Associate of Arts/Associate of Science Degrees
Students planning to graduate with an associate degree must:
- Complete major requirements with grades of “C” or better.
- Complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable semester units, 12 of which must be completed at Sierra College. (Units received through credit by examination do not count toward this requirement.)
- Earn a minimum grade point average of at least 2.0 in all degree-applicable coursework.
- Complete one of the following three general education patterns:
Associate in Arts for Transfer/Associate in Science for Transfer Degrees
California community colleges offer associate degrees for transfer to the California State University system. These degrees are designed to provide clear pathways to CSU majors and baccalaureate degrees. Students awarded associate degrees for transfer and meeting the CSU minimum transfer admission requirements are guaranteed admission with junior standing within the CSU system. Students are also given priority admission consideration to their local CSU campus, or to a program that is deemed similar to the community college major. This priority does not guarantee admission to a specific major or campus.
Students awarded associate degrees for transfer are able to complete their remaining requirements for the 120-unit baccalaureate degree within 60 semester or 90 quarter units.
Students should consult with a counselor for information on university admission and transfer requirements and to develop an educational plan that best meets their goals and needs. The following requirements apply for AA-T or AS-T degrees:
- Completion of major requirements with grades of “C” or better.
- Completion of 60 CSU-transferable semester units, 12 of which must be completed at Sierra College. (Units received through credit by examination do not count toward the 12-unit residency requirement.)
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors may require a higher GPA.
- Certified completion of either the California State University General Education Breadth Requirements (CSU GE) , or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) . (Students transferring to a CSU campus using IGETC must complete Area 1C Oral Communication to be eligible for admission.) NOTE: IGETC is the only approved option for the Biology for Transfer, Chemistry for Transfer, and Computer Science for Transfer degrees.
RESTRICTION: International coursework from non-United States regionally accredited institutions cannot be applied to associate degrees for transfer.
Certificates of Achievement
A certificate of achievement is designed to demonstrate that a student has completed coursework and developed capabilities relating to career or general education. Certificates of achievement require a minimum of 18 units. Students must:
- Earn grades of “C” or better in all required courses.
- Complete at least 50% of the required coursework at Sierra College. (Units received through credit by examination do not count toward this requirement.)
Certificates of achievement are recorded on student transcripts.
Gainful Employment Disclosure Information
The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to disclose certain information about Title IV eligible certificate of achievement programs that “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” The information is intended to assist current and prospective students as they make career and educational choices. Specific information for each certificate program is located at www.sierracollege.edu/gainfulemployment .
Skills Certificates
A skills certificate is an acknowledgement that a student has attained a specified set of competencies within a career and technical education program, either in preparation to enter the field or upgrade of skills required for continued employment. Skills certificates require a minimum of 6 units and a maximum of 17.5 units. Students must:
- Earn grades of “C” or better in all required courses.
- Complete at least 50% of the required coursework at Sierra College. (Units received through credit by examination do not count toward this requirement.)
Skills certificates are not recorded on student transcripts.
Catalog Rights
Sierra College issues a new catalog every academic year. New programs may be introduced and course requirements for specific majors may change from one catalog to the next. For purposes of meeting Sierra College degree and/or certificate requirements, students may choose from the following Sierra College catalog options:
- The catalog in effect at the time the student first enrolled at Sierra College or any year thereafter, as long as continuous enrollment has been maintained;
- The catalog in effect at the intended semester/session of graduation; or
- The catalog in effect at the time the student first enrolled at a California community college, a California State University, a University of California campus, and/or a regionally accredited institution of higher education, as long as continuous enrollment has been maintained.
Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in at least one course per calendar year (spring, summer, fall), with at least one of the following academic record symbols recorded on an official transcript: A, B, C, D, F, W, MW, P, NP, or I. Students beginning enrollment during the summer have the option of choosing the prior academic year's catalog.
If continuous enrollment is interrupted, students may reestablish catalog rights based on the date of reenrollment at Sierra College or any other California community college, CSU, UC campus, or regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Regardless of catalog rights, a course may be used to satisfy a general education requirement if it was approved for the general education area at the time the course was successfully completed and the course complies with Title 5 regulations.
Catalog rights do not apply to entrance requirements for programs (e.g., Nursing).
General Education Reciprocity
Title 5 outlines and defines general education subject areas that each California Community College must include. As many students attend more than one college, and the courses that are locally approved for a particular GE area vary among colleges, Sierra College grants reciprocity for all lower-division general education designated courses completed at California Community Colleges, California State Universities, and University of California campuses, provided the courses comply with Title 5 regulations.
Associate Degree for Transfer Reciprocity
For AA-T and AS-T degrees, reciprocity will be granted for those courses taken at other California community colleges in Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC) aligned degrees, provided that the transfer courses appear in the same specific area in the major pattern. The flexibility to move courses between areas is dependent upon the parameters defined in the individual TMC. TMC templates are maintained on the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office website. If there are any questions about course applicability, the discipline faculty must make the determination.
Double-Counting
Sierra College encourages double-counting, which is the practice of allowing students to use a course to satisfy both a general education requirement and a major requirement. While a course may be listed in multiple general education areas, it may only be used to satisfy one general education requirement.
Honor Graduates
Upon graduation, students are recognized with honors when they have completed all degree-applicable credit courses with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. Other college lower-division coursework posted to the Sierra College transcript is included in this GPA calculation.
Degree and Certificate Petitions
Students desiring an associate degree or certificate must file a petition with a campus Admissions and Records office by the following semester deadlines:
| December 2016 | October 1, 2016 |
| May or August 2017 | March 1, 2017 |
Students requesting a duplicate diploma must submit a $10.00 fee per diploma. Students requesting a duplicate certificate must submit a $5.00 fee per certificate.
Degree Works
Degree Works is a web-based degree audit and academic advising tool that students may use to review progress toward graduation. The program takes courses from the student transcript and places them in general education and major areas so counselors and students can see the completed and remaining degree requirements. A ‘What-If’ option allows exploration of other majors for students thinking about changing majors. Degree Works is located in mySierra through the Academic Tools tab.
Reference: Sierra College Board Policies/Administrative Procedures Chapter 4 .
