Program Overview
These requirements apply to students who first enrolled for Fall 2025 or later. Students who first enrolled prior to Fall 2025 should obtain the appropriate sheet of requirements from a Student Development Center.
The Associate in Arts degree is a transfer-oriented option which fulfills most general education requirements and the first two years of many (but not all) baccalaureate programs at four-year institutions. Students pursuing the Associate in Arts degree are encouraged to seek the advice of an academic advisor to determine the most appropriate or required course selections for their desired major and transfer institution.
Program Requirements
Communications
3 courses.
Hours Required: 9
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ENG 101 | Composition I 1 | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Composition II 1 | 3 |
| SPE 101 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 3 |
Mathematics
1 course.
Hours Required: 3
Physical and Life Sciences
2 courses with 1 course from the Life Sciences and 1 from the Physical Sciences. 1 course must be a lab science.
Hours Required: 7
Life Sciences
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BIO 101 | Biology Survey | 3 |
| BIO 103 | Humans and the Environment | 3 |
| BIO 104 | Environmental Laboratory Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 105 | Heredity, Evolution and Society | 3 |
| BIO 110 | Introduction to Biology and Society 1 | 4 |
| BIO 115 | Fundamentals of Cellular Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 116 | Fundamentals of Organismal Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 120 | Plants and Society 1 | 4 |
| BIO 140 | Animals and Society 1 | 4 |
Physical Science
Humanities and Fine Arts
3 courses with at least 1 course selected from the Humanities and at least 1 from the Fine Arts. Interdisciplinary courses may be used for both categories.
Hours Required: 9
Humanities
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| FRN 202 | Intermediate French II | 4 |
| FRN 210 | Introduction to French Literature | 3 |
| GER 202 | Intermediate German II | 4 |
| GER 210 | Introduction to German Literature + | 3 |
| HST 105 | Great Ideas of World Civilizations | 3 |
| or HUM 105 | Great Ideas of World Civilizations |
| HUM 104 | Introduction to Middle Eastern Civilizations + | 3 |
| HUM 120 | Classical Mythology | 3 |
| HUM 125 | World Mythology + | 3 |
| JPN 202 | Intermediate Japanese II | 4 |
| LIT 105 | Poetry | 3 |
| LIT 115 | Fiction | 3 |
| LIT 208 | Non-Western Literature + | 3 |
| LIT 210 | Introduction to Shakespeare | 3 |
| LIT 219 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| LIT 220 | Japanese Literature in Translation + | 3 |
| LIT 221 | American Literature, Colonial Days to Civil War | 3 |
| LIT 222 | American Literature: Civil War to Present | 3 |
| LIT 223 | Multicultural American Literature + | 3 |
| LIT 224 | Women in Literature + | 3 |
| LIT 231 | English Literature to 1800 | 3 |
| LIT 232 | English Literature 1800-1914 | 3 |
| PHI 101 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PHI 105 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 115 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 120 | Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 160 | Non-Western Philosophy + | 3 |
| PHI 205 | Religions of the World + | 3 |
| PHI 215 | Religion in America + | 3 |
| PHI 220 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHI 231 | History of Philosophy--Ancient and Medieval | 3 |
| PHI 232 | History of Philosophy-Modern | 3 |
| SGN 202 | American Sign Language IV | 3 |
| SGN 210 | American Sign Language: Cultural Perspective + | 4 |
| SPA 112 | Heritage Spanish I | 4 |
| SPA 113 | Heritage Spanish II | 4 |
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 4 |
| SPA 210 | Introduction to Spanish Literature + | 3 |
Fine Arts
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ART 105 | Introduction to Visual Art | 3 |
| ART 114 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| ART 130 | Ancient and Medieval Art | 3 |
| ART 131 | Gothic through Romantic Art | 3 |
| ART 132 | Modern and Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ART 133 | Non-Western Art + | 3 |
| MCM 200 | Film History + | 3 |
| MUS 103 | Music Appreciation | 3 |
| MUS 104 | Introduction to American Music + | 3 |
| MUS 106 | Introduction to Jazz | 3 |
| MUS 107 | Introduction to Music in Theatre | 3 |
| MUS 108 | Introduction to World Music + | 3 |
| MUS 120 | Introduction to Music Literature | 3 |
| THE 111 | Introduction to Theatre + | 3 |
| THE 121 | Ethnic Traditions in American Theatre | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Studies
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HUM 101 | Ancient through the Medieval West + | 3 |
| HUM 102 | Renaissance through the Modern West + | 3 |
| HUM 106 | The Cultures of Asia + | 3 |
| HUM 107 | The Cultures of Africa + | 3 |
| HUM 110 | Women and Creativity + | 3 |
| LIT 112 | Literature and Film | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Science
3 courses with courses selected from at least 2 departments. May not choose SOC 215 and two PSY courses.
Hours Required: 9
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ANT 101 | Introduction to Anthropology + | 3 |
| ANT 202 | Cultural Anthropology + | 3 |
| ANT 205 | Physical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 206 | Archeology + | 3 |
| ECO 200 | Introduction to Economics + | 3 |
| ECO 211 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 212 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| GEG 100 | Cultural Geography + | 3 |
| GEG 101 | World Regional Geography + | 3 |
| GEG 103 | The Developing World + | 3 |
| GEG 104 | The Developed World + | 3 |
| GIS 100 | Introduction to Geospatial Technologies | 3 |
| HED 202 | Human Sexuality + | 3 |
| HST 111 | American Experience to 1877 | 3 |
| HST 112 | American Experience Since 1877 | 3 |
| HST 121 | History of Mexico, Central and South America + | 3 |
| HST 141 | History of Western Civilization to 1650 | 4 |
| HST 142 | History of Western Civilization Since 1650 | 4 |
| HST 231 | History of the Middle East to 1453 | 3 |
| HST 232 | History of the Middle East 1453 to Present | 3 |
| HST 241 | History of China: Earliest Time through Ming Dynasty | 3 |
| HST 242 | History of China: From the Ching Dynasty to Present | 3 |
| HST 243 | Far East in the Modern World | 3 |
| HST 245 | The World Since 1945 | 3 |
| PSC 101 | American Politics and Government | 3 |
| PSC 220 | State and Local Government in the U.S. | 3 |
| PSC 250 | Comparative Politics + | 3 |
| PSC 270 | Global Politics + | 3 |
| PSC 280 | Non-Western Comparative Politics + | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology + | 3 |
| PSY 216 | Child Psychology I | 3 |
| PSY 217 | Adolescent Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 218 | Adult Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 228 | Psychology of Human Development | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology + | 3 |
| SOC 120 | Family in Contemporary Society + | 3 |
| SOC 205 | Social Problems + | 3 |
| SOC 215 | Introduction to Social Psychology + | 3 |
| SOC 230 | Sociology of Sex and Gender + | 3 |
| SOC 235 | Race and Ethnicity + | 3 |
Total General Education
No more than two GEG and two HST courses (except HST 105) may be used to fulfill the General Education requirements.
Hours Required: 37
Major Discipline and Transfer Electives
Courses must be selected from:
- Additional credit hours from the General Education courses listed within the A.A. degree
- Credit hours from Transfer elective courses
- Up to 10 credits hours from 100 to 200 level courses not included in 1 and 2. above
- Up to four hours of 100-level KIN activity courses may be used to fulfill degree requirements
- Up to four hours of Independent Study credit
Consult sample transfer plans with suggested courses for specific transfer majors.
Hours Required: 23
Liberal Arts and Languages
English
French
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| FRN 101 | Elementary French I | 4 |
| FRN 102 | Elementary French II | 4 |
| FRN 201 | Intermediate French I | 4 |
| FRN 205 | French Conversation | 3 |
German
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| GER 101 | Elementary German I | 4 |
| GER 102 | Elementary German II | 4 |
| GER 201 | Intermediate German I | 4 |
| GER 205 | German Conversation + | 3 |
| GER 230 | German Civilization and Culture + | 3 |
Humanities
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HUM 115 | International and Regional Studies in Humanities | 1-4 |
Japanese
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| JPN 101 | Elementary Japanese I | 4 |
| JPN 102 | Elementary Japanese II | 4 |
| JPN 201 | Intermediate Japanese I | 4 |
| JPN 205 | Japanese Intensive Oral Practice | 3 |
Literature
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LIT 216 | Science Fiction | 3 |
| LIT 217 | Crime Literature | 3 |
| LIT 241 | 20th Century British and American Literature | 3 |
| LIT 250 | Topics in Literature | 1-3 |
Linguistics
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LNG 105 | Introduction to Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| LNG 205 | Language and Culture + | 3 |
| LNG 220 | Methods of Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| LNG 225 | Language and Health + | 3 |
| LNG 230 | Second Language Assessment | 3 |
| LNG 235 | Second Language Acquisition (SLA) | 3 |
| LNG 240 | Introduction to Pedagogical Grammar | 3 |
| LNG 245 | Foundations of Bilingual Education | 3 |
| LNG 250 | Bilingual Teaching Methods and Materials | 3 |
Mass Communication
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MCM 120 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| MCM 130 | Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| MCM 150 | Social Media Management and Measurement | 3 |
| MCM 156 | Audio Production I | 3 |
| MCM 157 | Podcast Production | 3 |
| MCM 180 | Applied Mass Communication/Radio Practicum | 1 |
| MCM 205 | Multi-Platform Photojournalism | 3 |
| MCM 210 | Video Editing and Video Post-Production | 3 |
| MCM 211 | Video Production | 3 |
| MCM 212 | Multi-Camera Production | 3 |
| MCM 218 | Broadcast Graphics | 3 |
| MCM 233 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
Philosophy
Sign Language
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SGN 101 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| SGN 102 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| SGN 212 | Introduction to American Sign Language Literature | 3 |
Spanish
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SPA 101 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPA 102 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
| SPA 121 | Spanish for Law Enforcement Officers | 3 |
| SPA 122 | Spanish for Healthcare Professionals | 3 |
| SPA 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 4 |
| SPA 205 | Spanish Conversation + | 3 |
Fine and Performing Arts
Art
Music
Speech
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SPE 102 | Professional Communication | 3 |
| SPE 107 | Oral Interpretation | 3 |
| SPE 180 | Applied Forensics I | 1 |
| SPE 181 | Applied Forensics II | 1 |
| SPE 182 | Applied Forensics III | 1 |
| SPE 183 | Applied Forensics IV | 1 |
| SPE 200 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| SPE 205 | Small Group Communication/Team Work | 3 |
| SPE 210 | Persuasive Communication and Argumentation | 3 |
| SPE 215 | Intercultural Communication + | 3 |
Theatre
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| THE 190 | Applied Theatre Practicum I | 1 |
| THE 191 | Applied Theatre Practicum II | 1 |
| THE 192 | Applied Theatre Practicum III | 1 |
| THE 193 | Applied Theatre Practicum IV | 1 |
| THE 212 | Acting I | 3 |
| THE 213 | Acting II | 3 |
Sciences and Mathematics
Biology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BIO 135 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 136 | Introduction to Human Disease | 3 |
| BIO 230 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 260 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIO 261 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 295 | Independent Research in Biology I | 1-3 |
Chemistry
Computer Science
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CSC 121 | Computer Science I | 4 |
| CSC 122 | Computer Science II | 4 |
| CSC 211 | Introduction to C Programming and UNIX | 4 |
| CSC 214 | Java Programming | 4 |
| CSC 216 | Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis | 4 |
| CSC 217 | Assembler Programming and Machine Organization | 4 |
Engineering
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| EGR 100 | Introduction to Engineering | 1 |
| EGR 105 | Problem-Solving with Matlab and Excel | 1 |
| EGR 110 | Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering | 4 |
| EGR 120 | Engineering Graphics I (CAD) | 4 |
| EGR 210 | Analytical Mechanics - Statics | 3 |
| EGR 211 | Analytical Mechanics - Dynamics | 3 |
| EGR 212 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| EGR 240 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| EGR 265 | Circuit Analysis | 4 |
| EGR 295 | Independent Study in Engineering | 1-4 |
Mathematics
Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PHY 122 | Introductory Physics II | 5 |
| PHY 202 | General Physics II-Electricity and Magnetism | 5 |
| PHY 203 | General Physics III-Thermal and Quantum Physics | 5 |
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ANT 215 | Introduction to Forensic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 220 | Topics in Anthropology | 1-6 |
Capstone
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CAP 201 | Social Transformation Capstone | 1-3 |
Early Childhood Education
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ECE 101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE 102 | Child Development | 3 |
| ECE 250 | Health, Nutrition and Safety | 3 |
| ECE 252 | Child-Family-Community | 3 |
| ECE 291 | Early Childhood Practicum I | 3 |
Economics
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ECO 115 | Consumer Economics | 3 |
Education
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| EDU 201 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU 202 | Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience | 1 |
| EDU 211 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 219 | Students with Disabilities in School | 3 |
| EDU 220 | Diversity in Schools and Society + | 3 |
| EDU 230 | Introduction to Language Arts in Elementary/Middle School Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 250 | Introduction to Technology in Education | 3 |
| EDU 290 | Topics in Education | 0.5-3 |
Geographic Information Systems
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| GIS 101 | Geospatial Data Acquisition and Management | 3 |
| GIS 102 | Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| GIS 103 | Applied Geospatial Technology | 3 |
| GIS 200 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 3 |
History
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HST 151 | History of England: Norman Conquest to 1600 | 3 |
| HST 152 | History of England: 1600 to Present | 3 |
| HST 153 | British Culture and Society | 3 |
| HST 202 | Topics in History | 1-3 |
| HST 210 | Women: The American Experience + | 3 |
| HST 212 | Recent American History, 1945-Present | 3 |
| HST 214 | African-American History + | 3 |
| HST 219 | Illinois and Local History | 3 |
| HST 261 | American Civil War 1848-1865 | 3 |
| HST 270 | History of Rome | 3 |
| HST 281 | World War I | 3 |
| HST 282 | World War II | 3 |
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Political Science
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PSC 210 | Topics in Political Science | 1-6 |
| PSC 260 | Middle Eastern Politics + | 3 |
Psychology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PSY 210 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Biological Basis of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 225 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 245 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 251 | African American Psychology + | 3 |
Sociology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SOC 220 | Topics in Social Science | 1-6 |
Wellness and Life Skills
Diversity
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| DIV 101 | Exploring Diversity in the U.S. + | 3 |
First Year Seminar
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| FYS 101 | First Year Seminar | 1-3 |
Health Education
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HED 200 | Health + | 3 |
| HED 201 | Drugs in Our Culture | 3 |
| HED 204 | Women's Health + | 3 |
| HED 206 | Introduction to Community and Public Health | 3 |
| HED 250 | Topics in Health Education | 1-3 |
Health Science Core
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HSC 213 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care | 2 |
Kinesiology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| KIN 200 | Introduction to the Field of Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 201 | Instructional Strategies for Physical Education | 3 |
| KIN 202 | Standard First Aid and CPR | 3 |
| KIN 203 | Wellness for Life | 3 |
| KIN 214 | Exercise Technique and Instruction | 2 |
| KIN 217 | Fundamental Sport Skills | 3 |
| KIN 220 | Introduction to Coaching | 3 |
| KIN 221 | Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| KIN 222 | Sports Officiating | 2 |
| KIN 223 | Sports Psychology | 3 |
| KIN 224 | Sociology of Sport | 3 |
| KIN 225 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| KIN 230 | Exercise Science | 3 |
| KIN 231 | Fitness Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| KIN 234 | Personal Training Practicum | 3 |
| KIN 236 | Functional Anatomy | 3 |
| KIN 250 | Topics in Kinesiology | 1-3 |
Nutrition
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| NTR 100 | Introduction to the Nutrition Profession | 1 |
| NTR 101 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 3 |
| NTR 110 | Principles of Food Preparation | 3 |
| NTR 200 | Nutrition through the Lifecycle | 3 |
| NTR 205 | World Cultures and Food + | 3 |
| NTR 210 | Food Science | 3 |
| NTR 225 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| NTR 295 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
Psychology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PSY 106 | Practical Psychology | 1-3 |
| PSY 107 | Humanistic Psychology:Personal Growth | 3 |
| PSY 108 | Topics in Psychology | 2-3 |
Business and Work Skills
Accounting
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ACC 101 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ACC 102 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 201 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 202 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC 203 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 211 | Business Law I | 3 |
| ACC 213 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
Architecture
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ARC 105 | Presentation and Communication Tools | 3 |
| ARC 106 | Introduction to Architecture | 3 |
| ARC 110 | Architectural Design Principles | 4 |
| ARC 113 | Building Materials I | 4 |
| ARC 125 | Chicago's Architectural History | 3 |
| ARC 201 | Architectural Design Studio I | 4 |
| ARC 202 | Architectural Design Studio II | 4 |
| ARC 213 | Building Materials II | 4 |
| ARC 223 | History of Architecture | 3 |
Career Development
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CDV 110 | Career Development | 2 |
Computer Information Systems
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| CIS 100 | Computer and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| CIS 101 | Introduction to Computer Information Systems | 3 |
| CIS 206 | Applied Programming | 4 |
| CIS 216 | Applied Object-Oriented Programming | 4 |
Management
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MGT 111 | Introduction to Business Organization | 3 |
| MGT 218 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
Marketing
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MKT 217 | Advertising | 3 |
| MKT 245 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Web Development
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| WEB 110 | Internet Fundamentals | 3 |
| WEB 150 | Web Foundations | 3 |
World Cultures and Diversity Requirement
One 3-credit hour course is required. Courses that fulfill this requirement may also be used to fulfill requirements in the General Education category.
Select one course marked with a + from the above Groups.
Total Hours Required
Hours Required: 60
