Associate of Science Degree
Students may earn the A.S. degree as preparation to transfer to a Bachelor degree program at Montana State University or another university. The degree is suited for students who wish to pursue studies or a career in the sciences, mathematics, medical, or technology fields. Each student will follow a specific curriculum based on the student’s personal, long term, and educational goals, as well as entering skills in math and writing.
To receive the A.S. degree students must complete at least 60 credits including the following requirements:
- General Education Core requirements (30 credit hours) *
- University Seminar (US)
- Writing (W)
- Cultural Diversity (D)
- Quantitative Reasoning (Q)
- Contemporary Issues in Science (CS)
- Natural Science (IN or RN)
- Arts (IA or RA)
- Humanities (IH or RH)
- Social Science (IS or RS)
- Research or Creative Experience
- Directed elective coursework in Mathematics and Natural Sciences beyond the Core (9 credit hours) *
- General Education Electives (21 credit hours)
Graduates with an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree are prepared to:
- Demonstrate the Montana State University Core outcomes of communication, thinking and problem solving, and local and global citizenship.
- Think critically in evaluating information, solving problems, and making decisions.
- Transfer and apply knowledge and skills learned into a Bachelor degree program.
* A grade of C- or better is required for all Core and Directed elective courses counted toward the degree.
Pre-Healthcare Option
This option within the Associate of Science degree is designed for students completing Core and pre-requisite courses for transfer into either a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree program in the health sciences. The courses required for this degree include the MSU Core/general education requirements and pre-requisite science courses. Students who do not go on to complete a Bachelor’s degree will be qualified for entry-level positions in the biological or health sciences.
To receive the Associate of Science Pre-Healthcare Option, the following requirements must be completed for a minimum total of 60 credits.
General Education Core requirements (30 credits)
| WRIT 101W | College Writing I | 3 |
| COMX 111US | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| PSYX 100IS | Intro to Psychology | 4 |
| or SOCI 101IS | Introduction to Sociology | |
| or HDFS 101IS | Indiv and Fam Dev: Lifespan | |
| Quantitative (Q) | 3-5 | |
| Diversity (D) | 3-4 | |
| Inquiry to Arts (IA) | 3-4 | |
| Inquiry to Humanities (IH) | 3-4 | |
| Research (R) | 3-4 | |
| Contemporary Issues in Science and Inquiry Natural Science (choose two) | 6-8 | |
| Microbiology for Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases | ||
| Introduction to General Chemistry | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I pre-requisite: CHMY 121IN | ||
| Basic Human Biology w/lab | ||
Pre-Healthcare Concentration coursework in Mathematics and Natural Sciences beyond the Core
| Choose at least 3 of the following courses | ||
| AHMS 144 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HTH 140 | Pharmacology for Health Care Providers | 3 |
| PHSX 103IN | The Physics of How Things Work | 3 |
| NUTR 221CS | Basic Human Nutrition | 3 |
| BIOH 211 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOM 251 | Microbiology for Health Sciences Lab | 1 |
Suggested General Education Electives to fulfill the 60-credit degree requirement
| CAPP 120 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
| WRIT 104 | Workplace Communications | 2 |
| WRIT 221 | Intermediate Tech Writing | 3 |
| COMX 106 | Communicating in a Dynamic Workplace | 3 |
| COMX 115 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Additional Elective Courses | 7 | |