Expert: Bruce - 3/8/2009

Question
Do you have to have a General education AA before you take classes to get an
AA in psychology? I attend a high school where i can work towards a general
education AA but i didn't want to take those classes like speech 120 and all
this other stuff i just want to go straight to the psychology classes to go
towards an AA in psychology but someone told me i would have to take those
classes anyways because i need a general education AA before i can claim a
major and get an AA in my major...is this true? i need help??

Answer
Hi Elita,

The answer depends somewhat on your long term goals.  If you want to go on for the bachelors in psych, then do not take the AA in psych. This is because the school giving you the bachelors in psych will want you to take your psych courses there rather than transfer them in.  If you want to stop at the AA in psych you can pursue that, just keep in mind that it may limit your degree options in pscyology later on.

I am generally in favor of taking the gen ed associates degree, for ease of transfer, plus you may find in the required courses some other area that you really enjoy studying. Plus those courses like speech do offer some benefits.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to send add'l questions.

Bruce