General Studies AA

Total Credits - 60

Major - 27

Focus Area – 15

Student must complete 15 credits in a chosen focus area of study.

Electives – 12

Student must select 12 credits of electives.

Additional Requirements

The student must complete the Andrews Core Experience courses for an Associate degree.

Selection of courses is made in consultation with the academic advisor.

A minimum of 15 semester credits must be earned through Andrews University.

Student Learning Outcomes

1: Specialized Knowledge: Skills and Competencies

• Students learn specialized skills and competencies necessary to develop a discipline specific vocabulary across core curriculum in preparation for the student’s area of emphasis.
• Develop a strong foundation in communication that spans across disciplines.
• Define a personal language that allows for how those views fit in relation to others and the world around them.
• Convey ideas with clarity and confidence in their speech and writing.
• Convey ideas with clarity and confidence in their work.

2: Critical Thinking and Creative Process

• Students gain a discipline specific vocabulary of creative strategies including research, conceptualization, and problem solving strategies which can be applied to any visual or communicative problem.
• Evaluate and synthesize different points of view and determine solutions to serve specific outcomes.
• Apply a flexible and analytical approach to finding creative, practical, and actionable solutions to a variety of visual communication problems.
• Incorporate an adaptable approach to a rapidly changing media landscape.

3: Cultural Literacy and Contextual Adaptability

• Students take advantage of the unique learning environment of Andrews University by developing a curiosity, respect, and recognition of diversity in cultural, economic and social entities.
• Gain an understanding of current social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues and how these issues can inform and shape their creative production and its reception.
• Demonstrate knowledge of historical, current, and innovative events across disciplines.
• Develop familiarity of discipline ideologies across a range of media and various applications.

4: Intentional Exploration with Interdisciplinary Connections

• Students pursue the various creative processes with intentionality to explore interdisciplinary connections and their potential.
• Gain knowledge and appreciation for the potential in interdisciplinary pursuits and collaborations.
• Students use specialized knowledge to navigate between academic disciplines to create cross-disciplinary content.
• Network across disciplines to pursue opportunities for collaborative projects and community-based initiatives.

5: Quality of Execution + Professional Practices

• Students develop a discipline focused portfolio in conjunction with their chosen discipline development.
• Students develop insight into business practices and principles that are specific to their chosen field.
• Reflect on process to understand its usefulness in establishing individual perspective, intentionality of craft, and personal methodologies.
• Students learn effective research and conceptualization approaches to assignments and presentations.
• Students pursue information in support of their research, progressing to a level of evaluating, sourcing, and conducting self-directed research and assuming autonomy of their direction.

6: Development and Integration of Faith and Ethics

• The integration of faith and ethics within the context of their chosen discipline focused careers is explored in terms of affecting personal, community, and environmental self-awareness and integrity.
• Placed within the diverse setting of Andrews University, students explore ways in which their faith informs their creative practices.
• Students contemplate the role of a scholar-citizen, who navigates potential ethical challenges in creative practice and cultural production with self and social awareness.
• Students learn the ethical, legal and socio-economic considerations surrounding the production and applications of content.