Degrees Degrees MiraCosta College offers the following degrees: associate in arts (AA), associate in science (AS), associate in arts and associate in science for transfer (AA-T and AS-T), and one bachelor of science (BS). The awarding of a degree at MiraCosta represents more than an accumulation of units. It also symbolizes a successful attempt on the part of the college to lead students through patterns of learning experiences designed to develop certain capabilities and insights. Students who graduate with a degree from MiraCosta possess sufficient depth in some field of knowledge to contribute to lifetime interest and career pursuit. The associate degree is designed to prepare students either for transfer to a four-year college or university or for immediate employment. Although the associate degree recognizes the completion of lower-division course requirements, it does not guarantee admission to a four-year college or university. The academic and career education disciplines for which MiraCosta offers an associate degree are identified on the Degrees & Certificate Programs table. Associate Degree Requirements Students who wish to earn an associate degree from MiraCosta must meet the following requirements (per MCCD Board Policy/ Administrative Procedure 4100). Major & Grades Students must complete a minimum of 18 units in a chosen major or area of emphasis and complete each course with a ’C’ or better (or a ’P’ if the course is taken on a ’pass/no pass’ basis). Students may use courses to satisfy both a general education and a major requirement. General Education Students have three general education patterns from which to choose but are strongly encouraged to consult with a MiraCosta counselor for assistance in selecting the general education pattern that is most appropriate for their educational goal. Note: Students should refer to the Articulation or Transfer Center webpages for the most current list of courses that have been approved for the Plan B and Plan C general education patterns. Plan A: MiraCosta College General Education Course Requirements (Plan A).* Plan B: Certified California State University General Education (CSU-GE) Breadth Course Requirements (Plan B). Plan C: Certified Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Course Requirements (Plan C). While a course might satisfy more than one general education requirement, it may not be counted more than once for these purposes. However, courses may be used to satisfy both a general education and a major requirement. The MiraCosta College Core Competencies identify the learning outcomes students can expect to gain from their general education coursework. *The Plan A general education requirement may be met by submitting a transcript verifying completion of a bachelor's degree from a United States regionally accredited college or university. Units Students must complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit. Grade Point Average (GPA) Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all degree applicable units attempted at MiraCosta, as well as a combined 2.0 grade point average including all work transferred to the college. A grade of ’A,’ ’B,’ ’C,’ or ’P’ is required for all courses to be counted toward an associate degree major or area of emphasis. Students may need a higher GPA for admission to a University of California campus or to UC/CSU impacted programs and majors than is required for MiraCosta's associate degree. Residency Complete a minimum of 12 degree applicable units in residence at MiraCosta College. Competencies All students seeking an associate degree must demonstrate competence in reading, written expression, and mathematics. However, achievement of minimum competency does not mean students have met coursework requirements for the associate degree. Note: These competencies are also met when students complete either the CSU GE-Breadth (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C) general education pattern or submit an official transcript verifying completion of a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university. Reading: Reading competency must be demonstrated by presenting proof of achieving one of the following: A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement English Examination. A score of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level English Test. Completion of one of the following with a minimum grade of ’C’ or ’P’: READ 100; ENGL 100, ENGL 100H, ENGL 201, ENGL 201H, ENGL 202, ENGL 202H; or equivalent. Writing: Writing competency must be demonstrated by completing one of the following: Present proof of achieving one of the following minimum test scores: A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement English Examination. A score of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate English Language A1 Higher Level Examination. Complete one of the following with a minimum grade of ’C’ or ’P’ at MiraCosta or an equivalent course at another regionally accredited college: ENGL 100, ENGL 100H, ENGL 201, ENGL 201H, ENGL 202, ENGL 202H. Degrees 1
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Degrees
DegreesMiraCosta College offers the following degrees: associatein arts (AA), associate in science (AS), associate in artsand associate in science for transfer (AA-T and AS-T), andone bachelor of science (BS). The awarding of a degree atMiraCosta represents more than an accumulation of units. Italso symbolizes a successful attempt on the part of the collegeto lead students through patterns of learning experiencesdesigned to develop certain capabilities and insights. Studentswho graduate with a degree from MiraCosta possess sufficientdepth in some field of knowledge to contribute to lifetimeinterest and career pursuit.
The associate degree is designed to prepare students eitherfor transfer to a four-year college or university or for immediateemployment. Although the associate degree recognizes thecompletion of lower-division course requirements, it does notguarantee admission to a four-year college or university.
The academic and career education disciplines for whichMiraCosta offers an associate degree are identified onthe Degrees & Certificate Programs table.
Associate Degree RequirementsStudents who wish to earn an associate degree from MiraCostamust meet the following requirements (per MCCD Board Policy/Administrative Procedure 4100).
Major & GradesStudents must complete a minimum of 18 units in a chosenmajor or area of emphasis and complete each course with a’C’ or better (or a ’P’ if the course is taken on a ’pass/no pass’basis). Students may use courses to satisfy both a generaleducation and a major requirement.
General EducationStudents have three general education patterns from whichto choose but are strongly encouraged to consult with aMiraCosta counselor for assistance in selecting the generaleducation pattern that is most appropriate for their educationalgoal. Note: Students should refer to the Articulation or TransferCenter webpages for the most current list of courses thathave been approved for the Plan B and Plan C generaleducation patterns.
Plan A: MiraCosta College General Education CourseRequirements (Plan A).*Plan B: Certified California State University GeneralEducation (CSU-GE) Breadth Course Requirements (Plan B).Plan C: Certified Intersegmental General Education TransferCurriculum (IGETC) Course Requirements (Plan C).
While a course might satisfy more than one general educationrequirement, it may not be counted more than once for thesepurposes. However, courses may be used to satisfy both ageneral education and a major requirement.
The MiraCosta College Core Competencies identify the learningoutcomes students can expect to gain from their generaleducation coursework.
*The Plan A general education requirement may be met bysubmitting a transcript verifying completion of a bachelor'sdegree from a United States regionally accredited college oruniversity.
UnitsStudents must complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicableunits of credit.
Grade Point Average (GPA)Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all degreeapplicable units attempted at MiraCosta, as well as acombined 2.0 grade point average including all worktransferred to the college. A grade of ’A,’ ’B,’ ’C,’ or ’P’ isrequired for all courses to be counted toward an associatedegree major or area of emphasis.
Students may need a higher GPA for admission to a Universityof California campus or to UC/CSU impacted programs andmajors than is required for MiraCosta's associate degree.
ResidencyComplete a minimum of 12 degree applicable units inresidence at MiraCosta College.
CompetenciesAll students seeking an associate degree must demonstratecompetence in reading, written expression, and mathematics.However, achievement of minimum competency does notmean students have met coursework requirements for theassociate degree.
Note: These competencies are also met when studentscomplete either the CSU GE-Breadth (Plan B) or IGETC (PlanC) general education pattern or submit an official transcriptverifying completion of a bachelor's degree from a U.S.regionally accredited college or university.
Reading: Reading competency must be demonstrated bypresenting proof of achieving one of the following:
A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board AdvancedPlacement English Examination.A score of 5 or better on the International BaccalaureateHigher Level English Test.Completion of one of the following with a minimum gradeof ’C’ or ’P’: READ 100; ENGL 100, ENGL 100H, ENGL 201,ENGL 201H, ENGL 202, ENGL 202H; or equivalent.
Writing: Writing competency must be demonstrated bycompleting one of the following:
Present proof of achieving one of the following minimum testscores:
A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board AdvancedPlacement English Examination.A score of 5 or better on the International BaccalaureateEnglish Language A1 Higher Level Examination.
Complete one of the following with a minimum gradeof ’C’ or ’P’ at MiraCosta or an equivalent course atanother regionally accredited college: ENGL 100,ENGL 100H, ENGL 201, ENGL 201H, ENGL 202, ENGL 202H.
Mathematics: Math competency must be demonstrated bycompleting one of the following options:
Pass a MiraCosta mathematics course numbered 64through 270 or equivalent with a minimum grade of ’C’ or’P.’Achieve a qualifying score on a California communitycollege mathematics assessment exam that gives clearplacement into a math course that requires intermediatealgebra as a prerequisite or has a traceable prerequisite tointermediate algebra.Pass a MiraCosta College course approved for Plan A, AreaA2 that has the prerequisite of elementary algebra.Present proof of achieving one of the following minimum testscores:
A passing score on the College Board MathematicsAchievement Test (500 Level I; 600 Level II).A score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board AdvancedPlacement Math Examination.A minimum score of 50 on a College-Level ExaminationProgram Subject Exam (College Algebra, Pre-calculus, or Calculus).A score of 4 or better on an International BaccalaureateMathematics Examination.
Mathematics competency can also be met through the useof multiple measures established by the college, whereby astudent is placed into a mathematics course numbered MATH102 or above or is determined to have previously completedcoursework comparable to a MiraCosta College course thatis designated as meeting the mathematics competencyrequirement.
Associate Degree for TransferRequirements MiraCosta College offers several Associate Degree for Transfer(ADT) majors that have been developed as a result of theStudent Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act and aredesigned to provide a clear pathway to a California StateUniversity (CSU) major and baccalaureate degree.
ADT requirements are as follows:
Complete a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.Complete a minimum of 18 units in an approved ADT major.Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or ’P’or better.Complete the certified CSU-GE (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C)*general education pattern.Obtain a minimum CSU-transferable GPA of 2.0.Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCostaCollege.
* Students completing IGETC may be awarded the degree,but they must complete a course from Area IC: OralCommunication to meet CSU admission requirements.
California community college students who are awardedan ADT are guaranteed priority admission with junior statusto a participating CSU campus and given priority admissionto their local CSU campus. MiraCosta students earningan ADT or completing traditional admission requirementshave local priority admission to California State UniversitySan Marcos. To view which CSU campuses accept these
degrees, please visit the A Degree With a Guarantee website atadegreewithaguarantee.com.
Priority admission does not guarantee admission to a specificmajor. Participating CSU campuses determine that the degreeawarded by MiraCosta is similar to a degree that can beawarded at that campus. This may include an emphasis oroption within the degree or another degree program. Onceadmitted, students are required to complete only 60 additionalprescribed units to qualify for a similar baccalaureatedegree. Students are encouraged to consult with a MiraCostacounselor to determine which CSU campuses are participatingin this program and which degrees are considered similar onthose campuses.
Courses from other U.S. regionally accredited colleges will bereviewed for placement on an ADT based on existing C-IDnumbers and/or course comparability to the transfer modelcurriculum template developed by the California CommunityColleges Chancellor's Office.
The associate degree for transfer may not be the bestoption for students intending to transfer to a particular CSUcampus, the University of California, or a private or out-of-state university. Students are encouraged to consult with aMiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the mostefficient pathway to transfer and to develop an educationalplan designed to meet their educational goals.
Bachelor of Science RequirementsThe bachelor's degree in biomanufacturing builds upon theassociate degree program in biomanufacturing, allowingstudents who complete the associate degree or equivalentcoursework from other colleges to enter as juniors and earna baccalaureate. Information about the program, includingeligibility requirements, the application process, and upper-division tuition, is available under the Biotechnology Area ofStudy.
Applying for a DegreeStudents who expect to receive a degree must file a petitionby the 30 percent deadline of the final semester leading totheir graduation. (Students intending to graduate during thesummer intersession may petition during the spring semester.)Final dates to file a petition are as follows:
Fall 2020: September 28, 2020Spring 2021: February 27, 2021
Official transcripts from all colleges attended (or concurrentlyattending), approved substitutions and waivers, educationalplans, and any other necessary documents must be on file inthe Admissions and Records Office before a student submits apetition to graduate. Petitions submitted after the deadline areautomatically processed in the subsequent semester.
Multiple DegreesStudents who are in progress to complete or who havepreviously been awarded a MiraCosta associate degree maybe qualified for an additional associate degree under thefollowing circumstances:
The additional degree represents a new major.Each degree has at least 12 mutually exclusive units. Note:This requirement does not apply to associate degrees fortransfer.All degree requirements have been met includingresidency, with at least 12 units completed in the newmajor, at MiraCosta College.
Students may earn multiple degrees concurrently provided theabove criteria is met.
(Source: MCCD Administrative Procedure 4100.)
Commencement
The MiraCosta College commencement ceremony is heldonce a year in May at the end of the spring semester. Studentswho submit a petition for an associate degree or certificateof achievement are eligible to attend the commencementceremony provided they meet the requirements for thedegree or certificate. Students who are eligible to attend theceremony will receive information about participating in theceremony from the Student Life and Leadership Office prior tothe ceremony.
