ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE
SJR STATE CATALOG/STUDENT HANDBOOK 2024 - 2025
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ASSOCIATE IN ARTS
The Associate in Arts degree is the legally recognized transfer
degree for the Florida College System and is specically designed
for the student who wishes to transfer into the State University
System of Florida as a university junior.
To receive the A.A. degree, a student must complete a
minimum of 60 college-level credit hours. The 60 hours must
include the 36 credit hours of general education requirements and
24 hours of university transfer program prerequisites/electives. In
addition to the credit hour requirement listed above, the student
must:
1. Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at
least 2.0 in all courses attempted that apply toward
the A.A. degree;
2. Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours required for
the degree at St. Johns River State College;
3. Satisfy the writing requirements of SBE Rule
6A-10.030 (Gordon Rule) by successfully completing
at least 12 hours of courses requiring multiple college-
level writing assignments;
4. Satisfy the mathematics requirements of SBE Rule 6A-
10.030 by successfully completing at least 6 hours of
courses at the level of College Algebra or higher;
5. Complete and submit an application for graduation
by the deadline listed in the College calendar;
6. Fulll all nancial obligations to the College.
While the College does not oer the Associate in Arts degree
in any “major,” with proper planning of coursework students can
complete the degree and many prerequisite courses necessary
for admission to a variety of degree programs within the State
University System. Each possible transfer major has a distinct
listing of common prerequisite courses. Talk with your SJR State
advisor about common prerequisites, and check the baccalaureate
program website at the specic institution where you plan to
transfer for additional important information about required
prerequisite courses for your intended major.
ARTICULATION AGREEMENT AND ADMISSION TO THE STATE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Associate in Arts degree graduates are guaranteed certain
rights under Florida Statute 1007.23 that establishes the statewide
articulation agreement. This agreement governs the transfer of
students from Florida College System institutions into the State
University System and specically addresses admission to the
university and admission to specic programs within the university.
The articulation agreement designates the Associate in
Arts degree as the transfer degree. In doing so, the agreement
specically guarantees that:
1. The degree holder will be granted admission to one
of the state universities.
2. The graduate will be awarded at least 60 credit hours
toward the baccalaureate degree.
3. Once a student has completed the general education
requirement and it is noted on his transcript (regardless
of whether an Associate in Arts degree is awarded),
no state university or state college to which the
student may transfer can require additional courses to
the general education core.
4. When transferring among institutions participating
in the Statewide Course Numbering System, an
institution must accept all courses taken at the
transfer institution if the same course with the same
course number is oered at the receiving institution.
5. Credits earned through acceleration mechanisms
(CLEP, dual enrollment, etc.) within the Associate in
Arts degree will be transferable to the State University
System.
Students seeking admission to a state university without
the Associate in Arts degree are not protected by the articulation
agreement and may be denied admission or lose credit hours when
transferring. In most cases, these students must meet freshman
admission requirements.
Additional transfer agreements exist between SJR State and
universities for several Associate in Science degree programs.
Students seeking admission to those programs are protected
under the articulation agreements.
ADMISSION TO A PROGRAM WITHIN A STATE UNIVERSITY
The university determines the courses and prerequisites that
must be taken in order to earn a baccalaureate degree for a specic
program. Although all credit earned toward an Associate in Arts
degree will transfer to a university, not all credit may satisfy the
program prerequisites or the course requirements for a specic
baccalaureate degree. Therefore, it is important to know the program
requirements and to meet program prerequisites while completing
the Associate in Arts degree.
Talk with your SJR State advisor about
common prerequisites, and check the baccalaureate program
website at the specic institution where you plan to transfer for
additional important information about required prerequisite
courses for your intended major.
LIMITED ACCESS PROGRAMS
Limited access programs within the State University System
are programs that have additional admission requirements that
are more restrictive than the university’s general admission
requirements. The requirements may include minimum grade point
averages, test scores, prerequisite courses, auditions, or portfolios.
Associate in Arts degree graduates are not guaranteed
admission into limited access programs, but under the articulation
agreement they are guaranteed the same opportunity as a native
university student to enroll in a limited access program. Limited
access program requirements are published in catalogs, counseling
manuals, and other publications. Any changes in program
requirements must include sucient time for students to adjust to
meet the program criteria.
RIGHT OF APPEAL
Should a student be denied any of these guarantees, he has
the right to le an appeal. Each State University and Florida College
System institution has established appeal procedures. Students
may contact the State University or Florida College System
institution articulation ocer for a copy of these procedures.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES
Associate in Arts degree students should not use physical
education activity courses as elective credit to fulll the 60 credit
hour requirement unless they wish to enter a program within the
State University System that specically requires such courses.
GORDON RULE REQUIREMENTS
This rule applies to all students prior to receipt of an Associate
in Arts degree from a public Florida College System institution or
university or prior to entry into upper division of a public university.