Academic Programs

AA Degree

How do I get an Associate of Arts (AA) DEGREE at USF?

Per Florida Statute 1007.25(13), students currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program can request an Associate of Arts (AA) degree upon completion of the AA degree requirements. The AA at USF is not awarded automatically, and students must apply for the AA degree.

Students should work with their Academic Advisor to identify any remaining requirements for the AA degree that align with your bachelor's degree requirements. 

Any other questions can be sent to aacerts@usf.edu   

Questions related to diplomas, transcripts, or GERM statements should be sent to: graduation@usf.edu or USFtranscript@usf.edu  

Who is eligible to apply for the AA degree?

To receive the Associate of Arts degree at USF, a student must:

  • Be a current, degree-seeking student at USF.
  • Complete 60 semester hours of university credit; at least 20 of the last 30 semester hours counted, or 36 hours overall, must be completed in residence at the home institution of USF. Physical education and military science credits do not count toward the 60 semester hours toward the Associate of Arts.
  • Achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 based on work attempted at USF. In addition, a transfer student must have a GPA of 2.00 or higher when combined with transfer work accepted and evaluated by the USF Office of Admissions.
  • Complete the appropriate General Education requirements (the General Education Requirements will be based on the approved University policy in effect in the catalog year the student chooses). 
  • Meet the Foreign Language Entrance Requirement (FLENT).
  • Fulfill State Communication Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Communication) and State Computation Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Computation).
  • Civics Literacy

How do I apply for the AA degree?

You may apply for the AA degree by going to your Student Self Service account and clicking the "Student Tab" before the application deadline. 

Effective Summer 2026: You must first meet with your advisor and request to add the AA degree to your student record. Note that any changes made after drop/add week will be effective the next semester. After your advisor has determined you are eligible for the AA degree, you can apply to graduate in Student Self Service by clicking the "Apply to Graduate" tab before the application deadline. Applying for graduation is a requirement to received the AA degree from USF. You can view more information about applying to graduate on the Office of the Registrar's graduation website

The AA is awarded approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the semester graduation date.

When should I apply for the AA degree?

Students may apply for the AA degree once they meet the eligibility criteria outlined above. Students are not able to receive an AA degree and a Bachelor's degree in the same semester. You must apply for the AA degree at least one semester before graduating with your baccalaureate degree. 

Effective Summer 2026: You must meet with your Academic Advisor at least one semester before you plan to receive the AA degree to request the AA degree be added to your student record. Students are not able to receive an AA degree and a Bachelor's degree in the same semester. You must apply for the AA degree at least one semester before graduating with your baccalaureate degree. 

The deadline to apply for a degree in each semester is stated in the Academic Calendar in the catalog.

Who can I contact for more information or assistance with this process?

Students should work with their Academic Advisor to identify any remaining requirements for the AA degree.

Any other questions can be sent to aacerts@usf.edu.  

Questions related to diplomas, transcripts, or GERM statements should be sent to: graduation@usf.edu or USFtranscript@usf.edu 

Associate of Arts degrees are not recognized at Commencement (graduation ceremonies).

USF commencement ceremonies are for bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, and doctoral degree graduates. Students earning an AA degree are not eligible to participate in these events.