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.

Requirements

Students who wish to earn an associate degree from MiraCosta must meet the following requirements (per MCCCD Board Policy/Administrative Procedure 4100).

Major & Grades

Students must complete a minimum of 18 units in a chosen major or area of emphasis and complete each course 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 have three general education patterns from which to choose but 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.

• Plan A: MiraCosta College General Education Requirements (Plan A)*
• Plan B: California State University General Education (CSU GE) Breadth (Plan B)
• Plan C: University of California/California State University Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC; 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

Students must complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit. Students completing a degree designated Associate in Arts, Transfer (A.A.-T) or Associate in Science, Transfer (A.S.-T) must complete 60 units that are all transferable to the California State University (CSU) system. (Please see the CSU Transfer section for more information about the A.A.-T and A.S.-T.)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all units attempted at MiraCosta 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 may 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

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

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 achieving one of the following minimum test scores:
  • 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": READ 100; ENGL 100, 201, 201H, 202, 202H; 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 achieving one of the following minimum test scores:
  • 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 Language A1 Higher Level Examination.
• Complete one of the following with a minimum grade of "C" or "P" at MiraCosta or an equivalent course at another regionally accredited college: ENGL 100, 201, 201H, 202, 202H.

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, Pre-calculus, or Calculus)
  • A score of 4 or better on an International Baccalaureate Mathematics Examination.

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 2011: September 23, 2011
• Spring 2012: February 24, 2012
• Summer 2012: July 1, 2012

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 Degrees

Students who are in progress to complete or who have previously been awarded a MiraCosta associate degree may be qualified for an additional associate degree under the following circumstances:

• The additional degree represents a new major.
• All requirements for the new major are completed with a minimum of 12 unduplicated units.
• All degree requirements have been met, including residency, with at least 12 units completed in the new major at MiraCosta College.

(Source: MCCCD Administrative Procedure 4100)

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 are eligible to attend the commencement ceremony provided they meet the requirements for the degree. 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.