Associate in Arts Degree Requirements

  1. Completion of General Education Requirements by one of the following methods:
    • A. Completion of a minimum of 21 units as listed under Areas A through E on the following pages.
    • B. Completion of a minimum of 39 units of CSU General Education requirements as listed on the following pages. Students who complete this pattern are also eligible to receive the Certificate of Achievement in CSU Breadth.
    • C. Completion of a minimum of 34 (UC) or 37 (CSU) units of Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements as listed on the following pages. 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.

  2. Completion of a Major or Area of Emphasis--a minimum of 18 units. (See the Majors or Areas of Emphasis on the following page. See a GWC Counselor for appropriate classes.)
  3. Completion of additional elective units to a total of 60 units.
  4. 2.0 overall Grade Point Average for all colleges attended.
  5. At least 12 units completed at GWC.
  6. Satisfaction of Computer Competency.
  7. Satisfaction of Information Literacy.

General Education Learning Outcomes*

Area A Communication in the English Language and Critical Thinking
Completion of 3 units from each group.

Group 1 Learning Outcome: Demonstrate spoken communication skills that are appropriate to the audience, context and goal of the communication situation.

Group 2 Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to write clear, well-organized papers using documentation and research when appropriate.

Group 3 Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the critical thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Area B Physical Universe and Its Life Forms
Completion of 3 units in Group 1 and satisfy Group 2.

Group 1 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.

Group 2 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.
Area C Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Languages other than English
Completion of 3 units

Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an ability to understand, evaluate, interpret, and appreciate human creations in the visual, performing and/or linguistic arts.
Area D Social, Political and Economic Institutions
Completion of 3 units

Learning Outcome: Demonstrate an ability to comprehend and evaluate cultural, social, political and economic institutions from various perspectives.
Area E Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development
Completion of 3 units

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.

* See list of courses on the following page that fulfill these requirements.

Major or Area of Emphasis Requirement

Learning Outcome: Demonstrate skills, abilities, and knowledge in a particular area of aptitude or study.

  1. Major or Area of Emphasis — Minimum 18 units of study (See the Major/Area of Emphasis. See a GWC Counselor for appropriate classes.)

All coursework in major or area of emphasis must be completed with a grade “C” or better. Effective Fall 2009

The above degree requirements apply to students entering Fall, 2008 semester. Students who enrolled prior to Fall, 2008 and who have maintained continuous attendance at Golden
West College, have the option of completing under the former degree requirements.

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/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:
Completion of 3 units from each group:

Group 1: Communication Studies G100, G108, G110 (or G110H), G112, G220; English G110 (or G110H); Philosophy G115
Group 2: Business G130, Business G139; English G100 (or G100H); Journalism G125, G185
Group 3: A second course from Groups 1, 2, or Business G125; English G280
AREA B: Physical Universe And Its Life Forms:
Completion of at least three units in Group 1 and satisfy Group 2.

Group 1: 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: Mathematics competency - Must satisfy one of the following:

  1. A Math Competency Test placement recommendation of Geometry (Math G020), or a higher Math course.
  2. Completion of intermediate (2nd year) algebra in high school with a “C”
    grade or better.
  3. Completion of one college course in mathematics: G010, G020, G030,
    G100, G103, G104, G106, G115, G120, G140, G150, G160, G160H,
    G170, G180, G180H, G185, G235, G280, G285
AREA C: Arts, Literature, Philosophy And Foreign Language:
Complete at least three units from the following:

Anthropology G100, G135, G136, G150; Art G100, G105 (or G105H), G106 (or G106H), G107, G116, G121, G125, G142, G144, G150, G152; Broadcast & Video Production G101; Chinese G180, G185, G280; Communication Studies G120, G175; Dance G100, G110, G120, G125; Economics G120; English G070, G110 (or G110H), G112, G114 (or G114H), G143, G150, G155, G156, G160 (or G160H), G165 (or G165H), G170, G171, G180, G280, G281, G290, G295; Farsi G180, G185; French G180, G185, G280, G285, G290; History G110, G120, G132, G135, G136, G150, G160, G165, G170, G175, G180 (or G180H), G185, (or G185H), G190, G195; Humanities G100 (or G100H), G101, G102, G103, G104, G108, G110 (or G110H), G120 (or G120H), G122, G126, G130, G132, G135, G137, G140, G145, G160, G170;
Journalism G160; Music G101 (or G101H), G103, G104, G105, G108, G109, G110, G115, G120, G126, G132, G136, G141, G142, G145, G158, G165, G185, G210; Philosophy G101, G102, G110, G111, G120, G150; Photography G125, G150, G151, G152, G158; Political Science G150; Portuguese G180; Sign G180, G185, G280, G285; Social Science G134, G135, G136; Sociology G134; Spanish G110, G180 (or G180H), G185 (or G185H), G280, G285, G290; Theater Arts G100, G101, G102, G104, G106, G108 G120, G130, G142, G151, G171, G175, G176, G177, G178, G205;
Vietnamese G180, G185, G280, G285, G290
AREA D: Social, Political, And Economic Institutions:
Complete at least three units from the following:

Anthropology G100, G130, G135, G136, G140, G150; Communication Studies G175, G190, G260; Criminal Justice G123, G140; Economics G110, G120, G180, G285; Education G180; Environmental Studies G100; Geography G100, G104, G195; History G110, G120, G132, G135, G136, G150, G160, G165, G170, G175, G180 (or G180H), G185 (or G185H), G190, G195; Peace Studies G100, G110; Philosophy G150; Political Science G100, G101, G110, G120 (or G120H), G121, G121H, G130, G150, G180 (or G180H), G185; Psychology G100 (or G100H), G110, G150, G158,
G160, G165, G185, G250; Social Science G133, G134, G135, G136; Sociology G100 (or G100H), G110, G133, G134, G150; Spanish G290
AREA E: Lifelong Understanding And Self-Development
Complete at least three units from the following:

Accounting G100; Business G121; College G100; Communication Studies G175; Counseling G100, G103, G104, G199; 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, 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, G176, G178, G180, G181, G186, 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

Italized – CSU Certificate
Underlined – IGETC Certificate

Notes:

Continuous Attendance Policy
Continuous attendance at Golden West College is defined as the completion of at least
one course during a regular term in an academic year.

Computer Competency Requirement:

Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to understand basic computing concepts
and principles, and to successfully utilize common software applications.

This requirement may be met by completing one of the following:

  1. 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
    • Computer Business Applications G181
    • Computer Business Applications G182
    • Computer Science G101
    • Computer Science G130

  2. Completion of a course that requires competency in basic computing concepts and
    principles. Courses such as the following are acceptable:
    • Accounting G119, G130
    • 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

  3. Completion of an equivalent course at another regionally accredited institution.

  4. Completion of this requirement may be accomplished using alternative methods.
    See a GWC Counselor for details.

Information Literacy Requirement:

Learning Outcome: Demonstrate the ability to recognize when information is
needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the necessary
information.

This requirement may be met by completing one of the following:

  1. A. Completion of one of the Library Science courses with a grade of “C” or
    better, or “Pass” grade:
    • Library G110
    • Library G120
    • Library G125

  2. 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
    • Art G105H/Humanities G100H
    • Art G106H/Humanities G110H
    • Criminal Justice G150
    • Criminal Justice G151
    • College G100
    • Communications G110
    • Communications G220
    • English G100 / English G100H
    • English G110 / English G110H
    • English G114 / English G114H
    • Nursing G150
    • Nursing G200
    • Nursing G250
    • Peace Studies G110
    • Sociology G100

  3. Completion of an equivalent course at another regionally accredited institution.

  4. Completion of this requirement may be accomplished using alternative methods.
    See a GWC Counselor for details.