CYPRESS COLLEGE 2014–2015
DEPARTMENT CERTIFICATES Some departments offer certificates of accomplishment in specialty areas. Students should see a counselor for specific information about department certificate requirements.
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATES Students may apply for a certificate during the semester they are completing the certificate requirements or thereafter. They do not have to be currently enrolled in Cypress College to apply for a certificate. Those students who have maintained continuous enrollment have the option of completing the certificate requirements in effect at the time they initially enrolled or any subsequent catalog up to and including the last semester of attendance. Students wishing to use courses from another institution to meet Cypress’ requirements should meet with a counselor to determine course equivalency. Applications for certificates are available in the Admissions and Records Office and will be accepted until the deadline. If the application is not filed by the deadline, the student must submit another application and will receive the certificate at a later date. There is no fee for the certificate application. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the Cypress College Records Office with official copies of all transcripts from other colleges that will be used to meet requirements for certificates. The transcripts become the property of the Admissions and Records Office and will not be released. Certificates will be mailed approximately two to three months after the end of the semester in which the student applied and completed the requirements. State approved Program Certificates will be noted on student transcripts. Applications for a Certificate are available in the Admissions and Records office and online at www.CypressCollege.edu. Applications are accepted: Semester Date Fall The first day of Fall registration through the Fall term classes Spring The first day of Spring registration through the Spring term classes Summer The first day of Summer registration through the Summer term classes
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
HOW TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE Graduation Requirements For this catalog year
Graduation requirements for the Associate Degree are prescribed by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, Title 5 and the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees. An Associate Degree may be earned upon satisfactory completion of all of the following:
1. General Education Requirements
All students are required to complete general education. Cypress College has three general education patterns: a. Cypress College native general education pattern of 25 units. b. CSU General Education Breadth pattern of 39 units; or c. IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) pattern of 37–39 units. The appropriate pattern of general education for a specific degree is listed with the major requirements. NOTE: A passing score on an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, College Level Exam Program (CLEP) exam, or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam may allow a student to receive subject credit for various general education requirements. Please reference the External Exam Credit policy section of the catalog for more specifics and see your counselor for questions regarding these policies.
2. Major/Area of Emphasis Requirement
A student must achieve a grade of “C” or better in each course attempted that is counted for the major or area of emphasis. Effective Fall 2008, C(minus) grades do not satisfy these requirements. At least 50% of the major course work must be completed at Cypress College. (The Liberal Arts Areas of Emphasis in Arts and Humanities, Human Communication, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Math and Science and the AA-T and AS-T are excluded from the 50% policy.) Each area of emphasis requires a minimum of 18 units. Liberal Arts Area of Emphasis: California community college courses taken to fulfill CSU GE/IGETC requirements may be used to satisfy a Cypress College Area of Emphasis. Courses taken at other regionally accredited colleges and universities may also be considered to meet Liberal Arts Area of Emphasis requirements if they are deemed comparable to CSU GE/IGETC-approved courses.
3. Residence Requirement
Complete 12 units at Cypress College.
4. Scholarship Requirement
A cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 (“C”) in all course work attempted.
5. Elective courses
A student may complete additional degree-applicable classes for a total of 60 units (see Non-Degree Credit Courses for description of classes that are non-degree applicable).
Programs of Study
Associate degrees are commonly conferred by community colleges. This degree is awarded upon a student’s satisfactory completion of a program of study. Students who have maintained continuous enrollment have the option of completing the Associate Degree requirement in effect at the time they initially enrolled or any subsequent catalog up to and including the last semester of attendance. The Associate Degree is one of two types, the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science. The distinction between the degrees lies in the majors. An Associate in Arts Degree includes at least eighteen units in Social Science, Humanities and Arts courses. An Associate in Science degree includes at least eighteen units in Science, Math and Technical courses.
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