How To Get Your Associate Degree at Sierra

To earn your degree, you must complete:

1. Seven general education breadth courses.
2. Four learning skill proficiency requirements.
3. The requirements of a major.
4. 60 degree-applicable units, 12+ at Sierra, with a minimum g.p.a. of 2.0
5. A petition for the degree.

(The following first two items refer to the degree requirement sheet available here as a pdf. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available here. For the most current version of the sheet, refer to the Sierra College catalog or pick up a copy in the Counseling Office.)

1. General Education/Breadth
   Choose at least three units (2 in area E) in each of the areas, "A" through "F," on the Associate degree requirement sheet. For example, in Area A: Natural Sciences, you may choose ANY ONE course in the boxed area. (Note that an Associate in Science degree requires a lab course. These courses are underlined.)
   • A. Natural Sciences
   • B. Social/Behavioral Sciences
   • C. Humanities
   • D-1. English Composition
   • D-2. Communication and Analytic Thinking
   • E. Health Education/Physical Education (2 units)
   • F. Multicultural Studies
2. Learning Skill Proficiencies
   (may double count with major or general education)
   • WRITING: satisfied by the English Composition course in area D-1.
   • READING: met by assessment score, or by one of the courses listed.
   • ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: complete one course.
   • MATHEMATICS: high school algebra (sophomore or later), or qualifying SAT or ACT score, or one of the courses listed.
3. Major
   Over 70 majors to choose from. See the Sierra College Catalog for course and unit requirements of each major.
4. 60 Degree-applicable Units
   This total includes major, general education, learning skills, and electives. To be "degree applicable," a course must be numbered below 500. If you take English A, N, 50, and/or English as a Second Language 30W, only one of these courses may be counted for the degree.
5. Petition for the Degree
   The deadline is usually about 3 months before the end of the semester of graduation. See the calendar in the catalog or class schedule.

For help, see a Sierra College Counselor!