Graduation Requirements
Getting Ready to Finish!
Contra Costa College (CCC) provides a variety of educational opportunities, including Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees, as well as Certificates of Accomplishment and Achievement in numerous majors and subjects.
For a comprehensive list of available degrees and certificates, please refer to our academic page, class schedule, or the college catalog under each subject area.
Ready to Graduate?
Read below for details and steps to petition for a degree or certificate.
To apply for an AA/AS degree or a certificate, you can fill out a petition online or visit the Admissions and Records office. Be sure to submit your petition by the deadline during the semester you plan to complete your requirements. Degrees and certificates are awarded each semester.
Notification will be sent to your InSite email address. Correspondence will NOT be sent by mail. If you miss the deadline to apply you can always apply for the next term and your degree or certificate will be reviewed during the next term.
Admissions & Records will accept applications for graduation once you have registered for your classes. You need to apply for graduation during the term your requirements will be completed, not before. The following dates indicate the deadline to apply in each term. If you miss the deadline, you may apply for the following semester’s graduation.
Application Deadlines:
- Spring Graduation: March 1
- Summer Graduation: July 15
- Fall Graduation: October 15
Notification of Eligibility:
Sent to All Semester Applicants via InSite Email
- Spring Graduation: May 1
- Summer Graduation: September 15
- Fall Graduation: November 15
Date Diplomas Will Be Mailed:
No Later Than
- Spring Graduation: September 15
- Summer Graduation: October 15
- Fall Graduation: February 15
To earn an AA/AS degree at CCC, you must complete one of the following General Education (GE) options:
- Option 1: CCC General Education Pattern
- Option 2: IGETC Transfer Curriculum
- Option 3: CSUGE Transfer Pattern
AA/AS Degree Requirements
To earn an AA/AS degree, students must complete the degree requirements and the requirements for a defined major, totaling at least 60 degree-applicable units. Out of these, 12 units must be completed at Contra Costa College (CCC), and students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. All units from other colleges will be combined with CCC units to calculate the total GPA for graduation.
Note: Students with a GPA below 2.0 are not eligible to apply for graduation.
AAT/AST Degree Requirements
General Education and Major Requirements for Transfer Students
Students must complete either the CSU GE (California State University General Education Breadth Requirements) or IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum Requirements for students transferring to CSU or UC), along with the requirements for a defined major, totaling at least 60 transferable units. Of these, 12 units must be completed at Contra Costa College (CCC), and students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. All units from other colleges will be combined with CCC units to calculate the overall GPA for graduation.
Note: Students with a GPA below 2.0 are not eligible to apply for graduation.
Certificate of Requirements
Students must complete the requirements listed for the Certificate of Achievement, and have no lower than a “C” grade in the required courses.
To qualify for a Certificate of Achievement a student shall complete at least 25% of the required units at Contra Costa College via CI4004.
You will receive a status letter via InSite email from the Admissions & Records Office, indicating whether you are:
- Approved
- Pending
- Denied
If additional information is needed, please provide it promptly, as no further correspondence will be sent. If you have any questions after receiving your letter, please consult a counselor.
APPROVED
You will receive the “approved” status if you have completed all of your requirements.
PENDING
You will receive the “approved pending” status if you are enrolled in your final classes the semester for which you have applied.
DENIED
You will receive the “denied” status if you are not enrolled in your final classes during the semester for which you have applied. If you are denied, you will need re-apply for graduation in the term you intend to complete your requirements.
Some Reasons for Denial
You did not:
- Complete a minimum of 60 units for an Associate Degree
- Make up an Incomplete Grade from a past semester
- Have 2.0 cumulative grade point average (degree applicable units only)
- Submit official copy of transcripts from other institution(s)
- Complete required courses for major with ‘C’ grade or better
- Complete 12 units at CCC
- Missing 25% of units completed in major requirements at CCC for Certificate of Achievement/Accomplishment
- Submit proof of current semester enrollment from other institution
Degree petitions are evaluated throughout the semester in the order they are received. After final grades are submitted by instructors, petitions are reviewed and finalized. Transcripts will be updated with your degree information, and diplomas will be mailed about 10 weeks after the semester ends.
It’s highly recommended that you meet with a counselor before submitting your degree petition. This ensures that all your requirements are either completed or in progress.
Early Graduation for Priority Registration
In order to give students who are close to graduation an advantage in registering for the remaining classes needed in their last semester, students may apply for an early registration appointment by submitting an early application to graduate in the semester before their planned graduation date.
Form Submission Dates:
- Spring Graduation: August 1 – September 15
- Summer Graduation: January 15 – February 28
- Fall Graduation: March 1 – April 15
Eligibility Criteria:
- Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in at least 12 units (AA/AS) or 3 units (Certificate of Achievement) within the district.
- Completed Units: Must have completed 30 units (AA/AS) or 9 units (Certificate of Achievement) within the district or at a regionally accredited institution before petitioning.
- GPA: Must have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- Transcripts: Must have official transcripts on file if you’ve attended other institutions.
- Note: Late petitions will not be accepted.
Please note that the early registration appointment can only be used once per student.
