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Individualized Studies

Start your college career here at Normandale, where you’ll find excellent core liberal arts courses offered at a fraction of the cost of a four-year university.  

The Individualized Studies program is great if you have well-defined career goals and wish to build your own program of study. In earning an AS degree, you’ll have the opportunity to develop competencies in fields unavailable through existing degree programs.  

You’ll create an academic plan by combining complementary coursework from existing disciplines along with core Minnesota Transfer Curriculum requirements. 

When you graduate with an associate’s degree, you’ll be ready to start your junior year at a select group of regional universities where you can pursue your bachelor’s degree. 

Where Will Normandale Take You?

With an associate’s degree in individual studies from Normandale, you’ll be well prepared to seamlessly continue your college education at a four-year Minnesota State university, at the University of Minnesota, and several regional universities in neighboring states. 

Earn an associate’s degree, then pursue the field of study you choose.  

Graduates have the flexibility to pursue careers in many industries, and they have adaptable skills that employers are looking for. 

What Makes Our Individual Studies Program Unique?

The program requires submission of a written degree plan initiated by the student with assistance from the dean of an appropriate division, or an academic counselor/faculty member.  

Students use a plan template to guide the degree planning process that they submit to the relevant academic dean’s office. The approval of an industry representative must also be obtained when the degree plan applies to a specific career field. The plan must also demonstrate transferability to at least one four-year accredited institution, even when it may not be the intention of the student to transfer immediately upon degree completion. 

Normandale is one of a select number of community colleges that offers a comprehensive, personalized degree whose credits seamlessly transfer using the MnTC, or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. This general education portion, and additional elective courses (including Health and Exercise Science), make up a total of 60 college credits.  

Individualized Studies Program Basics

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