Professional Studies Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree

The Professional Studies Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree provides a pathway toward an associate degree for students in professional certificate programs of study at SAU Tech. The curriculum provides students with a broad-based educational foundation of general education core requirements, related professional and technical coursework, and a focused area of study. There are five focus area emphasis tracks to choose from.

The Professional Studies general degree focuses on professional and technical career areas and presents the student with an associate degree which allows some latitude in selection of courses in areas of interest. This degree may also assist persons in the workforce in their efforts toward job progression and career advancement. The student should work with their advisor in planning the completion of this degree and, should they desire the pursuit of a baccalaureate degree, with the four-year institution to which they may plan to transfer.

The Professional Studies Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree with an emphasis in Environmental Management is designed to prepare the graduate for employment at the management level position for wastewater, water or solid waste disposal at municipal facilities and/or environmental positions at industrial facilities. This degree emphasis is available entirely online.

The Professional Studies Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree with an emphasis in Law Enforcement allows Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA) graduates who receive the Certificate of Proficiency in Criminal Justice an opportunity to continue their college education by completing the required general education hours toward the Technical Certificate in Law Enforcement and the associate degree. The emphasis includes 28 hours in law enforcement courses and 32 hours in General Education coursework. The General Education coursework is available online for the working professional.

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admissions and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “NO COMPARABLE COURSE.” See individual course descriptions in the catalog for applicable ACTS courses. ACTS may also be accessed on the Internet by going to the ADHE website at Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS).