Associates Degree Requirements

Students may graduate from College of the Desert with an Associate of Arts or Science degree upon meeting the following District requirements:

A. Competency Requirements

Reading Competency: All students earning an Associate Degree must demonstrate a reading proficiency at the collegiate level by passing ENG 001A with a grade of "C" or better, or the equivalent.

Writing Competency: All students earning an Associate Degree must demonstrate a writing proficiency at the collegiate level by passing ENG 001A with a grade of "C" or better, or the equivalent.

Mathematics Competency: All students earning an Associate Degree in Career and Technical Preparation must demonstrate a mathematics proficiency by passing with a grade of "C" or better, MATH 49, or any college mathematics course determined by the District to be equivalent to, or higher than, MATH 049. All students earning Associate Degree for Transfer Preparation are required to complete the UC or CSU Mathematics requirements.

B. General Education (GE) Requirements

A single course, even though listed in more than one area, can only be used to satisfy one GE requirement. Courses for the major may also be used to satisfy general education requirements- units will only be counted once for the degree.  Students should confer with a Counselor.

C. Major Requirements

Complete one of the degree programs listed in the Certificate and Degree Programs section of this catalog. Each course in the major or area of emphasis must be completed with a grade of "C" or better or "P" if the course is taken on a "Pass/No Pass" basis.

College authorities may approve or require substitutions for discontinued courses or for courses not offered. College of the Desert requires that students declaring or changing a major program of study must complete the major requirements in effect at the time of the declaration of change. For programs of study requiring special selection procedures, students are required to complete major requirements in effect at the time of entrance to the program.

D. Kinesiology Activity Requirement

Two (2) units are required from kinesiology (KINE), recreation (RE) or varsity sports (VSM, VSO, VSW). Note: If KINE-010 is used to fulfill COD General Education Area C2 or C5, it may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

E. A minimum of sixty (60) degree-applicable units with a 2.0 ("C") Grade Point Average (GPA). Basic skills courses do not apply toward the degree. Grades earned in non-degree credit courses are not included in the calculation of the degree-applicable GPA.  

F. Completion of twelve (12) units in residence at College of the Desert.