All provisions within this catalog are subject to change without notice. If you have questions or comments, please contact admissions@gfcmsu.edu.
Associate of Science
The Associate of Science degree is offered both online and on campus.
The Associate of Science (AS) Degree includes education in specific knowledge areas, most typically in math and natural sciences. Focusing on integration of information while increasing a student’s employability, the AS is designed for transferability to a baccalaureate program.
Upon completion of the 31 credits required in the core, students are eligible to receive a Certificate in General Studies from Great Falls College MSU. The Certificate recognizes the completion of the core and is approved by the Montana University System Board of Regents. Students may use the Certificate to demonstrate completion of the core when transferring within the MUS or as a milestone to earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at Great Falls College MSU.
To receive the AS degree, the following requirements must be completed:
| Montana University System Core Requirements | 31 | |
| Computer Skills/Usage requirement | 3 | |
| Math and Science coursework | 9 | |
| Electives | 17 | |
| Final cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 | ||
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Courses taken to fulfill one specific requirement, including courses in the Elective block, may not be used to fulfill another specific requirement; thus, a course taken to fulfill the Natural Science requirement in the Montana University System Core may not be used as an Elective.
Graduates are prepared to:
- Demonstrate the outcomes achievable by completing the Montana University System Core.
- Select and use the appropriate technologies for personal, academic, or career tasks.
- Think critically in evaluating information, solving problems and decision-making.
- Consider the application of the natural and physical sciences and mathematics in the context of today’s world.
Estimated Resident Program Cost*
| Tuition and Fees | $6,380 |
| Application Fee | $30 |
| Lab Fees | $105 |
| Books/Supplies | $2,203 |
| Total | $8,718 |
| * | Fall 2016 MUS Student Health Insurance Premiums will be changing. Please check the Health Insurance website and/or Student Central for confirmed premium rates. Students will be charged an additional fee of $21 per credit for online/hybrid courses. |
Many students need preliminary math, science, and writing courses before enrolling in the program requirements. These courses may increase the total number of program credits. Students should review their math and writing placement before planning out their full program schedules.
Students should consult with the intended receiving institution to determine whether or not additional core courses may be required to satisfy that institution’s General Education Core.
Offered Online and On Campus
I. GFC MSU Additional Graduation Requirement
| COLS 103 | Becoming a Successful Student + | 1 |
II. Montana University System Core Courses- 31 Semester Hours
Communication - 6 Credits (3 written, 3 verbal)
| Written | ||
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I **,+ | 3 |
| Verbal | ||
| COMX 111 | Intro to Public Speaking + | 3 |
| COMX 115 | Intro to Interpersonal Communc + | 3 |
Mathematics - 3 Credits
| M 121 | College Algebra **,+ | 3 |
| M 151 | Precalculus **,+ | 4 |
| M 161 | Survey of Calculus **,+ | 4 |
| M 171 | Calculus I **,+ | 4 |
| M 273 | Multivariable Calculus *,+ | 4 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics **,+ | 4 |
Humanities/Fine Arts - 6 Credits
| Humanities | ||
| CRWR 240 | Intro Creative Writing Wrkshp + | 3 |
| LIT 110 | Intro to Lit + | 3 |
| LIT 270 | Film and Literature *,+ | 3 |
| LIT 291 | Special Topics-Literature + | 3 |
| LSH 201 | Introduction to the Humanities + | 3 |
| PHL 101 | Introduction to Philosophy + | 3 |
| PHL 110 | Introduction to Ethics + | 3 |
| WGSS 242 | Gender and Equality + | 3 |
| Fine Arts | ||
| ARTH 160 | Global Visual Culture + | 3 |
| ARTZ 105 | Visual Language-Drawing + | 3 |
| ARTZ 101 | Art Fundamentals + | 3 |
| MUSI 101 | Enjoyment of Music + | 3 |
| MUSI 103 | Fundamntls of Musical Creation + | 3 |
| MUSI 203 | American Popular Music + | 3 |
| MUSI 207 | World Music (equiv to 307) + | 3 |
Natural Science - 7 Credits (Must include 1 lab course)
| BIOB 101 | Discover Biology/Lab **,+ | 4 |
| BIOB 160 | Princpls of Living Systems/Lab **,+ | 4 |
| BIOB 170 | Prin Biological Diversity/Lab **,+ | 4 |
| BIOH 104 | Basic Human Biology & Lab **,+ | 4 |
| CHMY 101 | Discover Chemistry + | 3 |
| CHMY 121 | Intro to General Chem w/Lab **,+ | 4 |
| CHMY 141 | College Chemistry I w/Lab **,+ | 4 |
| CHMY 143 | College Chemistry II w/Lab *,+ | 4 |
| GEO 101 | Intro to Physical Geologyw/Lab + | 4 |
| NUTR 221 | Basic Human Nutrition + | 3 |
| PHSX 105 | Fund of Physical Science w/Lab + | 4 |
| PHSX 205 | College Physics I w/Lab **,+ | 4 |
| PHSX 220 | Physics I w/Lab **,+ | 4 |
Social Sciences/History - 6 Credits
| Social Sciences | ||
| CJUS 121 | Intro to Criminal Justice + | 3 |
| ECNS 201 | Principles of Microeconomics + | 3 |
| ECNS 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics + | 3 |
| PSCI 210 | Intro to American Government + | 3 |
| PSYX 100 | Introduction to Psychology + | 3 |
| PSYX 230 | Developmental Psychology + | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introduction to Sociology + | 3 |
| History | ||
| HSTA 101 | American History I (N) + | 3 |
| HSTA 102 | American History II (N) + | 3 |
| HSTA 255 | Montana History (N) + | 3 |
| HSTR 101 | Western Civilization I + | 3 |
| HSTR 102 | Western Civilization II + | 3 |
Cultural Diversity - 3 Credits
| ANTY 101 | Anthro & the Human Experience + | 3 |
| BMKT 242 | Intro to Global Markets + | 3 |
| LSH 244 | American Cultural Values + | 3 |
| NASX 204 | Intro to NA Beliefs & Philsphy (N) + | 3 |
| NASX 232 | MT Ind Cltrs/Hstry/Iss (=332) (N) + | 3 |
| NASX 240 | Native American Lit (=to 340) (N) + | 3 |
| SIGN 101 | Intro to American Sign Lang + | 3 |
| SPNS 101 | Elementary Spanish I + | 4 |
| SPNS 102 | Elementary Spanish II *,+ | 4 |
Cultural Heritage of American Indians - 3 Credits
| Courses with an "N" behind the course title will fulfill the cultural Heritage of American Indians requirement as well as a designated core area requirement. + | ||
III. Computer Skills/Usage - 3 Credits
| CAPP 120 | Introduction to Computers + | 3 |
| OR any Computer 3 credit hour course that has CAPP 120 as a prerequisite | ||
IV. Concentration in Math and Science - 9 Credits
| Students may choose coursework numbered 100 or above from any of the following discipline areas to complete the required 9 credits of electives: + | ||
| (BIOB) (BIOH) (BIOM) Biology | ||
| (CAPP) Computer Applications | ||
| (CHMY) Chemistry | ||
| (CSCI) Computer Science/Programming | ||
| (GEO) Geology | ||
| (ITS) Information Technology Systems | ||
| (M) Math **,*** | ||
| (PHSX) Physics | ||
| (PHYS) Physical Science | ||
| (STAT) Statistics | ||
V. Electives - 17 Credits
| Students may choose coursework numbered 100 or above from any discipline area to complete the required 17 credits of electives. *** | ||
| No more than 5 credits of courses numbered 194 may be applied toward the degree. | ||
| + | A grade of C- or above is required for graduation. |
| * | Indicates prerequisites needed. |
| ** | Placement in course(s) is determined by placement assessment. |
| *** | Students may not choose or may not count the following courses: MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 104, MATH 108, M 108, M 111, M 191A, M 191B, ENGL 118, ENGL 119, ENGL 120 |