Your Pathway to a Bachelors Degree Starts Here!
Ready to launch your dreams? Start by earning your Associate in Arts (AA) degree at Iowa Lakes Community College. Whether your goal is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, general education, or pre-professional studies, our program sets the stage for a seamless transfer to four-year colleges and universities nationwide.
By completing the Associate in Arts transfer degree, you’ll fulfill general education requirements at multiple institutions, with many even applying these credits toward major-specific coursework. This flexibility ensures a smooth academic transition, saving you time and money while keeping you on track toward achieving your goals.
To earn your AA degree, you’ll need to follow the AA degree requirements, including:
- Complete a minimum of 64 semester credits, including at least three credits dedicated to diversity studies.
- Based on the Iowa Lakes grading system, maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Satisfy core general education requirements totaling 40 or more credits in key disciplines like communication, social sciences, and humanities.
Each transfer major may have unique prerequisites in math, science, social sciences, or humanities, so working with an advisor is key to ensuring your coursework aligns with your intended four-year institution.
Explore career pathways and salary expectations for degree holders in liberal arts and general education through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. Ready to take the next step? Connect with an enrollment coach today to start your journey!
Find Your It!
A Smart Start to Your Bachelor’s Degree
A Degree with Endless Possibilities
An Associate in Arts degree from Iowa Lakes opens doors to various academic and career paths. Whether pursuing business, communications, psychology, education, or another discipline, this degree provides the foundation to succeed in your future studies.
Seamless Transfer for Academic Success
The transfer agreements Iowa Lakes has with top regional universities ensure that your credits apply toward a four-year degree. Our advisors will help you navigate course selection and transfer requirements to maximize your opportunities and set you up for long-term success.
Program Details
Length
4 terms
Degree
Associate in Arts (64 credits)
Campus
All Campuses
Additional Information
Term 1
SDV 103 – Successful Learning
Students master the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in higher education and in life. Content will cover academic, communication and life management skills. Goal setting, time management, note taking, test taking and how to be a lifelong learner will also be covered.
Term 2
- English Course (recommend – Composition II)
- Math Course
- Computers Course
- Social Science Course
- Humanities Course
- Elective Course
Term 3
- Communications Course
- Science Course (with lab)
- Social Science Course
- Elective Course
- Elective Course
General Education & Program Learning Outcomes
By obtaining an Associate in Arts (AA) degree from Iowa Lakes, you will learn the following:1
English/Communications:
- Students are able to communicate clearly, both written and oral using the correct medium.
- Students are able to support ideas with appropriate and adequate information.
ILO: Oral and Written Communications
Mathematics:
- Apply mathematical methods to solve real world problems.
- Evaluate the validity of mathematical solutions.
ILO: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Humanities:
- Respond critically using established aesthetic principles or criteria, or an ethical judgement of specific examples as it relates to the discipline.
- Express the principles of the discipline within the global community by using the language, syntax, and cultural context of the discipline appropriately.
ILO: Professionalism and Civility
Social Science:
- Students will demonstrate the way human behavior is influenced by environmental, economic, sociocultural, psychological, or historical processes.
- Students will critique the diversity of human experience, individually and collectively.
ILO: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Science:
- Demonstrate safe laboratory practices.
- Apply scientific inquiry/scientific method to answer questions about the natural world.
ILO: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Computers:
- Integrate the technology necessary in the workplace environment.
- Demonstrate knowledge in utilizing software application tools.
ILO: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Student Development
- Students will develop necessary skills for successful participation in college level courses.
- Students will demonstrate productive life skills.
ILO: Can use any ILO.
1The What You’ll Learn section of our website provides a description of Learning Outcomes for students who successfully complete all requirements for obtaining an Associate in Arts degree from Iowa Lakes Community College.
Hands-On
Training
Career-Ready
Day One
Transfer data to Iowa Regent Universities
First Year University GPA
Note: This is the average of transfer with associates and transfer, no associates
2.94
Average Retention One Year After Transferring to a Regent University
86%
Average University Graduation Rates Three Years After Entry to a Regent University
58%
START YOUR LAKER JOURNEY IN 4 STEPS!
Questions? Let's Talk
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Molly Struve Dean of Arts & Sciences and Academic Success 712-362-7935 | mstruve@iowalakes.edu |