Associate Degree Requirements
Catalog Rights
Students may graduate under the degree requirements in effect:
- At the time of first enrollment at College of the Sequoias*, as long as continuous enrollment is maintained; or
- Any academic year while continuous enrollment is maintained at College of the Sequoias; or
- At the time continuous enrollment is reestablished and maintained at College of the Sequoias; or
- At the time of graduation
- *
At the time of first enrollment at College of the Sequoias does not apply to students concurrently enrolled in high school. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in at least one semester per calendar year or one semester per academic year excluding summer session and ends with a break of more than two consecutive semesters (continuous enrollment cannot be maintained with a break of more than two consecutive semesters excluding summer session). Any academic record symbol (A-F, CR, NC, P, NP, I, IP, W) shall constitute enrollment. Exception: COS enrolled high school students completing all degree requirements while in high school can be awarded the degree requirements using any catalog rights listed.
Definition of Associate Degrees
Students at College of the Sequoias who complete the appropriate requirements may earn either an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree. Both degrees represent significant levels of achievement and may be used by students who plan to start their career immediately after graduating or, with proper planning and course selection, by those who plan to transfer to a four-year university.
- Associate of Arts (AA) degree is granted to students majoring in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and similar areas.
- Associate of Science (AS) degree is granted to students majoring in agriculture, engineering, technology, the sciences, and related programs.
- Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree is designed for students planning to transfer to a California State University campus majoring in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and similar areas (see Transfer Information and Requirements section for additional information).
- Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree is designed for students planning to transfer to a California State University campus majoring in agriculture, engineering, technology, the sciences, and related programs (see Transfer Information and Requirements section for additional information).
For more information, see Types of Degrees and Certificates
General Education Philosophy for the Associate Degree
General education breadth requirements emphasize democratic concepts based on the value and dignity of each individual, thus helping students prepare to undertake the responsibilities of citizenship and to participate knowledgeably in the varied experiences of life.
Major requirements educate students in the area of specialization; breadth requirements help them develop the capacity for independent judgment. The general education breadth requirements are of vital importance in the personal, social, and vocational/professional life of each student.
In personal development, breadth requirements help students develop self-awareness, thus increasing their understanding of personal potential and limitations.
In social relationships and in the life of society, breadth requirements help students communicate more effectively, better understand others, and develop an awareness of societal relationships.
In professional development, breadth requirements help students become more effective in the workplace through more effective communication through a better understanding of the relationship between the job at hand and the larger world.
General education breadth requirements:
- Expose students to the major disciplines of accumulated knowledge;
- Stimulate curiosity about their surroundings;
- Help students evaluate alternatives so that personal values can be formed;
- Develop effective communication skills;
- Gain a sense of self-worth;
- Learn to make rational decisions based on the utilization of problem-solving techniques; and
- Question simple solutions of complex problems; and if appropriate, seek alternatives.
Requirements for Associate of Arts & Associate of Science Degrees
- Units, Residency, and Scholarship Requirements: A minimum of 60 units of college-level courses numbered 1-299, at least 12 of which must be taken in residence at College of the Sequoias, with a "C" (2.0) average. These 60 units include general education, major, and elective courses.
- Major Requirements: Completion of all courses required for the desired major with a minimum grade of C in each course
- General Education Requirements: A minimum of 18 units of general education is defined in Areas A-D below. All courses require a minimum grade of C. The additional 3 units required by Title 5 will be met with the health and wellness subject requirement. Note: completion of the CSU GE or IGETC transfer general education requirements or general education requirements at any regionally accredited university will fulfill the COS general education, subject, and competency requirements.
- Subject Requirements (8 units):
- Two units of Dance, Intercollegiate Athletics, or Physical Education activity courses with a minimum grade of C. Exemptions will be granted for veterans with an approved DD-214 or military transcript showing completion of basic training, students who have completed a police or fire academy, students earning a degree in Registered Nursing or Physical Therapy Assistant, and students with medical exemptions from qualified doctors.
- Three units of Health and Wellness: Completion of HW 001 or HW 007 or an equivalent college course at a regionally accredited college with a minimum grade of C. Exemptions will be granted for veterans with an approved DD-214 or military transcript showing completion of basic training; the four units granted by the college for the approved DD-214 or military transcript showing completion of basic training will be used to meet the minimum units required by Title 5. Exemptions will be granted to students earning a degree in Registered Nursing or Physical Therapy Assistant; however, as an alternative, they must complete one of the following: PSY 001, SOC 001, or NURS 106 (these courses may be used only once for either Area D or the Health and Wellness Subject Requirement).
- Three units of American Institutions: Completion of HIST 017*, HIST 018*, or POLS 005**, or an equivalent course at an accredited college with a minimum grade of C.
- Competency Requirements: Students must establish competency in each of the following areas:
- Writing and Reading:
ENGL 001 or an equivalent course at a regionally accredited college with a minimum grade of C. - Mathematics:
- Intermediate Algebra or MATH 207 or a more advanced math course at COS, or an equivalent course at a regionally accredited college with a minimum grade of C.
- Information Competency: (1 unit if not met with Information Competency Examination)
- LIBR 101, LIBR 102, LIBR 103, or LIBR 050 or an equivalent college course at a regionally accredited college with a minimum grade of C; or
- Pass Information Competency Exam with a successful score of 75 percent or better (enroll in LIBR 490AB to take the exam). Students will be allowed two attempts (only once per semester). If the exam is not passed after two attempts, students will be required to complete one of the LIBR courses listed above.
- Exemptions will be granted to students earning a degree in Registered Nursing or Physical Therapy Assistant.
- Ethnic Studies:
- Writing and Reading:
- Exemptions for High Unit Transfer Majors
- Completion of the CSU-GE, IGETC or general education requirements at any regionally accredited university will fulfill the COS general education, subject and competency requirement. Students who have met the minimum admissions requirements for transferring to a UC or CSU campus in a major, such as Science or Engineering, where completion of the CSU GE or IGETC is not recommended, due to excessive units, will be granted an Associate degree (University Studies, Engineering, Math and Science) with the completion of the COS Associate Degree General Education requirements instead of the CSU GE or IGETC. The information competency, physical education, and health and wellness requirements will be waived and the additional 3 units required per Title 5 will be met with numerous additional science and math courses required for these majors.
COS General Education Requirements
Area A1: Written Communication
Complete 4 units minimum. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 001 | College Reading and Composition | 4 |
Area A2: Oral Communication/Analytic Thinking
Complete 3 units minimum. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AJ 025 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| BUS 020 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| BUS/COMM 112 | Public Speaking for Business | 4 |
| BUS 119 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| COMM 001 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 004 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 005 | Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| COMM 007 | Persuasion | 3 |
| COMM 008 | Group Communication | 3 |
| COMP 005 | Computer Concepts | 4 |
| COMP 006 | Programming Fundamentals | 3 |
| ENGL 002 | Critical Reading, Writing, and Reasoning | 3 |
| JOUR 007 | Mass Communication * | 3 |
| MATH 010 | Structure and Concepts 1 | 4 |
| MATH 005 | Modern Mathematics | 4 |
| MATH 021 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| MATH 035 | Precalculus A | 4 |
| MATH 044 | College Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 054 | Precalculus B | 4 |
| MATH 070 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH 065 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MATH 066 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHIL 020 | Introductory Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 025 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| SSCI 008 | Introduction to Data Science | 4 |
| SSCI 025 | Statistics - Social Sciences | 4 |
- *
JOUR 007 can be counted in ONE AREA ONLY (A2 or D)
Area B: Natural Science
Complete 3 units minimum. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AG 002 | Environmental Conservation | 3 |
| AG 003 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| AG 004 | Soil Science | 3 |
| ANTH 011 | Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ASTR 010 | Introduction to Astronomy | 3 |
| BIOL 001 | Principles of Biology 1 | 5 |
| BIOL 020 | Frontiers in Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 021 | Plant Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 022 | Animal Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 025 | Human Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 030 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 031 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 040 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| CHEM 001 | General Chemistry 1 | 5 |
| CHEM 010 | Introduction to Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 020 | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| GEOG 001 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 005 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| GEOL 001 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 005 | Earth History | 4 |
| GEOL 012 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| NUTR 018 | Nutrition | 3 |
| OH 001 | Introduction to Horticultural Science | 3 |
| PHYS 020 | General Physics 1 | 5 |
| PHYS 055 | Physics 1: Mechanics & Waves | 4 |
| PLSI 001 | Introduction to Plant Science | 3 |
| PSCI 020 | Physical Science | 4 |
Area C: Humanities
Complete 3 units minimum. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AJ 123 | Ethics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ANTH 013 | Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion * | 3 |
| ARCH 010 | Architectural Design 1 | 4 |
| ARCH 020 | Visual Communication 1 | 3 |
| ARCH 070 | Architecture History 1 | 3 |
| ARCH 071 | Architecture History 2 | 3 |
| ART 001 | Art Appreciation | 3 |
| ART 002 | Art History/Ancient-Gothic | 3 |
| ART 003 | Art History/Gothic-Modern | 3 |
| ART 004 | Art of Ancient America: Mesoamerica | 3 |
| ART 005 | Art of Ancient America: South America | 3 |
| ART 006 | Color and Design | 3 |
| ART 008 | Drawing Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 066 | Beginning Sculpture | 3 |
| ASL 001 | American Sign Language 1 | 4 |
| ASL 002 | American Sign Language 2 | 3 |
| ASL 003 | American Sign Language 3 | 3 |
| ASL 004 | American Sign Language 4 | 3 |
| ASL 005 | Deaf Culture | 3 |
| ASL 006 | Deaf Literature | 3 |
| BUS 185 | Ethics in Business and Industry | 3 |
| CINA 031 | Film Appreciation-American | 3 |
| CINA 032 | Film Appreciation-International | 3 |
| DRAM 001 | Introduction to the Theatre | 3 |
| DRAM 002 | Fundamentals of Acting 1 | 4 |
| DRAM 003 | Fundamentals of Acting 2 | 3 |
| DRAM 006 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENGL 004 | Composition and Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 010 | Chicano Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 015 | Survey of British Literature 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 016 | Survey of British Literature 2 | 3 |
| ENGL 018 | African American Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 019 | Women in Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 030 | American Literature 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 031 | American Literature 2 | 3 |
| ENGL 044 | World Literature 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 045 | World Literature 2 | 3 |
| ENGL 046 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| ETHN 001 | Black American Studies * | 3 |
| ESL 090 | Advanced Academic ESL Reading/Writing/Grammar * | 5 |
| ETHN 002 | American Indian Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 003 | Chicana and Chicano Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 004 | Asian American Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 010 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Studies * | 3 |
| HIST 004 | History of Western Civilization to 1648 | 3 |
| HIST 005 | Western Civilization Since 1648 | 3 |
| HIST 017 | People of the US to 1877 ** | 3 |
| HIST 018 | People of the US from 1865 ** | 3 |
| HIST 023 | Mexican American | 3 |
| HIST 025 | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| LING 111 | Introduction to Language | 3 |
| MUS 001 | Music Fundamentals | 3 |
| MUS 010 | Music Appreciation | 3 |
| MUS 011 | Music Appreciation/Jazz | 3 |
| MUS 013 | Music of the World | 3 |
| MUS 014 | History of Rock and Roll | 3 |
| OH 111 | Floral Design | 3 |
| PHIL 001 | Introductory Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 005 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 012 | Comparative Religion | 3 |
| PORT 001 | Beginning Portuguese | 4 |
| PORT 002 | Elementary Portuguese | 4 |
| SPAN 001 | Beginning Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN 002 | Elementary Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN 003 | Intermediate Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN 004 | Advanced Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN 012 | Hispanic Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 022 | SPAN 2 for Spanish Speakers | 4 |
| SPAN 023 | Spanish 3 for Spanish Speakers | 4 |
| WELD 104 | Metal Sculpture | 3 |
- *
ESL 090, ETHN 002, ETHN 003, ETHN 004, ETHN 010 , and ANTH 013 can be counted in ONE AREA ONLY (C or D).
- **
HIST 017 and HIST 018 can be counted in either AREA C or the America Institution Subject Requirement.
Area D: Social/Behavioral Science
Complete 3 units minimum. Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AG 001 | AG, Society, & the Environment | 3 |
| AGMT 001 | Agriculture Economics | 3 |
| AGMT 006 | Agriculture Sector Analysis | 3 |
| AJ 011 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| AJ 045 | Terrorism and Freedom | 3 |
| AJ 114 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| ANTH 010 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 012 | Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 013 | Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion * | 3 |
| COMM 002 | Gender and Communication | 3 |
| BUS 188 | Human Relations in Business | 3 |
| CHLD 039 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CHLD 042 | Child, Family, and Community | 3 |
| COMM 009 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ECON 025 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| ECON 040 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 050 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ESL 090 | Advanced Academic ESL Reading/Writing/Grammar * | 5 |
| ETHN 001 | Black American Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 002 | American Indian Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 003 | Chicana and Chicano Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 004 | Asian American Studies * | 3 |
| ETHN 010 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies and Social Justice Studies * | 3 |
| FASH 141 | Introduction to Fashion Culture, Dress, and Theory | 3 |
| GEOG 002 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| HSRV 120 | Introduction to Social Welfare | 3 |
| HSRV 122 | Practices in Human Services/Social Work | 3 |
| JOUR 007 | Mass Communication ** | 3 |
| JOUR 020 | Cultural Issues in Film/TV/Web | 3 |
| KINE 088 | Sport and Exercise Psychology | 3 |
| KINE 093 | Women's Health | 3 |
| NUTR 020 | Cultural Foods | 3 |
| PHSC 002 | Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| POLS 005 | Federal, State and Local Government *** | 3 |
| POLS 006 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 008 | International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 011 | Political Theory and Thought | 3 |
| POLS 012 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 013 | Introduction to the Politics of Race and Gender | 3 |
| PSY 001 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 005 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 010 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY 034 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 080 | Introduction to Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 133 | Personal and Social Growth | 3 |
| SOC 001 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 002 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 010 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| SOC 015 | Self and Society | 3 |
| SOC 026 | Marriage and Family Life | 3 |
| SOC 043 | Sociology of Deviance | 3 |
| SSCI 050 | Law and Democracy | 3 |
- *
ESL 090, ETHN 002, ETHN 003, ETHN 004, ETHN 010, and ANTH 013 can be counted in ONE AREA ONLY (C or D).
- **
JOUR 007 can be counted in ONE AREA ONLY (A2 or D)
- ***
HIST 017 and HIST 018 can be counted in either AREA C or the America Institution Subject Requirement.
- NOTE:
Registered Nursing and PTA students: PSY 1, SOC 1, and NURS 106 may be used only once for either Area D or the Health and Wellness Subject Requirement
Multiple Majors
- Students may elect to pursue up to three majors at a time. However, federal financial aid will only award aid toward course requirements for one major at a time.
- Students can apply for multiple degrees during the degree filing period.
- All degrees are subject to appropriate catalog rights.
- There will be a monetary charge for each degree awarded.
- Notations of all degrees earned and majors completed will appear on students’ transcripts.
- A receipt from the cashier for each diploma must accompany the application for a degree.
Graduation Application
An Application to Graduate must be filed by each student who wishes to receive an Associate degree. Students must make an appointment with a counselor to apply for graduation.
The application must be submitted to the Admissions Office prior to the deadlines published in the college calendar, which can be found in the Schedule of Classes, College Catalog, and Student Bulletin.