2010-2011 CATALOG

This is an archived copy of the 2010-2011 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu

Associate Degree & Certificate Requirements

Associate Degrees

MiraCosta College offers both the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree and the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree. The awarding of an associate degree at MiraCosta represents more than an accumulation of units. It also symbolizes a successful attempt on the part of the college to lead students through patterns of learning experiences designed to develop certain capabilities and insights. Students who graduate with an associate degree from MiraCosta possess sufficient depth in some field of knowledge to contribute to lifetime interest and career pursuit.

The associate degree is designed to prepare students either for transfer to a four-year college or university or for immediate employment. The academic disciplines as well as the career and technical disciplines for which MiraCosta offers an associate degree are identified on the Associate Degrees & Certificate Programs table.

Although the associate degree recognizes the completion of lower-division course requirements, it does not guarantee admission to a four-year college or university.

Overview of Requirements

Students who wish to earn an associate degree from MiraCosta must meet the following requirements.

Major & Grades

Complete a minimum of 18 units in a major or area of emphasis. A grade of "A," "B," "C," or "P" is required for all courses completed for the major or area of emphasis.

General Education

Complete one of three general education plans:

Plan A. MiraCosta College General Education (see Plan A)

Plan B. California State University General Education (CSU GE) Breadth (see Plan B)

Plan C. University of California/California State University Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC; see Plan C)

Note: Students should consult a MiraCosta College counselor for assistance in forming an educational plan prior to choosing their general education pattern.

Units

Complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all units attempted at MiraCosta College and all prior college credit.

Residency

Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College, with at least 6 of those 12 in the major or area of emphasis.

Competencies

Demonstrate competence in reading, written expression, and mathematics.

Note: These competencies are met when students complete either CSU GE-Breadth (Plan B) or UC/CSU IGETC (Plan C).

American Institutions and History

Complete the required history or political science course(s) or equivalent.

Note: Required for students completing general education Plan A.

Explanation of Requirements

Major & Grades

To earn an associate degree, students must complete a minimum of 18 units in a chosen major and complete each course counted in the major with a "C" or better (or a "P" if the course is taken on a "pass/no pass" basis). Students may use courses to satisfy both a general education and a major requirement.

General Education

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a MiraCosta counselor for assistance in selecting the general education pattern that is most appropriate to their educational goal.

Students have three general education patterns from which to choose:

Plan A: MiraCosta College General Education Requirements (see Plan A)*

Plan B: California State University General Education (CSU GE) Breadth (see Plan B)

Plan C: University of California/California State University Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC; see Plan C).

While a course might satisfy more than one general education requirement, it may not be counted more than once for these purposes. However, courses may be used to satisfy both a general education and a major requirement.

*The Plan A general education requirement may be met by submitting a transcript verifying completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Units

To earn an associate degree, students must complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all units attempted at MiraCosta College and a combined 2.0 grade point average, including all work transferred to the college that is to be included in the degree evaluation. A grade of "A," "B," "C," or "P" is required for all courses to be counted toward an associate degree major or area of emphasis.

Students need a higher GPA for admission to a University of California campus or to UC/CSU impacted programs and majors than is required for MiraCosta's associate degree.

Residency

Students must complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College, with at least 6 of those 12 in the student's major or area of emphasis.

Competencies

All students seeking an associate degree must demonstrate competence in reading, written expression, and mathematics. However, achievement of minimum competency does not mean students have met course-work requirements for the associate degree.

Note: These competencies are met when students complete either the CSU GE-Breadth (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C) general education pattern or submit an official transcript verifying completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Reading: Reading competency must be demonstrated by completing one of the following options:

Achieve a qualifying score on the reading component of the MiraCosta College English Assessment that gives a recommendation for READ 100. Present proof of one of the following:

A passing score on the CSU English Placement Exam
A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement English Examination
A score of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Test.

Complete one of the following with a minimum grade of "C" or "P" or equivalent:

Writing: Writing competency must be demonstrated by completing one of the following options:

Achieve a qualifying multimeasure score on the MiraCosta College English Assessment that gives placement into ENGL 100. Present proof of one of the following:

A passing score on the CSU English Placement Exam
A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement English Examination
A score of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate English 1A Higher Level Examination.

Complete the following with a minimum grade of "C" or "P" at MiraCosta or an equivalent course at another regionally accredited college:

Mathematics: Math competency must be demonstrated by completing one of the following options:

Pass a MiraCosta mathematics course numbered 101/101B through 270 or equivalent with a minimum grade of "C" or "P"
Achieve a qualifying score on the MiraCosta College Mathematics Competency Examination that gives clear placement into a math course numbered 103 through 150
Present proof of achieving one of the following minimum test scores:
- A passing score on the College Board Mathematics Achievement Test (500 Level I; 600 Level II)
- A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement Math Examination
- A minimum score of 50 on a College-Level Examination Program Subject Exam (College Algebra or Calculus)
- A score of 4 or better on an International Baccalaureate Mathematics Examination.

American Institutions and History (Required for students completing general education Plan A)

The American Institutions and History requirement is intended to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for intelligent citizenship. Courses and examinations given to satisfy this requirement deal with relevant information of the major events and issues in U.S. history, the principles of the U.S. and California constitutions, and the political processes used in the U.S. and California.

Students satisfy this requirement by completing the required course(s) or equivalent for one of the following groups:

Group I HIST 110* & HIST 111*
Group II HIST 116* & HIST 117*
Group III HIST 141& HIST 142
Group IV HIST 145 & HIST 146
Group V PLSC 102*

*May be applied to both the American Institutions and History requirement and the MiraCosta General Education Area D requirement.

Students graduating from a CSU campus also have this requirement. Courses used to meet this graduation requirement can also be used to satisfy transfer general education requirements on Plan B: CSU GE-Breadth and Plan C: UC/CSU IGETC. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these courses at MiraCosta prior to transfer.

Note: Students who have completed similar course work at another college should meet with a MiraCosta counselor to determine if this requirement has been satisfied.

Health and Physical Fitness (Required for students completing general education Plan A)

MiraCosta strongly believes in the value of health education for all students, regardless of their age, gender, or physical condition. Upon petitioning for graduation, students following the MiraCosta general education pattern (Plan A) must show a minimum proficiency in techniques and understanding of physical fitness, healthful living, and proper nutrition.

The college provides courses that are appropriate to the physical performance level of each student, and careful attention is given to students who present evidence of medical opinion regarding expected level of performance.

Students satisfy this requirement by successfully completing one of the following:

HEAL 101 Principles of Health; 3 units) or present evidence of successful completion of an accredited registered or vocational nursing program

and

HEAL 101L Principles of Health Laboratory; 1 unit). For maximum benefit, the college recommends that this class be taken concurrently with HEAL 101.

Note: U.S. Veterans and active duty U. S. military personnel may clear the physical fitness requirement through completion of Basic Training or Recruit Training. These students should submit an original copy of their DD-295 or military transcript from the appropriate service (AART, SMART, CGIT, or CCAF) to the Counseling Office.

Demonstrate minimum competency through the credit-by-exam process for HEAL 101 Principles of Health plus a physical performance test using the credit-by-exam process for HEAL 101L Principles of Health Laboratory provided through the Kinesiology, Health, and Nutrition Department.

Note: A physical examination by a medical doctor is required prior to the physical performance test for HEAL 101L Principles of Health Laboratory.

Applying for the Associate Degree

Students who expect to receive an associate degree must file a petition by the 30 percent deadline of the final semester leading to their graduation. (Students intending to graduate during the summer intersession may petition during the spring semester.) Final dates to file a petition are as follows:

Fall 2010: September 24, 2010
Spring 2011: February 25, 2011
Summer 2011: July 2, 2011

Official transcripts from all colleges attended (or concurrently attending), approved substitutions and waivers, educational plans, and any other necessary documents must be on file in the Counseling Office before a student submits a petition to graduate. Petitions submitted after the deadline are automatically processed in the subsequent semester.

Multiple Majors/Multiple Degrees

Multiple majors are allowed as long as there are a minimum of 18 unduplicated credits in each major. Multiple majors are different from multiple degrees in that the student works toward the completion of more than one major. A multiple major may be earned by completion of all requirements for the second or subsequent major as outlined in this catalog. Multiple degrees are not allowed.

A student has the option after the first associate degree to choose either a second major or a vocational certificate in the same discipline, but not both. Second majors will not be eligible for Medal of Honor or graduation. Multiple majors will be noted in the comment section of the transcript.

Certificates of Achievement

Certificates of achievement are designed to prepare students for employment in specific career areas. The total units required for a certificate of achievement varies with each discipline. In developing certificates, MiraCosta faculty collaborate with employers who describe the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed for success in all aspects of a trade or occupation. Students should have basic knowledge in reading, writing, and math to master the work and to advance in the occupation they select. MiraCosta's certificates of achievement are identified on the Associate Degrees & Certificate Programs table. Course requirements for specific certificates are listed alphabetically by subject under Areas of Study & Courses.

Many certificates of achievement can be used to satisfy associate degree major requirements. Interested students should review the degree requirements and supplement certificate courses with appropriate general education courses.

Eligibility for certificates of achievement includes attaining a minimum grade of "C" or "P" in every course and satisfying the residency requirement: 12 units must be completed in residence at MiraCosta College. Students are eligible to receive certificates of achievement with honors if they earn a grade point average of 3.00-3.45. Certificates of achievement with highest honors are awarded to students with grade point averages of 3.50-4.00.

Certificate programs that are taken as part of and prior to an associate degree are approved for veterans' benefits.

Applying for a Certificate of Achievement

Students who expect to receive a certificate of achievement must file a petition by the 30 percent deadline of the final semester leading to their graduation. (Students intending to graduate during the summer intersession may petition during the spring semester.) Final dates to file a petition are as follows:

Fall 2010: September 24, 2010
Spring 2011: February 25, 2011
Summer 2011: July 2, 2011

Certificates of Proficiency

Certificates of proficiency are short-term certificates, typically requiring fewer than 18 units of course work, that introduce students to one aspect of a trade or occupation. A certificate of proficiency is a good choice for students who wish to test a potential career area, who want to be competitive for entry-level jobs in one part of an industry, or who prefer to enter the industry and pursue further education in that field after they start working.

Certificates of proficiency are designed to prepare students for the first step in a career ladder. In some cases, the courses completed for these certificates can also be applied toward a certificate of achievement and/or an associate degree.

MiraCosta's certificates of proficiency are identified on the Associate Degrees & Certificate Programs table. Course requirements for specific certificates are listed alphabetically by subject under Areas of Study & Courses.

Eligibility for certificates of proficiency includes earning a minimum grade of "C" or "P" in every course. Additionally, at least 6 units or the maximum number of units required for the certificate, whichever is less, must be completed in residence at MiraCosta College.

Certificate programs that are taken as part of and prior to an associate degree are approved for veterans' benefits.

Applying for a Certificate of Proficiency

Certificates of proficiency are not noted on student transcripts. To apply for a certificate of proficiency, students should obtain the appropriate form online or from the Instructional Services Office.

Commencement

The MiraCosta College commencement ceremony is held once a year in May at the end of the spring semester. Students who submit a petition for an associate degree or certificate of achievement are eligible to attend the commencement ceremony provided they meet the requirements for the degree or certificate. Students who are eligible to attend the ceremony will receive a packet of information about participating in the ceremony from the Student Activities Office prior to the ceremony.