The Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree requires a minimum of 62 credits distributed according to University policy outlined below, with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. A minimum 2.0 GPA must also be maintained in all General Education (GenEd) or the University Core courses and all CLA courses.

Temple University Main Campus does not offer an A.A. degree, but TUJ students who have officially declared the A.A. program and completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at TUJ may graduate at Main Campus with an A.A. degree by completing their remaining requirements there.

Degree Eligibility

The College of Liberal Arts does not award the associate degrees to students who have already completed an accredited first Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree, regardless of when the degree was completed.

Upper Level Course Requirements

I. Humanities
Students must complete a minimum of two courses (minimum six credit hours) of upper-level coursework (numbered 2000 or higher) in Humanities.

Humanities 2000+:1 course, 3-4 credit hours

Humanities 2000+:1 course, 3-4 credit hours

II. Social Science
Students must complete a minimum of two courses (minimum six credit hours) of upper-level coursework (numbered 2000 or higher) in Social Sciences.

Social Science 2000+:1 course, 3-4 credit hours

Social Science 2000+:1 course, 3-4 credit hours

• Humanities: English, French, German, Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish
• Social Sciences: African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography and Urban Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Mathematical Economics, Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior and Plasticity, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Women's Studies

Writing Intensive

After completing English 0701/0711, 0802/0812, IH 0851 and 0852 or any equivalencies, Associate of Arts degree candidates are required to complete at least one Writing Intensive course. If one of courses taken in Humanities or Social Science requirements is Writing Intensive, the course can also count toward this requirement.

Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirement

1. All B.A. students must complete the second level of a foreign language;
2. All B.A. students must complete at least one course from the GenEd World Society category; and
3. All B.A. students must complete one of the following options:
   • Third level of a foreign language;
   • Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language;
   • A second General Education World Society course;
   • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
   • Take one Global Studies course from the following list:
     • Asian Studies 2021: Japanese Literature in Film
     • Asian Studies 2501: Introduction to East Asia: China
     • Asian Studies 2502: Introduction to East Asia: Japan
     • History 1501: Third World History
     • History 1702: World History Modern
     • Japanese 2021: Japanese Literature in Film
     • Japanese 2096: Japanese Popular Culture and Literature
     • Political Science 1201: Foreign Governments and Politics
     • Political Science 1301: International Politics

Non-CLA Courses

A.A. students must complete a minimum of 45 credit hours within CLA disciplines listed above. A.A. students may count a maximum of 17 non-CLA credits toward the A.A. degree, and all non-CLA courses that exceed this 17 credit maximum will not count toward requirements.

Preparatory Courses

A maximum of 9 credit hours of the preparatory course works (numbered 0700 - 0799 [001-049]) may be applied to any A.A. degree.

Other Degree Requirement Policies

A.A. students should refer to College of Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for further policy explanations such as Courses Inapplicable to Graduation and Credit/No Credit, as the same policies apply to the A.A. degree.