is the official document that outlines the policies, academic programs and graduation requirements for degree-seeking students. Understanding and following the policies and requirements are the student's responsibility.

• The governing catalog term is the same as the catalog in effect at the time of admission to the college, readmission to the college, or upon any degree or major change.  
  • To remain in a specific catalog term, student must maintain continuous enrollment. Student will follow the policies and graduation requirements in the governing catalog except when changed by law or by the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the following guidelines.  
  • Continuous enrollment is the completion of at least one course within three consecutive terms. Completion of a course means student earned a grade in the course, including a letter grade, I or W. Spring, summer, and fall are each considered a term. Continuing Education courses do not count toward continuous enrollment.

• The governing catalog is valid for five academic years.  After this time, the governing catalog will be the one in effect in the next term of enrollment.
• A student may officially declare any subsequent catalog as their governing catalog and follow the new program requirements provided:
  • They have maintained continuous enrollment, and the subsequent catalog is not more than 5 years old. 
  • To request a catalog year update, a student must complete a Major/Program Change Form by the published deadline date.  Check if a catalog year change affects financial aid.
• Limited access programs governing catalog will be the catalog in effect when students are accepted into the program and maintain continuous enrollment.
• After three consecutive terms of non-attendance, student will be inactivated. The catalog term will be updated to the term of readmission.
• Students who return to EFSC after enrolling at another college or university (except for EFSC degree-seeking students approved transients) must follow the catalog graduation requirements in effect at readmission.

Available Programs

Several EFSC Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees have multiple specializations. Students can only select one specialization, and may receive the specific A.S. degree only one time. While students may take courses from more than one specialization,  the specific degree will be awarded only once.