Board of Governors Adult Degree Completion

The Board of Governors A.A.S. Adult Degree Completion Program is an alternative degree program designed for adult students seeking a degree completion opportunity. The degree is flexible in its design and responsive to adult students’ diverse needs and interests. Adult students with a broad range of life and educational experiences may combine a core of academic courses with credits earned through prior learning experiences to structure a unique associate degree program. The Board of Governors A.A.S. is designed to graduate students who are prepared to become active, socially responsible members in their communities and places of employment.

The Board of Governors A.A.S. program requires 60 semester hours which include a general education core of 21 hours and 39 hours consisting of general electives encompassing a broad range of content areas while providing for optimum flexibility. The required general education courses assure the development of essential skills and competencies necessary for an associate degree level graduate. Students are encouraged to explore various options for obtaining credit for prior learning experiences including course articulation, standardized exams, challenge exams, credential validation and portfolio credit.

Students who choose to earn credit for college-level learning acquired through professional work experience or other life experiences must complete the portfolio development course and submit a portfolio. The portfolio provides the opportunity for equating documented, college-level, experiential learning to college credit. College courses successfully completed at regionally accredited institutions may be transferred into the program and applied toward the semester hour requirements. A minimum of three (3) credit hours are required in residency at Southern in order to be eligible for the Board of Governors A.A.S.

Students are eligible for admission to the program two years after graduation from high school. In case of those passing a high school equivalency examination, admission must be two years after their high school class graduated.

General Education Core: (21 hours)

• Social Science/Humanities 6 semester hours
• Communication 6 semester hours
• Computer Literacy 3 semester hours
• Math/Science 6 semester hours
• Total General Education Core Hours 21 semester hours

General Electives: (39 hours)

• General Electives 39 Semester Hours
• Total Semester Hours 60 Semester Hours