General Education Requirements for the AA Program

English/Reading Developmental Education Courses (0-8 Hours)

ENC 0021Modularized Developmental Writing

4 cr.

ENC 0022Compressed Developmental Writing

4 cr.

ENC 0056Corequisite Writing

2 cr.

and/or

REA 0011Modularized Developmental Reading

4 cr.

REA 0019Compressed Developmental Reading

4 cr.

REA 0056Corequisite Reading

2 cr.

Math Developmental Education Courses (0-6 Hours)

MAT 0022Developmental Math Combined

6 cr.

MAT 0056Supplemental Topics for Intermediate Algebra

2 cr.

AREA I.

Communications: 9 Semester Credit Hours

The following (3) courses are required for all students:

ENC 1101

English Composition I (3 cr.)

SPC 2608

Introduction to Public Speaking (3 cr.)

ENC 1102

English Composition II (3 cr.)

Students are encouraged to enroll in ENC1101, during the first term of their enrollment at the College.



Select one of the following courses:

The following course is required for all students:

SPC 2608Introduction to Public Speaking

3 cr.

Note(s): Credit earned in courses not offered by PHSC but awarded via transfer evaluations, examinations and other external credit mechanisms also may be used to meet the Area I requirement. Courses must begin with the following prefixes: AML, ENC, ENG, ENL or LIT. The credit-hour requirement noted above must still be met.

AREA II.

Mathematics: 6 Semester Credit Hours

Select two of the following courses:

MAC 1105

College Algebra (3 cr.)


MAP 2302

Differential Equations (3 cr.)

MAC 1147

Pre-calculus Algebra/Trigonometry (5 cr.)

MGF 1106

Mathematics for Liberal Arts I (3 cr.)

MAC 2233

Applied Calculus (4 cr.)

MGF 1107

Explorations In Mathematics (3 cr.)

MAC 2311

Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 cr.)

MTG 2206

College Geometry (3 cr.)

MAC 2312

Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (5 cr.)

STA 2023

Introduction to Statistics (3 cr.)

MAC 2313

Calculus and Analytic Geometry III (4 cr.)

Note:  Credit earned in courses not offered by PHSC but awarded via transfer evaluations, examinations, and other external credit mechanisms may also be used to meet the Area II requirement.  Courses must begin with the following prefixes:  MAC, MAP, MGF, MTG, or STA.  The credit hour requirement noted above must still be met.

AREA III.

Natural Sciences: 6 Semester Credit Hours

Select courses from either Option One or Option Two.

Option One

Non-Science MajorsChoose one 3 or 4 semester credit hour course from Category A and one from Category B.  This option is usually selected by students who do not intend to major in the natural sciences, engineering or health related professions.  Some courses have a co-requisite laboratory.

Category A

BSC 1005

Intro to Biology (3 cr.)

BSC 1020

Human Biology (3 cr.)

BSC 1050

Intro to Environmental Science (3 cr.)

BSC 1085

Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 cr.) and

BSC 1085L

Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab (1 cr.)

BSC 1311

Marine Biology (3 cr.)

BSC 2010

Biology I (3 cr.) and

BSC 2010L

Biology I Lab (1 cr.)

MCB 2010

Microbiology (3 cr.) and

MCB 2010L

Microbiology Lab (1 cr.)


Category B

AST 1002

Intro to Astronomy (3 cr.)

CHM 1020

Chemistry in Your Life (3 cr.)

CHM 1025

Introductory Chemistry (3 cr.) and

CHM 1025L

Introductory Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)

CHM 2045

Gen Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis I (3 cr.) and

CHM 2045L

Gen Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis I Lab (1 cr.)

GLY 2010

Intro to Geology (3 cr.)

MET 2010

Intro to Meteorology (3 cr.)

OCE 2001

Intro to Oceanography (3 cr.)

PHY 1053

General Physics I (3 cr.) and

PHY 1053L

General Physics Lab (1 cr.)

PHY 2048C

General Physics I with Calculus (4 cr.)

PSC 1121

Survey of the Physical Sciences (3 cr.)

PSC 1341

Introduction to the Physical Sciences (3 cr.)

Option Two

Science Majors:  Choose two courses with the co-requisite laboratories.  Both the course and the corresponding laboratory course must be passed to receive credit in Option 2.  This option is usually selected by students who intend to major in the natural sciences, engineering or health professions.  Courses with the suffix of C, such as Organic Chemistry – CHM2210C have the lecture and laboratory combined in one course.

BSC 1085

Human Anatomy and Physiology I (3 cr.) and

CHM 2046

Gen Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis II (3 cr.) and

BSC 1085L

Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (1 cr.)

CHM 2046L

Gen Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis II Lab (1 cr.)

BSC 1086

Human Anatomy and Physiology II (3 cr.) and

CHM 2210C

Organic Chemistry I (5 cr.)

BSC 1086L

Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (1 cr.)

CHM 2211C

Organic Chemistry II (5 cr.)

BSC 2010

Biology I (3 cr.) and

MCB 2010

Microbiology (3 cr.) and

BSC 2010L

Biology I Lab (1 cr.)

MCB 2010L

Microbiology Lab (1 cr.)

BSC 2011

Biology II (3 cr.) and

PHY 1053

General Physics I (3 cr.) and

BSC 2011L

Biology II Lab (1 cr.)

PHY 1053L

General Physics I Lab (1 cr.)

CHM 1025

Introductory Chemistry (3 cr.) and

PHY 1054

General Physics II (3 cr.) and

CHM 1025L

Introductory Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)

PHY 1054L

General Physics II Lab (1 cr.)

CHM 2045

Gen Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis I (3 cr.) and

PHY 2048C

General Physics I with Calculus (4 cr.)

CHM 2045L

Gen Chemistry & Qualitative Analysis I Lab (1 cr.)

PHY 2049C

General Physics II with Calculus (4 cr.)

Note:  Credit earned in courses not offered by PHSC but awarded via transfer evaluations, examinations, and other external credit mechanisms may also be used to meet the Area III requirement.  Courses must begin with the following prefixes:  AST, BOT, BSC, CHM, GLY, MCB, MET, OCE, PHY, or PSC.  The credit hour and laboratory requirement noted above must still be met.

AREA IV.

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Semester Credit Hours

Select two (2) courses from Category A or one course from each Category A and Category B:

Category A

Category B

AMH 2020

History of the United States II (3 cr.)

AMH 2010

History of the United States I (3 cr.)

ANT 2000

Intro to Anthropology (3 cr.)

CLP 2140

Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)

POS 2041

American Federal Government (3 cr.)

DEP 2002

Child Psychology (3 cr.)

PSY 1012

Intro to Psychology (3 cr.)

DEP 2004

Lifespan Development (3 cr.)

SYG 2000

Intro to Sociology (3 cr.)

DEP 2302

Adolescent Psychology (3 cr.)

ECO 2013

Principles of Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

SYG 2010

Social Problems (3 cr.)


SYG 2221

Women in American Society (3 cr.)

Note:  Credit earned in courses not offered by PHSC but awarded via transfer evaluations, examinations, and other external credit mechanisms may also be used to meet the Area IV requirement.  Courses must begin with the following prefixes:  AMH, ANT, CLP, DEP, POS, PSY, or SYG.  The credit hour requirement noted above must still be met.

AREA V.

Humanities: 6 Semester Credit Hours

Select two (2) courses from Category A or one course from each Category A and Category B:

Category A

Category B

ARH 1000

Art Appreciation (3 cr.)

HUM 2210

Ancient World to the Middle Ages (3 cr.)

HUM 1020

Intro to Humanities (3 cr.)

HUM 2230

Renaissance to the Modern Day (3 cr.)

MUL 1110

Music Appreciation (3 cr.)

PHI 1630

Applied Ethics (3 cr.)

PHI 1010

Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr.)

REL 2000

Intro to Religion (3 cr.)

THE 1000

Theatre Appreciation (3 cr.)

REL 2300

World Religions (3 cr.)

LIT 2000

Introduction to Literature (3 cr.)


Note:  Credit earned in courses not offered by PHSC but awarded via transfer evaluations, examinations, and other external credit mechanisms may also be used to meet the Area V requirement.  Courses must begin with the following prefixes:  ARH, HUM, MUL, PHI, REL, THE, AML, ENC, ENG, ENL, or LIT.  The credit hour requirement noted above must still be met.

AREA VI.

Information Literacy and Technological Fluency: 3 Semester Credit Hours

The following course is required for all students:

CGS 1100

Microcomputer Applications (3 cr.)

Students are encouraged to enroll in this course during the first term of their enrollment at the college. College level reading and writing is strongly encouraged.

Electives: 24 Semester Credit Hours

Sixty (60) credit hours of college-level work are required in the AA program. 

Beyond the 36 hours of general education requirements, the remaining 24 hours may be completed from courses at the 1000 or 2000 level listed in the online catalog/handbook.  

Foreign Language Requirement

All students pursuing an Associate in Arts (AA) degree starting in fall 2014, will be required to meet the FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT to graduate with their degree.  This requirement can be met by one of the following:

A.  Two years of the same high school foreign language.

B.  Two semesters of college-level foreign language.

C.   Documented proficiency of a foreign language.

ASL1140

Basic American Sign Language (4 cr.) 

ASL1150

Intermediate American Sign Language (4 cr.) 

ASL1160

Advanced American Sign Language (4 cr.) 

SPN1120

Beginning Spanish I (4 cr.) 

SPN1121

Beginning Spanish II (4 cr.) 

SPN2220

Intermediate Spanish I (4 cr.) 

SPN2221

Intermediate Spanish II (4 cr.) 

FRE1120

Beginning French I (4 cr.) 

FRE1121

Beginning French II (4 cr.) 

FRE2220

Intermediate French I (4 cr.) 

FRE2221

Intermediate French II (4 cr.) 


Civic Literacy Requirement

As per Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution in the Fall semester 2018, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:

  • successfully passing POS 2041 American Federal Government  OR
  • successfully passing AMH 2020 History of the United States II  OR
  • successfully completing one of three prescribed assessments prior to graduation:
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Test – Government & Politics: U.S. (Passing Score = 3) OR
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Test – U.S. History  (Passing Score = 4)  OR
  • CLEP – American Government – (Passing Score = 50)

Students may also elect to complete POS 2041 or AMH 2020 as a transient student online at another institution via the FloridaShines transient student request procedure. (http://phsc.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2018-2019/Catalog-and-Student-Handbook/Admissions-and-Student-Records/Transient-Student-Requests)



To whom does the civic literacy requirement apply?

For students entering in: The civic literacy requirement applies to: In the following programs: These students must:

2018-19 - 

2020-21

First-time-in-college students

A.A.

Baccalaureate

Pass a course OR pass an assessment
2021-22 Students entering FCS under 2021-22 catalog year*

A.A.

Baccalaureate

Pass a course AND pass an assessment
2022-23** Students entering FCS 2022-23 catalog year

A.S.

A.A.S

Pass a course AND pass an assessment

* There is not a state requirement governing policy on catalog year in effect for returning students. Policies and procedures relating to assigning catalog years are left to institutions to determine.

** The Florida Department of Education (Department) anticipates entering into rule development to add the civic literacy requirement as a condition of A.S./A.A.S. degree completion to coincide with general education changes from House Bill 1507, which will be effective with the 2022-23 catalog year.