Associate degree provides affordable, high-quality start to earning a bachelor’s degree
A guide to Florida’s 2 + 2 Program
Graduates who earn an Associate in Arts degree at Palm Beach State College (PBSC) have a seamless path to a four-year public university.
Completion of the twoyear A.A. degree guarantees transfer to one of Florida’s 12 public universities or to a private college or university that’s part of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF).* Known as the
2 + 2 program, students earn a two-year Associate in Arts degree and then spend the next two years finishing the requirements for their bachelor’s degree.
However, it takes some planning, research and effort to get to that point.
Earning college credits
An Associate in Arts degree requires completing 60 hours of college credits with at least a “C” grade. More than half of the courses, 36 credits, meet general education requirements in which students take classes in communications, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences. The remaining 24 credits are comprised of electives or common prerequisite courses required for a particular bachelor’s degree program.
In addition to earning satisfactory grades, students must meet several other guidelines.
Transfer students must have earned two credits of sequential foreign language classes at the high school level. Students who haven’t completed the high school classes will need to complete eight credit hours of one foreign language, or demonstrate proficiency by passing a College Level Examination Program
(CLEP) foreign language test.
While the foreign language coursework fulfills the admission requirement for a public university, it may not satisfy graduation requirements for certain majors. Students should check the graduation requirements of the program they want to complete.
Avoiding excess hours
Transfer students also should be aware of the “excess hours” surcharge, which is applied to course hours that go 110 percent beyond the hours required to complete a bachelor’s degree program. Due to the surcharge, students are encouraged to complete the courses required for their major on the first attempt. Transfer students should identify their major or desired transfer program early and learn about the program’s admission requirements and prerequisites.
Associate in Arts students within the Florida College System are required to identify their bachelor’s degree and college or university of interest by the time they complete 30 hours of coursework. The 30-hour advising rule is designed to improve the transfer process and reduce excess credit hours.
Why Palm Beach State?
With more than 49,000 students, PBSC is the fourth largest institution in the Florida College System and offers more than 130 programs of study — including several bachelor’s degrees. PBSC’s dedicated faculty and flexible class schedules on five conveniently located campuses provide an affordable, high-quality start to achieving a four-year bachelor’s degree.
Before deciding on a major, students should meet with an adviser at PBSC and consult the college’s catalog. Students can also contact the specific department of the college or university they’re planning to attend in order to confirm which classes will transfer.
Once students identify their major and desired transfer institution, PBSC will let them know about common prerequisites and other requirements.
Resources to know
A service of Florida
Virtual Campus, www. FloridaShines.org provides a wealth of online advising tools that help guide students through their education. Those resources will allow students to:
■ Complete interest inventories and other career assessments
■ Research careers and the education level needed
■ Search for colleges and educational programs
■ Apply online for admission to Florida institutions of higher education
■ Find and apply for financial aid
■ Fill out transient forms that make it easier to take courses at other institutions
■ Use advising audits to find requirements and track progress toward Associate in Arts graduation and transfer
■ Access advising manuals, including the Common Prerequisites Manual and articulation manuals
Completion of the two-year Associate in Arts degree guarantees transfer to one of Florida’s 12 public universities or to a private college or university that’s part of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.*
An education that meets career goals requires planning, documentation and talking with advisers who know how to navigate through the system. With some motivation and smart planning, an education at PBSC will lay a great foundation for the future.