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Important Note: Students are responsible for knowing degree requirements and for staying informed regarding changes in their degree requirements.
Types of Degrees and Certificates
Highline College offers three types of degrees and four types of certificates. Each has its own requirements and applications. Within these degree and certificate options, students may choose general or specific areas of study or disciplines. These more specific choices also have their own requirements and applications.
- Associate in Arts (AA) degree
- Associate in Science (AS) degree
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree
- Certificate of Completion (CC)
- Certificate of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
- Certificate of Proficiency (CP)
- Short-Term Certificate of Achievement
Requirements Overview
Degree requirements are reviewed annually. The listing of courses and requirements is therefore subject to change; however, students have the option of using either the degree requirements listed in the Highline catalog at the time they enter the college or the requirements in effect at the time they apply for graduation.
Advisers are available to help students plan their programs. Students should stay informed of all program requirements, plan their programs carefully and meet with their advisers on a regular basis. It is also important for students to remember to apply for graduation at the registrar’s office two quarters before completing their coursework.
General Requirements
General Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 90 college-level credits (courses numbered 100 or above)
- A minimum 2.0 cumulative college-level GPA
- Completion of at least 25% of the total required credits at Highline (known as the residency credit requirement)
- Any course taken in the AA, AS, AAS degrees must be a D (1.0 GPA) or better
General Certificate Requirements
- Completion of the minimum number of credits required by the certificate type
- Certificate of Completion (CC): At least 45 credits
- Certificate of Arts and Sciences (CAS): At least 45 credits
- Certificate of Proficiency (CP): At least 20 credits
- Short-Term Certificate of Achievement: At least 1 credit
- A minimum 2.0 cumulative college-level GPA
- Completion of at least 25% of the total required credits at Highline (known as the residency credit requirement)
- Any course taken in the certificate must be a D (1.0 GPA) or better
Exceptions to General Requirements
There are no exceptions to the minimum credit or the minimum 2.0 cumulative college-level GPA requirements. Exceptions to the general graduation requirements must be approved by the Graduation Review Board for all degrees. This process includes submitting a petition to the registrar outlining the exception requested and the reasons for the request. The petition should be submitted with an “Application for Graduation/Request for Graduation Evaluation” form approximately two quarters before the planned graduation. Decisions of the Graduation Review Board are final.
Specific Requirements
Each program has its own specific requirements in addition to the general requirements. Some programs require a higher number of credits than the general requirements above. If that is the case, a student must complete the number of credits specified by the program to earn that credential. Each student should ensure they understand the requirements of their program by carefully reviewing them with an advisor.
Exceptions to Specific Requirements
Exceptions to AA and AS specific degree requirements are requested by writing a petition to the Graduation Review Board. The petition should be submitted with an application for graduation, or as soon thereafter as possible. Such requests might involve course substitutions, waiver of a requirement or review of credits earned by examination.
Exceptions to AAS specific degree requirements must be approved by the program coordinator, who will then notify the Registration office of the exception.
Achieve
As a Department of Education approved, financial aid eligible Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), Achieve certificates are designed to support students with ID who want to continue academic, career, and independent living instruction to prepare for paid employment. Comprehensive Transition Programs like Achieve require students with intellectual disabilities to participate in regular credit-bearing courses with nondisabled students. Participation can include:
- taking the course for full credit,
- auditing or participating (with nondisabled students) in courses for which the student does not receive regular academic credit,
- enrollment in noncredit-bearing nondegree courses with nondisabled students, and/or
- internships or work-based training with nondisabled individuals.
Audited courses do not earn a final grade not credit for the course in the traditional manner. Students auditing courses work in partnership with course faculty to develop measurable learning outcomes and a plan to evaluate progress with the support of their Achieve Advisor. The Achieve Advisor verifies student attainment of identified learning outcomes and reports the number of credits earned toward the Achieve certificate.
Achieve Certificates:
Distribution Areas
Click here to view Distribution Areas .
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