Associate in Arts Degree Requirements
- Completion of General Education Requirements by one of the following methods:
- Completion of a minimum of 21 units as listed under Areas A through E below.
OR
- Completion of a minimum of 39 units of CSU General Education. Students who complete this pattern are also eligible to receive the Certificate of Achievement in CSU Breadth.
OR
- Completion of a minimum of 34 (UC) or 37 (CSU) units of Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Students who complete this pattern are also eligible to receive the Certificate of Achievement in IGETC.
Students should consult a GWC counselor in order to select the best pathway to meet their educational goals. For students who intend to transfer, the choice of either B or C will be specific to both the major or area of emphasis and the 4-year institution to which the student will transfer.
- Completion of a minimum of 21 units as listed under Areas A through E below.
- Completion of a Major or Area of Emphasis--a minimum of 18 units. (See the Majors or Areas of Emphasis on the following pages. See a GWC Counselor for appropriate classes.)
- Completion of additional elective units to a total of 60 units.
- 2.0 overall Grade Point Average for all colleges attended.
- At least 12 units completed at GWC.
- Satisfaction of Computer Competency.
- Satisfaction of Information Literacy.
General Education Requirements
Note: One course may not be used to satisfy more than one general education requirement; however, the same course may be used to satisfy a general education and a major or area of emphasis requirement.
Honor course credit limitation: Duplicate credit will not be awarded for both the honors and regular versions of a course.
| Area A | Communication in the English Language and Critical Thinking Group 1 Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate spoken communication skills that are appropriate to the audience, context, and goal of the communication situation. Courses: Communication Studies G100, G108, G110 (or G110H), G112 Group 2 Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to write clear, well-organized papers using documentation and research when appropriate. Courses: English G100 (or G100H) Group 3 Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the critical thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Courses: Business Communication G139, Communication Studies G220, English G110 (or G110H), or Philosophy G115 |
| Area B | Physical Universe and Its Life Forms Completion of 3 units in Group 1 and satisfy Group 2. Group 1 Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate a strong factual framework of knowledge about the natural world and be able to use critical thinking skills to build on that framework; incorporate new observations and use a variety of experimental and analytical techniques, as well as data collection and display methods, to construct this understanding. Courses: Anthropology G120, G121; Astronomy G100, G100L; Biology G100 (or G100H), G104 and G104L, G110, G120, G155, G170, G175, G180, G185, G190, G210; Chemistry G110, G130, G180, G185, G220, G225; Geography G180; Geology G100, G105, G106; Physical Science G100 (or G100H); Physics G110, G111, G120, G185; Psychology G250 Group 2 Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to perform basic computations and to successfully apply both critical thinking skills and problem solving skills to practical problems using algebraic methodologies.
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| Area C | Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Languages other than English Completion of 3 units Area C Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an ability to understand, evaluate, interpret, and appreciate human creations in philosophy, visual, performing and/ or linguistic arts. Courses: Art G100, G104, G105 (or G105H), G106 (or G106H), G107, G109, G116, G118, G120, G121, G125, G130, G132, G140, G141, G142, G144, G150, G152, G160; Broadcast & Video Production G101; Chinese G180, G185, G280; Communication Studies G175; Dance G100, G110, G120, G125; English G110 (or G110H), G112, G114 (or G114H), G143, G150, G155, G156, G160 (or G160H), G165 (or G165H), G180, G280, G281, G290, G295; Farsi G180, G185; French G180, G185, G280, G285; Humanities G100 (or G100H), G101, G102, G103, G104, G108, G110 (or G110H), G120 (or G120H), G122, G126, G130, G132, G135, G137, G140, G145, G160; Journalism G160; Music G101 (or G101H), G103, G104, G105, G106, G108, G109, G110, G115, G120, G121, G122, G126, G132, G136, G141, G142, G145, G146, G147, G150, G165, G185, G209, G210; Philosophy G101, G102, G110, G111, G120, G150; Photography G125, G150, G151, G158, |
| Area D | Social, Political and Economic Institutions Completion of 3 units Area D Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an ability to comprehend and evaluate cultural, social, political, and economic institutions from various perspectives. Courses: Anthropology G100, G130, G136, G140, G150; Communication Studies G175, G190, G225; Criminal Justice G115, G123, G140, G141, G150; Economics G110, G120, G180, G285; Education G180; Environmental Studies G100; Geography G100, G104, G195; History G110, G120, G132, G135, G136, G150, G165, G170, G175, G180 (or G180H), G185 (or G185H), G190, G195; Peace Studies G100, G110, G225; Political Science G100, G101, G110, G120 (or G120H), G121 (or G121H), G130, G180 (or G180H), G185; Psychology G100 (or G100H), G150, G158, G160, G165; Social Science G133, G134, G135, G136; Sociology G100 (or G100H), G110, G133, G134, G150 |
| Area E | Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development Completion of 3 units Area E Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an ability to self- assess progress and development in a specific area and to further design and pursue a course of action based on the self-assessment. Courses: Accounting G100; Automotive Technology G101; Business G121; College G100, G151; Communication Studies G175; Counseling G100, G103, G104, G199; Criminal Justice G130; Dance G100, G105, G106, G110, G112, G115, G120, G125, G130, G135, G136, G145, G150, G155, G160, G200, G215, G220, G225, G230, G235, G240, G245, G250, G260, G270; Ecology G100; Health Education G100, G107, G120, G125, G135; Marketing G121; Physical Education G103, G105, G106, G107, G108, G109, G110, G111, G112, G114, G130, G131, G132, G134, G136, G137, G138, G139, G140, G141, G149, G150, G154, G158, G159, G161, G164, G166, G167, G168, G169, G172, G173, G175, G176, G178, G180, G181, G186, G189, G192, G194, G195, G196, G201, G202, G203, G204, G207, G209, G240, G244, G246, G248, G250, G252, G256, G258, G260, G264, G270, G272, G273, G274, G275, G277, G278, G280, G282, G283, G285, G286, G287, G288, G290, G298; Psychology G110, G160, G165, G250 |
Notes:
- Students must file a graduation petition with the Admissions and Records Office to obtain the degree.
- These AA Degree Requirements apply to students entering Fall, 2008 or later. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2008 and who have maintained continuous attendance at Golden West College, have Catalog Rights and therefore have the option of completing their AA Degree under the former degree requirements.
- All Golden West Courses numbered between G001-G299 are counted toward the 60 units required, except for the following which includes basic skills, non-credit
and remedial courses:
College G050, G090; Communication Studies G091; English G009, G010, G037, G042; ESL G011, G012, G013, G021, G022, G023, G031, G032, G033, G041, G042, G043, G051, G052, G053, G061, G062, G063, G071, G073, G091; English Reading & Writing Center G001, G002, G003, G011, G012, G013, G014, G015, G020, G021, G022, G023, G024, G025, G030, G031, G032, G034, G035; ESL Writing Center G011, G012, G013, G015, G025, G026, G027, G044, G054, G055, G056, G057, G058, G059; Health Education G851, G852; Learning Skills G005, G921, G922, G927, G928; Mathematics G005, G008, G010; Nursing G091; Theater 821
Computer Competency Requirement
Computer Competency Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to
understand basic computing concepts and principles, and to successfully utilize common
software applications.
Courses: This requirement may be met by completing one of the following:
- Completion of one of the Computer Science or Computer Business Application
courses with a grade of “C” or better, or “Pass” grade: Computer Business
Applications G145, G181, G182, G183, Computer Science G101, G130 - Completion of a course that requires competency in basic computing concepts and
principles. Courses such as the following are acceptable: Accounting G119, G130, G235; Architectural Technology G130, G160, G162; Art G170, G177, G178,
G179, G222; Biology G200; Broadcast & Video Production G130, G131, G160, G162, G164; Business G170; Computer Science G170; Digital Arts G100, G103, G115, G170, G177, G178, G179, G200, G222, G230; Drafting G101, G105, G110, G170; Education G103; Engineering Technology G125; Nursing G100, G150, G200, G250; Management G170 - Completion of an equivalent course at another regionally accredited institution.
- Completion of this requirement may be accomplished using alternative methods.
See a GWC Counselor for details.
Information Literacy Requirement
Information Literacy Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the necessary information.
Courses: This requirement may be met by completing one of the following:
- Completion of one of the Library Science courses with a grade of “C” or better, or “Pass” grade: Library G110, G120, G125
- Completion of a course that requires competency in research methods and/or the writing of a research paper. Courses such as the following are acceptable: Architectural Technology G185; Art G100, G105H, 106H; Criminal Justice G150, 151; College G100; Communication Studies G110, G220; English G100(H), G110(H), G114(H); Humanities G100H, G110H; Nursing G150, G200, G250; Peace Studies G110; Sociology G100
- Completion of an equivalent course at another regionally accredited institution.
- Completion of this requirement may be accomplished using alternative methods.
See a GWC Counselor for details.