Degree and Certificate Petitions 3.2


This section (3.2) is intended to give on overview of the petition process for Skills Certificates, Certificates of Proficiency, and Cabrillo’s various AA and AS degrees. These are guidelines that pertain to all of these petitions. Following section 3.2 are specific notes that pertain to the individual degrees and certificates.

For a student to get an AA, AS, Certificate of Proficiency, or Skills Certificate s/he needs to meet with a counselor to submit the appropriate petition to A & R. The following are general guidelines regarding the petition process:

    1. Counselors submit the appropriate petition form (Skills Certificate, Certificate of Proficiency, AS degree/blue GE, AA degree/blue GE, AA degree/CSU GE, AA degree/IGETC GE) along with a copy of a Cabrillo Transcript (UG or UN) to the designated person in A & R. Currently the designated person is Thomas.
    2. If transcripts from another college are being used, we need an official copy in the student’s counseling file. Make a copy of the official transcript, put a note on the copy indicating that the official transcript is on file in Counseling, and submit the copy with the degree petition. For Watsonville: keep the official transcript on file in Watsonville, submit a copy of the official transcript with the degree petition, and put a note in STRK that official transcripts are in Watsonville)
    3. Make a copy of the petition for the counseling file that is kept in the 100 building (or in Watsonville).
    4. AA and AS degrees require at least 60 units. The type of units that are considered as a part of the 60 depend on the specific degree. Cabrillo’s "non-transferable" AA and AS degrees require at least 60 "degree applicable" units (courses numbered from 1 – 199). The unit requirements for the "transferable" degrees are outlined in their specific sections of this manual.
    5. Math Competency: For students with catalog rights prior to 03/04, the Math Competency Requirement for both the AA and AS may be met by completion of elementary algebra (Math 154). This Math Competency Requirement can be met with a grade of "C" or better in one year of high school algebra. An official high school transcript can be used to document completion of the requirement. If high school math is used, the student will still need to meet the Critical Thinking portion of the GE pattern.
    6. Math Competency: For students with catalog rights that start with 03/04, elementary algebra (Math 154) is still sufficient for both the AA and AS degrees. The math competency requirement was changed, however, to read as follows: "The Mathematics Requirement may be met by successful completion of elementary algebra (Math 154) or equivalent or a higher-level mathematics course with a grade of "C" or better. Successful completion must be verified by an official college transcript or by an appropriate score on the Cabrillo mathematics assessment." This means that students with catalog rights starting 03/04 need to demonstrate their math competency by assessing out of Math 154 and into Math 152 - even if they have completed one year of algebra in high school. If a student assesses out of 154 and chooses not to take a math class, s/he will still need to meet the Critical Thinking portion of the GE pattern.
    7. Math Competency: For students with catalog rights that start with 04/05, the math competency requirement changed for the AA degree and now reads as follows: "The mathematics requirement may be met by completion of Intermediate Algebra (Math 152) or equivalent or a higher-level mathematics course with a grade of "C" or better". This is an increase in the math requirement for the AA degree only that starts with students having 04/05 catalog rights. "Successful completion must be verified by an official college transcript or by an appropriate score on the Cabrillo mathematics assessment." Students can demonstrate their math competency by assessing into transfer level math, out of 152. If a student assesses out of 152 and chooses not to take a math class, s/he will still need to meet the Critical Thinking portion of the GE pattern.
    8. Math Competency: There was no change in the AS degree math requirement for students with catalog rights that start with 04/05. The same policy that was in place for those with 03/04 catalog rights would continue to apply (until it gets changed, anyway).
    9. As per Title 5 guidelines, all associate degree courses must belong to one of the following categories:

      1) Lower division courses accepted toward the Baccalaureate Degree by the CSU and/or UC.
      2) Courses that apply to the major in non-baccalaureate occupational fields.
      3) English courses at the level of English 100 or higher.
      4) Mathematics courses at the level of Math 154 or higher.
      5) Credit courses in English and mathematics taught in or on behalf of other departments and which require entrance skills equivalent to those necessary for the courses of sections (3) and (4).

      10. Note: this means that English and math are the only non-transferable classes that can be used for AA and AS degrees that are not a part of an occupational program.

    10. AA and AS degrees require at least a 2.0 overall GPA (see notes specific to the transferable degrees for their GPA requirements). AA and AS degrees also require a 2.0 in the major coursework. For all AA and AS degrees, a "C" or better is required in English and math. For transfer advising, note that grades of "C" or better are generally required by transfer institutions for the lower division major preparation.
    11. AA degrees require 20 units in the major. The catalog gives "Suggested" programs to use as a guide in determining classes that could apply to the major. There is flexibility in this to allow the student to pursue coursework that is in line with their transfer goals. Major articulation (if available on ASSIST) with the intended transfer school should be the guide. In the absence of major articulation, consult the catalog of the intended transfer school.
    12. AS degrees require 30 or more units in the major. If the AS degree is part of an "occupational program" the catalog will indicate the specific courses that are needed for major preparation. If the AS degree is not a part of an "occupational program", 30 units are required for the major and the catalog is used as a guide for the counselor to determine the preparation.
    13. Include clear notes when substituting courses or varying from the Occupational Programs (AS, Certificate of Proficiency, or Skills Certificates) outlined in the catalog. When varying from the program outlined in the catalog, include written approval of the course waiver/substitution from the Division or Department. Emails can be an efficient way to request and receive approval. They can easily be printed and attached to the degree or certificate petitions.
    14. For AA and AS degree, up to two courses can be used for both general education and major coursework.
    15. Certificates of Proficiency require at least 18 units and are usually closer to 30 units. They have very specific requirements outlined in the catalog. An average GPA of 2.0 is required in the major courses in the certificate. A "C" or better is required for the English course included in all Certificates of Proficiency.
    16. Skills Certificates vary in their unit requirements (they are required to be 18 units or less). Specific courses needed for Skills Certificates are listed in the catalog. An average GPA of 2.0 is required in the courses specific to the certificate.
    17. AP test scores can be used for units and to meet general education areas for AA and AS degrees. See section 1.2 of this manual and the catalog under "Advanced Placement" for specific information.
    18. For the purpose of meeting graduation requirements based on catalog rights, students may elect to meet the requirements of either: 1) the catalog which was in effect at the time the student began their course work at Cabrillo, or 2) any catalog that is or has been in effect during the time that the student has maintained continuous enrollment. Students maintain continuous enrollment at Cabrillo by completing at least one course per academic year. Indicate the catalog year being used on the petition.
    19. General Education courses from regionally accredited colleges or universities that have an equivalent at Cabrillo, will be used in the area that best serves the student; either the general education area designations of the original institution or the pattern offered by Cabrillo.
    20. Upper-division courses can be used to meet general education and major preparation. Units from these courses, however, cannot be counted toward the 60 units.
    21. A BA/BS degree from a regionally accredited college or university will satisfy all general education and competency requirements for Cabrillo's non-transfer AA and AS degrees, with the exception of the multicultural requirement, and program specific graduation requirements.
    22. The petition is submitted when the student is in-progress on their last classes for the degree or certificate. They can apply in the spring using proposed summer coursework (1 course) for an AA or AS. In these cases their degree will be held until completion of the summer coursework. Students must have all work completed for a certificate during the semester in which they are applying for graduation.
    23. Students who petition in the fall can participate in the graduation ceremony the following spring. Students who petition in the spring based on completion of summer classes can go through graduation in the spring.
    24. In the event that a student needs documentation of completion of the degree prior to the issuance of the diploma, Admissions and Records can generate a verification letter. Currently, Chauncey Edmonds (6219) is the contact person.
    25. See notes specific to each of the petition forms.

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