program detail
Application icon

USD 11838

Annual Tuition Fee

!
*Subject to change and other fees
Application icon

USD 40 Waived

Application Fee

Duration icon

24 months

Duration

Duration icon

6

IELTS

Duration icon

60

TOEFL

Duration icon

60%

Min GPA

Program Overview

The Associate of Arts (AA) in General Studies provides a well-rounded foundation of knowledge designed to prepare students for employability and/or further academic work. Students can focus their skill set by selecting courses specifically designed to support their professional goals. The AA is ideal for working adults with a minimal number of academic credits who seek a milestone of achievement while working toward a bachelor's degree.

The AA program is taught by practicing professionals, with a curriculum that integrates the liberal arts with knowledge of management principles, leadership strategies and organizational theory. Coursework emphasizes practical business applications, while providing a strong educational foundation for lifelong learning. Students develop the capacity to think critically and creatively in preparation for a successful future in business or management.

Step Up to a Bachelor's Degree
In the process of completing the AA, students fulfill the general education and liberal studies requirements of GGU's bachelor's degrees, while also developing skills and knowledge outcomes in communication, critical thinking, information literacy, and quantitative fluency. A flexible course of study is designed to maximize the number of transfer credits counted toward degree completion.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete the program will cultivate the following skills, attitudes, and knowledge:
  • Communication:
    Communicate effectively to general and specialized audiences through structured written, oral and visual presentations.
  • Critical Thinking:
    Identify, categorize, and analyze problems and issues, and draw warranted conclusions.
  • Quantitative Fluency:
    Perform accurate calculations using symbolic operations, and provide accurate interpretations and explanations of data.
  • Information Literacy:
    Correctly identify, categorize, evaluate, and cite multiple resources to create projects, papers, or performances.
  • Ethical Reasoning:
    Describe ethical issues and apply ethical principles or frameworks in judgment and decision-making.
  • Applied Learning:
    Describe and analyze relationships between academic learning and problems outside the classroom.
  • Broad Integrative Knowledge:
    Explore, connect, and apply concepts and methods across multiple fields of study.
  • Lifelong Learning:
    Examine connections between academic learning and professional goals and demonstrate attitudes such as curiosity, self-awareness, adaptability, and motivation.
Read more

Additional Information

Program Level Associate Degree

College/University Processing Time 7 Days

Program Format Hybrid

Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit

Program Intake

Open

Sep 2025

Closed

Jan 2025

General Admission Requirement

    Academic Requirement

    • Minimum Level of Education Required: To be accepted into this program, applicants must have Grade 12 / High School Diploma.

    6 IELTS Score
    60 TOEFL Score Minimum Overall Score
    48 PTE Score Minimum Overall Score
    90 Duolingo Minimum Overall Score
    60% CGPA Minimum Overall Score

    Similar Programs

    Tuition Fee

    The values given below are estimated figures, excluding extra charges like material fee, student activity fees, athletic fees, health care, etc., for courses. To know more, please visit the Programs page.

    Average Tuition Fee Per Year

    11838

    Tuition Fee
    (USD)

    USD 40 Waived

    Application Fee
    (USD)

    18000 Per year

    Average Cost of Living
    (USD)

    info icon

    The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

    Check program website for more information about funding options.

    Scholarships

    International Scholarships
    Golden Gate University welcomes students from all over the world and offers scholarships for all qualified international students who enroll in a master's degree program in our School of Business, School of Accounting and Braden School of Tax. Admitted students that have not previously attended Golden Gate University and satisfy the admissions criteria will be automatically considered for an International Student Scholarship or Grant through the admission process. For the 2020-2021 academic year, a limited number of scholarships will be awarded in each of the following categories:

    International President's Scholars -- $15,000
    Admitted students who earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and who demonstrate English language proficiency as evidenced by a minimum TOEFL score of 90, Duolingo score of 120, PTE of 65 or IELTS composite of 7.5 with no sub-score of less than 6.5 will be considered. Students who have earned a master's degree after earning a bachelor's degree will be considered using the cumulative grade point average and English language proficiency as noted above. An International President's Scholar is eligible to receive up to $15,000 to complete their degree, $5,000 per term for up to 3 consecutive terms.

    International Dean's Scholars -- $12,000
    Admitted students who earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.3 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and who demonstrate English language proficiency as evidenced by a minimum TOEFL score of 85, Duolingo score of 115, PTE of 62 or IELTS composite of 7.0 with no sub-score of less than 6.0 will be considered. Students who have earned a master's degree after earning a Bachelor's degree will be considered using the cumulative grade point average and English language proficiency as noted above. An International Dean's Scholar is eligible to receive up to $12,000 to complete their degree, $4,000 per term for up to 3 consecutive terms.

    Welcome Grant -- $3,000

    • Admitted students who earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and who demonstrate English language proficiency as evidenced by a minimum TOEFL score of 79, Duolingo score of 100, PTE of 57 or IELTS composite of 6.5 will be considered. Students who have earned a master's degree after earning a bachelor's degree will be considered using the cumulative grade point average and English language proficiency as noted above. Our Welcome grant is a one-time award of $3,000 applied to tuition in the first term of enrollment.
    • To be considered for any of the scholarships listed above:
    • Students must have their applications complete and ready for review by June 15 for fall, and October 1 for spring admissions.
    • Students must be an international student who entered the United State using an F Visa or will study online in their home country. Students studying on a J visa are not eligible for these scholarships or grants.
    • President's and Dean's scholarship recipients must be continuously enrolled in 9 or more units and maintain satisfactory academic progress as evidenced by achieving and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in each term of enrollment. These scholarships are renewable for a maximum of three consecutive (3) terms.
    • Students may only receive one scholarship or grant. Specifically, President's and Dean's scholarship recipients are not eligible for the Welcome Grant or the Alumni Referral Grant.
    • A $1,000 US tuition deposit is required of all admitted students prior to the issuance of visa eligibility documents (commonly known as form I-20). The deposit is credited toward the first term's tuition and is non-refundable. Tuition deposits must be paid by the dates indicated on your scholarship offer otherwise the scholarship will be forfeited.
    • Deferring your enrollment may impact your scholarship eligibility. Please speak with your enrollment counselor for further details.

    Not sure what you are looking for?

    Don’t worry, we are here to help.

    Let's Talk

    World class education waiting for you.

    Popular university and colleges for Studying abroad.

    Popular English Language Proficiency Exams

    Study in USA Blogs & Articles