Academic Program Award Types

Associates Degree

Students who successfully complete the requirements for graduation, including all locally approved major prep work, general education requirements, and a minimum of 60 units of degree applicable work, may be awarded either an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree. Generally, STEM and career technical education based majors qualify as AS degrees, whereas all other areas are classified as AA degrees. Refer to the individual program pages for each degree’s classification.

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

Students who successfully complete the requirements for graduation, including all approved transfer model curriculum requirements with a “C” grade or higher, general education and transfer requirements associated with an approved transfer pattern, and a minimum of 60 units of CSU transferable work with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, may be awarded either an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or an Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree. STEM and career technical education based majors are classified as AS-Ts, whereas all other areas are classified as AA-Ts. Refer to the individual program pages for each degree’s classification.

Certificate (Locally Approved)

Students who successfully complete the requirements set by locally approved, low unit programs may be issued a certificate denoting their completion. Certificate programs do not require the completion of a general education pattern. These programs are not approved to appear as awards on official college transcripts, and paper certificates that are awarded may not be available for reproduction if lost or damaged. Please contact the department of Career Technical Education for additional details.

Certificate of Achievement

Students who successfully complete the requirements of selected programs approved by the California Community Colleges’ Chancellor’s Office, may receive a Certificates of Achievement that will appear on their official college transcript. Certificate of Achievement programs do not require the completion of a general education pattern.

Certificate of Competency

Students who complete noncredit coursework in a prescribed pathway as chaptered with the California Community Colleges’ Chancellor’s Office that prepares students to take non-degree applicable credit coursework, including basic skills and English as a second language, or to take degree applicable credit coursework leading to completion of a credit certificate, an associate degree, or transfer to a baccalaureate institution will be awarded a Certificate of Competency. Certificates of Competency will appear on a noncredit transcript, separate from a student's traditional transcript of credit-based work.

Certificate of Completion

Students who complete noncredit coursework in a prescribed pathway as chaptered with the California Community Colleges’ Chancellor’s Office intended to improve employability or increase job opportunities will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. Certificates of Completion will appear on a noncredit transcript, separate from a student's traditional transcript of credit-based work.