Bachelor of Elective Studies/Associate in Arts Degree
Degrees and Programs
- Associate in Arts (A.A.)
- Associate in Elective Studies (A.E.S.)
- Bachelor of Elective Studies (B.E.S.)
Associate in Arts
The Associate in Arts degree programs are intended to provide a broad liberal arts and sciences background. A.A. programs require completion of the general education program and additional credits to total at least 60 semester hour credits. The A.A. program may be used as the foundation for a baccalaureate degree. Students receiving an A.A. degree must complete at least 30 additional credits at SCSU to receive a baccalaureate degree.
Associate in Elective Studies
The Associate in Elective Studies degree program provides students an opportunity to design their own two year programs of study. It requires the completion of 60 semester hour credits, with no more than 30 credits in any one discipline.
Bachelor of Elective Studies
The Bachelor of Elective Studies (BES) degree is one of the six baccalaureate degrees offered by St. Cloud State University. It was created in 1974 and since then, over 3,100 students have graduated from the program.
The BES degree provides students with the opportunity to individualize their degree program. Because it is a student-defined curriculum, it requires careful planning and articulation. Students are encouraged to use a variety of resources both on campus (counseling, faculty, career services) and in the community (professionals in the career field) to help determine the best course of study.
If you plan to obtain a graduate degree in the future, it is important to investigate graduate admission requirements as you are planning your BES program plan. That way, you will be able to plan your undergraduate program to meet the requirements of your particular institution or program.
