Importance of Advising. Advising is a critical
element in the completion of
any degree. Each student is strongly
encouraged to identify a faculty adviser in his or her area of study as
early as possible.
(Request an adviser via this
online form.) For some degrees, adviser approval is required for
completion of the degree. In addition, students pursuing the Associate
of Science degree, with the aid of a faculty adviser, are responsible
for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions
in the year prior to transfer.
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Associate of Arts (AA) (See
planning sheets for guidance.)
The Associate of Arts degree is intended to prepare students to
transfer to bachelor’s degree programs in a wide variety of fields. The
AA degree corresponds to the first two years of a four-year
baccalaureate degree program. Most transfer students plan to earn this
degree. The Associate of Arts can be general in its emphasis, providing
a broad educational background for students who wish to transfer to a
university. In this general form, the degree is best suited to students
whose major area is in the liberal arts
and/or social sciences. However,
for students who have chosen majors such
as business, education, or
baccalaureate nursing (BSN), an Associate in Arts program can be
designed-with adviser assistance-to meet specific prerequisites and/or
pre-major lower-division requirements for transfer in those fields. At
Highline, the Associate of Arts degree is offered in several options.
NOTE: Advising is a critical
element in the completion of
any degree. Each student is strongly
encouraged to identify a faculty adviser in his or her area of study as
early as possible. (Request an adviser using this
online form.) For some degrees, adviser approval is required for
completion of the degree.
Associate of Arts,
Option A:
This degree is designed to satisfy the
lower-division general requirements at the many Washington colleges and
universities. AA-Option A degrees earned after 1984 meet the
requirements of the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) of the Inter-College
Relations Commission (ICRC). It is important to work out the exact
requirements of transfer with an adviser because programs change from
time to time. (See details.)
Associate of Business:
This specialized Associate of Arts Option A
degree is designed to help students meet the requirements for entry into
the business major after transfer. This Major-Related Program (MRP)
degree meets the guidelines for the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) of
the Inter-College Relations
Commission (ICRC). (See
details.)
Associate of Pre-Nursing:
This specialized Associate of Arts Option A
degree is designed to help students meet the requirements for entry into
the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program after transfer. This
Major-Related Program (MRP)
degree meets the guidelines for the Direct
Transfer Agreement (DTA) of the Inter-College Relations Commission (ICRC).(See
details.)
Associate of Arts,
Option B:
This degree is a specialized transfer degree, individually designed
to meet
the requirements for certain majors at specific colleges and
universities. It does not meet the requirements of the
Inter-College Relations Commission (ICRC). In order to plan this degree program, it
is essential to know both the major and college or university to be
attended. Students must work closely with their adviser. (See
details.)
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Associate of Science
(AS) (See
planning sheets for guidance.)
The Associate of Science degree is intended to
prepare students for transfer in science, mathematics, and other pre professional
fields. The degree is recognized by the
Inter-College Relations Commission
(ICRC). At Highline,
the Associate of Science is available in the following
disciplines:
Associate of Applied Science
(AAS)
The Associate of Applied Science degree is designed
primarily to prepare students for successful employment in a professional
or technical area.
Though some transfer options are available to holders
of the Associate of Applied Science, the degree is not intended to transfer.
Highline offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in a variety of
fields. See
the list of
Professional-Technical programs
for more information.
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Certificate of Completion
(CC)
The college awards a Certificate of Completion
to each student who
completes a professional-technical education program
requiring a minimum
of 45 credits. Each program consists of at least
three quarters and has
specific requirements. Students must complete
at least one-half of the required credits at Highline with an overall
GPA of 2.0 or higher. See
the list of
Professional-Technical programs
for more information.
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Certificate of Arts and Sciences
(CAS)
A student who wishes to earn a certificate in
academic transfer studies (45 credits) for personal reasons, as a specific
educational goal, in preparation for an AA degree, or for transfer to
a university, may complete the Certificate of Arts and Sciences. The
CAS is not intended as a substitute for the AA degree and does not carry
with it the benefits of the AA degree as defined by the Washington Inter-College
Relations Commission (ICRC) Articulation
Agreement.
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Certificate of Proficiency
The college may award a Certificate of
Proficiency to a student who
completes between 20 and 44 credits in
professional-technical education training programs. These programs
include between one and three quarters
of study and have specific
requirements.
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Short-term Certificate of Achievement
Short-term training programs consist of 19 credits or fewer. These
programs generally include at least one quarter of study.
