ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREES AND TRANSFER PLANS
The General Education Associate in Arts program at St. Petersburg College introduces you to the fundamental knowledge, skills and abilities that can advance you personally and professionally. Our general A.A. degree can be taken completely online.
Earning this degree allows you to continue your education — preparing you to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program at SPC or at a Florida university. Through Florida's 2+2 system, you are guaranteed admission as a junior to one of the state's public universities once you've completed your A.A. degree program at SPC. The College also partners with specific colleges and universities to provide transfer programs that guarantee admission into select degree programs.
A smart investment
Earning your Associate in Arts degree can boost your earning potential. In Florida, A.A. degree graduates earn approximately 46% more — over $13,500 — than someone with a high school diploma.
Average salary based on education level
Associate in Arts Degree
High School Diploma
Source: Florida Education & Training Placement Information Program; 2020-21 graduates
Guaranteed Admission to State Universities Through Florida's 2+2 System
Once you’ve completed the Associate in Arts degree program at St. Petersburg College, you are guaranteed admission as a junior to one of the state's public universities to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or certain Bachelor of Science degrees. In Florida, this is called the 2+2 system, which allows you to pursue a bachelor's degree by first attending a state or community college and then transferring to a four-year institution using Florida’s college credit transfer plan. At St. Petersburg College, you take the same general education courses you would take as a freshman and sophomore at a university, but you get smaller classes and lower tuition costs — about 50% less than Florida's public universities.
Plan Ahead
Please be aware that admission to certain high demand universities or certain limited access programs and majors at state universities can be very competitive. Admission to these programs may require an additional admission process and can be based on GPA and completing the foreign language requirement and all common prerequisites.
If you are working toward completing the Associate in Arts degree program at St. Petersburg College, you should see an academic advisor and choose a program of study or major as early as possible so you can identify the courses you need. SPC has created dozens of A.A. transfer plans to help guide you in the courses you will need for specific majors. You can also find the requirements for about 250 university majors and track your progress toward completion through the college credit transfer evaluation tool on the FloridaShines website.
St. Petersburg College partners with some colleges and universities to provide guaranteed transfer plans. These partnerships offer guaranteed admisssion for students into select degree programs after they have earned their associate degree at SPC. These institutions and programs include:
Associate in Arts Degree
GEN-AA
Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2025 (655)
The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2025 (655). Course content may have changed to reflect new developments or improvements, even if the overall program structure has not. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.
Program Summary
This program is offered as a Fully Online program. The General Education program at SPC introduces all students to the fundamental knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential to study further in the major, to develop educated members of the community and the world, to provide the foundation for becoming informed, independent thinkers, who can comprehend, evaluate, and address the issues that human beings face in their personal lives, careers, and community affairs. The Associate in Arts degree emphasizes a Liberal Arts education and is designed to transfer to a bachelor's degree at a state university or SPC. Along with classes to prepare you for your major at the four-year level, you also take at least 36 hours in general education areas. This requirement is in compliance with Rule 6A-14.0303 of the Florida Administrative Code.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to satisfying the General Education and Elective course requirements, students must:
- complete at least 60 college-level credits
- complete at least 15 credits in residence (at SPC)
- earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all courses completed
- earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all courses completed at SPC
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: If you have not completed two consecutive years of the same foreign language in high school or 8 credits in college, you will need to complete 8 credits of foreign language before completing the AA program.
CIVIC LITERACY: As per Florida Rule 6A - 10.04213, Associate in Arts degree students entering a Florida College System (FCS) or State university System (SUS) institution in the 2021-2022 academic school year and thereafter must demonstrate competency through successful completion of a civic literacy course AND by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE).
Academic Pathways
The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:- the recommended order in which to take the program courses
- suggested course when more than one option exists
- which semester each course is typically offered
- if the course has a prerequisite
- courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)
Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.
Program Leadership Information
Florida CIP Code
1192401010 - ASSOCIATE IN ARTS
Federal CIP Code
24.0101 - Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.