Degree Requirements
In order to earn the Associate of Arts (AA) degree, students must earn a total of 60 credits, at least 30 of which must be completed at Franklin. Students must also maintain a minimum final cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in order to graduate. Associate of Arts degree candidates are required to complete the following:
First Year Seminar (3 credits)
A specific course in the disciplines designated with the 199 numbering. All students new to university are required to take the First Year Seminar in their first semester at Franklin. Students transferring to Franklin with 30 college or university credits may substitute elective credit for the First Year Seminar.
Academic Travel (12 credits)
Academic Travel is Franklin’s signature program and an essential part of the Franklin degree program. The Associate of Arts degree requires the completion of four three-credit Academic Travel courses. Students who enter with transfer or advanced standing credit must complete one travel during each semester they are enrolled until the completion of the AA degree.
Academic Writing (6 credits)
Students will focus on clear and effective writing, developing the skills necessary to convey ideas effectively in a variety of contexts.
Students take WTG 150 Academic Writing: Crossing Borders plus one additional course from:
- WTG 200 Advanced Academic Writing: Ethics at Work
- W-designated courses
Global Responsibility (18 credits)
Two courses from each of the following Areas of Knowledge:
- Intercultural Competencies
- International Engagement
- Social Responsibility
(For the most up-to-date list of Global Responsibility courses, check with the Registrar’s office.)
Modern Languages (12 credits)
FRE 100 / GER 100 / ITA 100 Introductory Language I
FRE 101 / GER 101 / ITA 101 Introductory Language II
FRE 200 / GER 200 / ITA 200 Intermediate Language I
FRE 201 / GER 201 / ITA 201 Intermediate Language II
As part of the university’s mission to cultivate international leadership skills through foreign language acquisition and cultural literacy, Franklin encourages all students to be strong, independent users of at least one Swiss language. Two options, or tracks, are available to students to ensure successful completion of this requirement. Students in Track 1 strive to achieve intermediate proficiency in French, German, or Italian. Track 2 students opt for a combination of language study and cultural literacy classes across several Franklin disciplines. For all students, a two-semester commitment to Swiss language study (most typically satisfied in the 100-101 sequence) is mandatory. Barring specific exceptions (see notes below), the ML Core represents a four-semester requirement. Students must fulfill each class of the language requirement in sequence and in the same language.
A minimum grade of C is required in all Modern Language Core classes in order to advance to the next level.
Track 1
Associate of Arts degree students are required to successfully complete four semesters of study in one of the modern languages offered at Franklin.
Track 2
This option is open only to students who have language-specific diagnosed learning challenges on record with the accessibility coordinator. In Track 2, students complete two semesters in a language sequence (e.g. 100-101) followed by two classes designated as cultural literacy courses.
Please note: courses that are taken as Cultural Literacy cannot be counted under another requirement in the Core.
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
Courses are designed to help students distinguish situations in which quantitative or symbolic information is relevant, to understand how to produce, analyze and use numerical information to reach valid conclusions, and to be informed participants of data-based decision-making processes.
Depending on placement, students choose from MAT 181, MAT 182, MAT 200 or higher.
General Elective Credits (6 credits)
Declaration and Graduation
Students who intend to earn the Associate of Arts degree should complete the Associate of Arts application form in the Registrar’s office. After declaring intention to pursue the Associate of Arts degree, the student will be matriculated into an online academic plan that will list courses which the student has taken and those which are still outstanding toward the completion of the degree.
Students must make submit a graduation application to the Registrar by October 15 of the previous semester for May and August graduation, and by March 1 for December graduation. Graduation application fees apply.
Note: The Associate of Arts degree will only be awarded to students not continuing with the Bachelor of Arts degree.