Individual Studies AA, AS, or AAS
Program Highlights
- Program Type: Career and Transfer
- Delivery: On-campus or online
- Personal Interests: Flexibility, customization, varied career options, thinking outside the box
- Skill Building: Communication, critical thinking, and specific skills from areas you choose
- Career Options: Determined by the program you design
- Program Code: HEGIS 5699
Create a Jefferson degree tailored to your interests and passions
One size does not have to fit all when it comes to your education. Choose from any number of disciplines to create a unique degree program that reflects your individual interests and career goals.
You’ll pick classes to explore while completing a liberal arts core in the humanities, social sciences, and science and mathematics.
Core areas include:
- Basic communication: Express yourself using common college-level formats, revise and improve your work, research a topic, develop an argument, and organize supporting details
- Mathematics: Use numerical data to solve practical problems and interpret day-to-day information
- Humanities: Learn conventions and methods from at least one humanities discipline along with other general education areas
- Social Science: Learn methods to explore social phenomena—observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and mathematical and interpretive analysis
As an individual studies student, your choices will determine the classes you take and the degree you earn—an A.A.S., A.A., or A.S. Jefferson’s individual studies program provides:
- Strong foundation for further study and career
- Broad-based perspective on the world and its people
- Cost savings on general education classes
- One-on-one attention from your assigned advisor
Build a flexible degree program that meets your unique needs
Your future doesn’t have to be completely mapped out when you start the individual studies program at Jefferson. Instead, pursue classes that meet your individual academic and career goals, then use that experience to continue your education at a four-year college or university or to find entry-level work in the field of your choice. There are few limits to what you can accomplish with this unique degree option.
Learn to communicate, evaluate, and persuade
When you complete an Individual Studies degree you will be able to:
- Communicate effectively for diverse purposes and audiences
- Find, evaluate, and accurately credit authoritative sources of information
- Understand the conventions and methods of at least two disciplines in the humanities (for example, language, literature, arts, or philosophy)
- Understand the theories and methods of at least two disciplines in the social sciences (for example, psychology, history, sociology, or anthropology)
- Identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments in their own work and others’ work
- Complete courses in seven of the 10 SUNY General Education areas, fulfilling requirements for transfer to a SUNY bachelor’s degree program
Contact Enrollment Services for Application and Admissions Information
admissions@sunyjefferson.edu
(315) 786-2437, fax (315) 786-2349 or toll free (888) 435-6522
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday
Transfer to the bachelor’s program of your choice
Complete a Jefferson Individual Studies degree then choose from a wide range of transfer options, including SUNY universities and private colleges.
Currently, Jefferson has formal transfer agreements with Bryant & Stratton College’s Health Services Administration B.S.*, various programs at Columbia College, and various programs at SUNY Empire State College.
*Offered at the Jefferson Higher Education Center and directly on Jefferson's campus.
Degree requirements for Individual Studies A.A.
Effective Fall 2014
| Core Requirements (6-7 credit hours) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENG 101: Research and Composition | 3 |
| MTH 144: Elementary Statistics or higher | 3-4 |
| Liberal Arts Requirements (42-44 credit hours) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Mathematics or Science Electives | 6-8 |
| Humanities Electives | 12 |
| Social Science Electives | 15 |
| Liberal Arts Electives | 9 |
| Free Elective Requirements | 12 Credit Hours |
|---|
Total Credit Hours 60-63
| Advising Notes: | |
|---|---|
| Distribution Requirements: Minimum 60 hours of which 48 are to be Liberal Arts and Sciences with reasonable distribution in humanities, social sciences, and math/science (15-15-9 hours distribution recommended) with remaining 12 hours open electives. |
Degree requirements for Individual Studies A.S.
Effective Fall 2014
| Core Requirements (6-7 credit hours) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENG 101: Research and Composition | 3 |
| MTH 144: Elementary Statistics or higher | 3-4 |
| Liberal Arts Requirements | 24 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Choose Approximately Eight Liberal Arts Courses |
| Free Elective Requirements | 30 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Choose Approximately Ten Free Electives1 |
Total Credit Hours 60-61
| Advising Notes: | |
|---|---|
| Distribution Requirements: Minimum 60 hours of which 30 are to be Liberal Arts and Sciences with reasonable distribution among humanities, social sciences, and math/science. Remaining 30 hours free electives. |
|
| 1No more than 12 credits of physical education activity or equivalent coursework may be used to satisfy free elective requirements. |
Degree requirements for Individual Studies A.A.S.
Effective Fall 2014
| Core Requirements (6-7 credit hours) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENG 101: Research and Composition | 3 |
| MTH 144: Elementary Statistics or higher | 3-4 |
| Liberal Arts Requirements | 15 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Choose Approximately Five Liberal Arts Courses |
| Free Elective Requirements | 39 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Choose Approximately 13 Free Electives2 |
Total Credit Hours 60-61
| Advising Notes: | |
|---|---|
| Distribution Requirements: Minimum 60 hours, of which 21 are to be Liberal Arts and Sciences. Remaining 39 hours free electives. |
|
| 2No more than 12 credits of physical education activity or equivalent coursework may be used to satisfy free elective requirements. |
Program contacts
For On-Campus Students
Dr. Mark StreiffChair of Individual Studies
mstreiff@sunyjefferson.edu
(315) 786-2447
For Fort Drum Students
Betsi BentzDirector of Community Services
bbentz@sunyjefferson.edu
(315) 786-6554
(315) 786-2425