Earn an Associate Degree

Earn an Associate Degree

Three Moorpark College graduates celebrating the event.

The Associate Degree 

An Associate Degree is an undergraduate academic degree consisting of a minimum of 60 degree-applicable semester units including general education (GE) requirements, major or emphasis requirements, and (if necessary) free electives. Associate degrees may be earned in career technical areas, or in the arts, mathematics, sciences, and humanities.

Requirements for the Associate Degree

  1. Units: Satisfactorily complete at least 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units of degree-applicable coursework (as defined in section 55002(a)).

  2. Major/Area of Emphasis: Complete at least 18 semester (or 27 quarter) units of focused study in a major or area of emphasis listed in the College’s catalog. Choose from these two options and complete Major or Area of Emphasis requirements (18 units minimum):

  3. Grades: Each course counted toward the major or area of emphasis requirement must be completed with a grade of “C” or better or “P” if the course is taken on a "pass-no-pass" basis (Title 5, Section 55062). Even though a grade of "P" is allowed, it is highly recommended that students complete all their major or area of emphasis coursework for a letter grade ("A," "B," or "C").

Note: Universities have limitations on the number of units that may be taken "pass-no-pass" and therefore it is strongly recommended that students take all major coursework for a letter grade. Most universities also have limitations on the number of general education units that may be completed on a "pass/no pass" basis.

4. General Education: Complete the required specified subjects and units in MC’s general education (Areas 1-7) as defined in AP 4025 or an approved intersegmental lower-division general education pattern used for transfer to the University of California or the California State University.

  • If using the Cal-GETC as the general education pattern, all courses for Cal-GETC must be completed with a C or better.
  • Students with catalog rights can continue to use the California State University General Education (CSU GE) or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). If using IGETC, all courses for IGETC must be completed with a C or better.
  • Students who have been awarded a bachelor's degree from an institutionally accredited institution shall be deemed to have fulfilled the general education course requirements for the associate degree. For students with international degrees, see the International Degree section for information regarding the general education requirements needed.  

5. GPA: Achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better in degree-applicable courses. If a student accumulates units beyond those required for the degree that lower the student’s cumulative grade point average below 2.0, the District may compute the grade point average based solely on those courses used to satisfy the degree requirements, provided that the coursework used to compute the grade point average fulfills all major or area of emphasis and general education requirements.

6. Residency: Satisfactorily complete at least 12 semester (or 18 quarter) units in residence within the college district. The Board may excuse the residence requirement to alleviate injustice or undue hardship.

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