University Parallel, A.A. - General Studies

Degree: Associate of Arts
Major: University Parallel
Area of Emphasis: General Studies

For more information, contact the Humanities division at 615-230-3200 or at humanities@volstate.edu.

This pathway is the most flexible pathway offered for students at VSCC. Students who do not know what to major in, who are looking to advance their career, or who want a major we do not offer should pursue this option. Students should work with an advisor to customize their studies to fit their interests while completing the General Education core. This pathway is for students planning to continue their education to earn a bachelor’s degree.

All Technical Certificates are embedded within the Associate of Arts, General Studies area of emphasis. Courses in the certificates may be used to award this area of emphasis.

Transfer Options
This emphasis is not currently part of a Tennessee Transfer Pathway, and, therefore, it may not be fully transferable. Since general education and major requirements vary from one transfer institution to another, it is essential that transfer students decide on a transfer institution as soon as possible and refer to the general education and major requirements in that institution’s catalog when planning a program of study. Contact your advisor for additional information.

All students graduating with a degree from VSCC are required to take the E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) to meet graduation requirements. More information can be found at https://www.volstate.edu/graduation/exit-exams.

CIP Code: (16) 24.0101.01

General Education Requirements - Credits (41)

COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)
OR COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking Credits: (3)
ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
ENGL 1020 - ^English Composition II Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (Must include at least one Literature Course) Credits: (9)
History Credits: (6)
MATH 1010 - ^Math for General Studies Credits: (3) OR HIGHER
Natural Sciences Credits: (8)
Social/Behavioral Sciences Credits: (6)

Area of Emphasis Requirements - Credits (19)

Electives* Credits: (13)
Foreign Language [One year sequence in single foreign language] Credits: (6)

*An elective can be any college-level course; however, they should be carefully selected in consultation with an advisor. Students should choose courses appropriate for transfer to the senior institution they have selected. Please note the section under Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the General Education section of the Catalog for course pairs not allowed to apply toward graduation. Any course designated with an asterisk (*) in the catalog is a career/technical course and is not intended for transfer.

Suggested Courses & Tracks

Students may wish to pursue a suggested elective “track” of related courses depending on transfer plans. See advisor for more information.

Students interested in pursuing a four-year degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), including professional health care degrees, should pursue the Mathematics and Science pathway. Contact the Mathematics and Science division for more information.

Suggested Courses for Electives
ART 1035	ART 2000	ART 2020	ART 253
ASTR 1030	BIOL 1030	BIOL 1050	BIOL 1060
CHEM 1030	COMM 1010	COMM 2045	COMM 2085
COMM 2090	COMM 2095	COMM 280T	ECON 2100
ECON 2200	ENGL - Any Literature Course	ENGL 2860	FREN 1010
FREN 1020	GEOG 1012	GEOG 2010	GEOL 1030
GEOL 1050	GEOL 1060	HED 120	HIST 2010
HIST 2020	HIST 2030	HIST 2060	HIST 2310
HIST 2320	HUM 275	HUM 280T	INFS 1010
ISCI 1030	MATH 1530	MUS 1030	PHIL 110
PHIL 1030	PHIL 1040	PHYS 1030	POLS 1010
POLS 1030	PSCI 1030	PSYC 1030	SOCI 1010
SPAN 1010	SPAN 1020	THEA 1030

Humanities Elective Track For students interested in the study of society and people from a perspective that teaches skills in problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking. Choose elective credits from the following list.
ART 253	ART 1035	ART 2000	COMM 280T
ENGL - Any Literature Course	ENGL 2860	HUM 275	HUM 280T
PHIL 110	PHIL 1030	PHIL 1040	SPAN 1010
SPAN 1020	THEA 1030

Career Readiness Elective Track For students who wish to take courses that might be valuable in a range of programs and careers. Choose elective credits from the following list.
COMM 1010	COMM 2025 or COMM 2045	COMM 2085	COMM 2090
COMM 2095	ECON 2100	ECON 2200	HUM 275
INFS 1010	PHIL 110

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (60)

Recommended Schedule

This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites and other academic factors may impact this schedule. See your advisor to create a degree plan.

DegreeWorks, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning. Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the DegreeWorks audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.

First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (15)

ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
Electives* Credits: (3)
MATH 1010 - ^Math for General Studies Credits: (3) OR HIGHER
Social/Behavioral Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (15)

ENGL 1020 - ^English Composition II Credits: (3)
COMM 2045 - ^Public Speaking Credits: (3)
OR COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
Electives* Credits: (3)

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (16)

Foreign Language (One-Year Sequence in a Single Foreign Language) Credits: (3)
Natural Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (4)
History (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (Literature Course - See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
Electives* Credits: (3)

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (14)

Foreign Language (One-Year Sequence in a Single Foreign Language) Credits: (3)
Natural Sciences (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (4)
History (See General Education Requirements in Catalog) Credits: (3)
Electives* Credits: (4)