Home Catalog Graduation and Transfer Associate Degree Graduation Requirements

Associate Degree Graduation Requirements

Students may graduate from American River College with an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree by fulfilling the following requirements:

Satisfactory completion of 60 units of collegiate work with a "C" (2.0) grade point average (GPA) in a curriculum that the district accepts toward the degree. At least 12 of the 60 units must be earned within the Los Rios Community College District. Note the following regarding degree-applicable courses:
- Courses numbered C1000 or higher that were taken in or after fall 2025 are degree-applicable.
- Courses numbered 200 to 299 that were taken between fall 1989 and spring 2003 are not degree-applicable.
- Courses numbered 1 to 99 or 1000 or higher that were taken after spring 2003 are not degree-applicable.
Completion of an AA or AS program of study (major) offered at American River College. Courses used to complete requirements for the major must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
One of the following general education requirements:
- Completion of American River College's Local AA/AS General Education requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses used for general education (24 units minimum).
- Completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC).
- Possession of a bachelor's degree (BA/BS) or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in the US.¹ Degrees from accredited institutions outside of the US will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Students are allowed to follow the graduation requirements established at the time they began college as long as they maintain catalog rights.

¹ See District Policy P-7241: Graduation Requirements and Regulation R-7241: Graduation Requirements.

Catalog Rights

For the purpose of graduating or earning a certificate from any college in the Los Rios Community College District, a student who attends at least one session (whether quarter, semester, or summer) in each calendar year at any California community college, California State University, University of California, or any regionally accredited institution of higher education, may choose to meet the requirements in effect at the Los Rios college from which the student intends to graduate, as follows:

Requirements that were in effect at the time the student was admitted to a Los Rios college
Requirements that were in effect at the time the student originally enrolled in an accredited college
Requirements that were in effect at the intended date of graduation from a Los Rios college

Please note:

A college may authorize or request substitution for discontinued courses.
Students who change their major field of study may be required to complete those requirements for the major in effect at the point of change.
For purposes of this section, "attendance" means taking classes in at least one session (semester or summer session) in each calendar year. Absence for attendance at another regionally accredited institution shall not be considered an interruption in attendance, per Los Rios Policy P-7242: Establishing Catalog Rights.