Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree
The A.A. (64 credits) is a transfer degree for which the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) was developed. Associate in Arts Degrees are 64 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a Transfer Education curriculum designed to constitute the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. An A.A. degree must include the entire MnTC (40 semester credits) which, pursuant to Minnesota Statute, must transfer to any MnSCU university. Students must, however, be provided proper advising, as they may need to enroll in specific courses to meet general education and program major requirements of a four-year institution. All new students seeking an A.A. degree who entered Ridgewater College in Fall quarter of 1995 or later, must complete the MnTC as the general education core requirement. In addition to the 40 credits in the MnTC, Ridgewater College requires all students to complete two credits of Physical Education activity courses and two credits of Public Health 105, Personal and Community Health or Public Health 110, Drug Education in Contemporary Society or Physical Education 220, First Aid/CPR.

Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree:

• A minimum of sixty-four (64) credits numbered at 100 or above, with an overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher.
• Orientation requirement satisfied.
• Satisfactory completion of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).
• Two (2) credits of physical education activities and two (2) credits chosen from these courses:
  

• Public Health 105 - Personal and Community Health
• Public Health 110 - Drug Education in Contemporary Society
• Physical Education 220 - First Aid/CPR

Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree
Associate in Science degrees are 60-64 semester credits in length with courses approved by both Ridgewater College and four-year colleges and universities. They may be awarded for successful completion of a program designed for transfer to a baccalaureate major in a related scientific or technical field, or may be designed for employment. An A.S. degree must have at least one articulation agreement between the college awarding the A.S. degree and a four-year institution awarding a related baccalaureate degree. Recipients of the A.S. degree will be prepared to transfer to baccalaureate majors in the same field. Current A.S. degree requirements will remain in effect, and no changes will be made in those programs.

Students seeking an A.S. degree will meet some, but not all, of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) goal areas as part of their degree requirements. The A.S. Degree must include a minimum of 30 semester credits in general education. General education must be selected from at least six of the ten goal areas of the MnTC. The A.S. degree must transfer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the articulation agreement, and the MnTC courses within the A.S. degree must transfer to any MnSCU college or university.

Requirements for the Associate in Science degree:
The Associate in Science degree will include a maximum of 60 to 64 semester credits numbered at 100 and above, including at least 30 from the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). A majority of the transfer education courses shall be prerequisites to or specifically supportive of courses in the major.

The prerequisite and required courses of the student's curriculum precludes completion of the entire MnTC. The student's transfer needs will be best met, however, through completion of as many of the MnTC's ten goals as possible within the 60 to 64 credit framework of the A.S. degrees. Orientation and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) or higher are required.

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) Degree
Associate in Applied Science degrees are 60 to 72 credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a program primarily intended for employment. Associate in Applied Science degrees are typically not designed for transfer. This degree provides excellent preparation for the student planning immediate job entry at the end of two years. This degree requires a combination of technical credits and must include a minimum of 20 credits of general education classes and must be numbered 100 and above. General education classes must be included in the degree from at least three of the ten goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). The MnTC courses within the A.A.S degree must transfer to any MnSCU college or university.

Several A.A.S. degree programs are articulated with Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degrees. In these cases, the A.A.S degree must transfer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the articulation agreement, and the MnTC courses within the A.A.S. degree must transfer to any MnSCU college or university. See your faculty advisor or a college counselor for additional information.

Requirements for Associate in Applied Science Degree:
The A.A.S. degree is awarded to students for the successful completion of an approved technical program of 64 to 72 credits. At least thirty (30) credits will be specifically named technical courses which are unique to the program. At least twenty (20) credits will be in the transfer education areas, and must be numberd 100 and above. A majority of the transfer education courses shall be prerequisites to or specifically supportive of occupational courses.

A student intending to pursue the A.A.S. degree must declare that intent to both the technical department and the Admissions office and receive prior approval as a candidate for the program and the degree.

Note:Ridgewater College has established transfer agreements with several Minnesota State Universities which would enable A.A.S. degree recipients to transfer credits toward a four-year degree. Contact the Counseling office for more details.

Diploma
Diplomas are 30 to 72 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a program intended to provide students with employment skills. Diplomas are typically not designed for transfer. Any Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses within a Diploma must transfer to any MnSCU college or university. The diploma is awarded to students who complete the technical and general studies requirements pertaining to the program. To qualify for a diploma, the student must complete the entire individual program curriculum as outlined in the Ridgewater College catalog with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C).

Certificates
Certificates are 9 to 30 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a specialized program of study. Certificates are typically not designed for transfer. Any Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses within a Certificate must transfer to any MnSCU college or university.