The Department of Applied Arts and Sciences offers the Associate of Science degree. The Associate of Science degree is considered a general education transfer degree and does not include a major or minor course of study. To receive an Associate of Science degree, students must:

• successfully complete all lower-division general education requirements with the exception of the language requirement with a letter grade of C- or better;
• earn a minimum of 60 credits, at least 30 of which must be from the University of Montana-Missoula;
• maintain an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.00.
• Complete 9 credits of transferable coursework in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) beyond those taken as general education requirements.

Students may begin coursework in the autumn, spring, or summer semesters. Courses numbered below 100 do not count toward the 60 credit requirement or general education course requirements, but do fulfill financial aid credit load requirements.

Students planning on completing a baccalaureate degree are encouraged to select specific general education courses and electives that meet the requirements for that future major. Students work with their advisor to develop an AS degree plan to best prepare them to transition to a four-year degree.

General Associate Degree Requirements

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page. 

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of an associate degree program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

Online Program Option

This program may be completed in an online format. Students interested in pursuing an online degree or certificate program are strongly encouraged to contact the offering department to discuss specific program and course modalities and create a plan of study with an academic advisor. The course requirements listed below may not be consistently offered via online delivery.

Two Year Plan

Last updated Fall 2025