Associate of Arts

The Associate of Arts (AA) offers students the opportunity to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at relatively low cost and to transfer seamlessly to any public college or university in the state of Ohio. Students pursuing the AA may take courses that fit a variety of four-year major pathways. Many of these courses are offered both day and evening at all four of COTC’s campuses, as well as online.

The AA curriculum includes a menu of courses in:

• English composition and literature;
• Social and behavioral sciences;
• Arts and humanities; and
• Sciences and mathematics.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the plan of study the student will be able to:

• Write effective, clearly organized essays and reports;
• Research, evaluate, and analyze various types of literature;
• Define and demonstrate an understanding of core social science concepts through the study of sociology, psychology, or economics;
• Organize, develop, and deliver an effective oral presentation;
• Think critically and demonstrate the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion, ask questions, discern hasty generalization and faulty inferences, articulate detailed observations, and make assertions based on sound logic and evidence.

Important Student Characteristics

Students interested in the Associate of Arts should have a desire to finish a bachelor’s degree. Skills and characteristics of a successful AA student include:

• Strong academic preparation;
• Dedication;
• Discipline; and
• Critical thinking skills.

Career Opportunities

The skills developed through the AA plan of study are in demand by employers:

• Oral and written communication;
• Customer service;
• Research/competitive intelligence; and
• Management.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations in which workers often are required to have an associate degree are growing faster than occupations that require other types of training. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education studies indicate that associate degree graduates are more likely to complete their bachelor’s degrees successfully, partly because of their ability to start their careers—and thus finance their educations—while finishing their four-year programs.

Transferability

COTC’s Associate of Arts is designed to allow graduates to move seamlessly to bachelor’s degree programs at all state supported colleges and universities in the state of Ohio, as well as at many private institutions. In fact, every course on the AA plan of study is fully transferable to any school that accepts the Ohio Transfer Module or Transfer Assurance Guides.