Requirements for the Associate Degree

All curricula offered at Onondaga Community College have been registered with the New York State Education Department and approved by the State University of New York with authorization to award the degrees of Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.). According to New York State Education Law, “Associate degree programs shall normally be capable of completion in two academic years of full-time study, or its equivalent in part-time study, with an accumulation of not less than 60 semester hours.” Eligibility for a degree is based on the successful completion of the program of study outlined by a curriculum.

A core group of courses in the liberal arts and sciences is required in each curriculum. These courses fall into four fields — humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. This liberal arts core is intended to provide the student with exposure to and knowledge of the cultural, social and scientific heritage which has shaped today’s world.

The Associate in Arts degree requires completion of at least 75 percent of course work in the arts and sciences. Students pursuing the Associate in Science degree must complete at least 50 percent of their course work in the arts and sciences. And those in Associate in Applied Science programs must complete at least 33 percent of their course work in the arts and sciences.

Associate degree candidates must fulfill the following general requirements:

1. A student must be matriculated in a degree/certificate program and meet all program and credit hour requirements. 
2. Onondaga will automatically confer a degree or certificate upon the student’s completion of all program requirements. However, students who wish to participate in the college’s commencement ceremony must submit an Application for Graduation form three weeks prior to the start of the student’s semester of intended graduation and no later than the end of the third week of the semester of intended graduation. 
3. The student must achieve at least a 2.0 program GPA (GPA2). 
4. All grades of Incomplete (“I”) must be resolved before the degree/certificate is conferred. 
5. All financial obligations to the College and other College requirements must be met.
6. At least twenty-four (24) of the academic credits for the degree/certificate must be completed at Onondaga Community College, subject to specific program restrictions. Certificate programs are calculated proportionally.
7. No more than 12 independent study credits may be taken at Onondaga Community College.

Please note: Requirements for certain curricula may be more stringent.  Please check with the Department or your Advisor.