Associate’s Degrees and Certificates
Grand Rapids Community College offers multiple degrees and certificates:
CERTIFICATE
This credential is designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skills necessary to enter a career or continue employment in a particular field.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE
The Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a college or university as a junior to complete a bachelor’s degree. The A.A. degree allows students to select specific courses that are equivalent to those offered in the freshman and sophomore years at four-year institutions. Bachelor’s degree majors may have specific admission requirements or require particular courses be taken as part of the A.A. degree, both within general education and electives. Understanding and meeting these requirements allows students to enter an identified major at a college or university. With careful planning, students who earn an A.A. degree from GRCC may meet the majority or all general education and prerequisite requirements for the major in which they intend to transfer. The specific courses that may be taken to meet these requirements are listed under Group Distribution Requirements.
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE
The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to a college or university as a junior to complete a bachelor’s degree in a science or mathematics related discipline or field. The A.S. degree allows students to select specific courses that are equivalent to those offered in the freshman and sophomore years at four-year institutions. Bachelor’s degree programs may have specific admission requirements or require particular courses be taken as part of the A.S. degree, both within general education and electives. Understanding and meeting these requirements will allow students to enter an identified major at a college or university. With careful planning, students who earn an A.S. degree from GRCC may meet the majority or all general education and pre-requisite requirements for the major in which they intend to transfer. The specific courses that may be taken to meet these requirements, including the course sequences for Natural Sciences and Mathematics are listed in the Associate of Science, A.S. .
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES
The Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences (A.A.A.S.) degree is designed for students who are interested in preparing for a career that does not necessarily require a bachelor’s degree. Earning an A.A.A.S. degree prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. If a student chooses to return to a college or university to continue their education, they may have to take additional coursework at the freshman or sophomore level.
ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
The Associate of Business (A.B.) degree is designed to prepare students for entry level positions in the business field. Earning an A.B. degree prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. If a student chooses to return to a college or university to continue their education, they may have to take additional coursework at the freshman or sophomore level.
ASSOCIATE OF NURSING
This degree is designed to prepare students to qualify to take the NCLEX-RN examination to become registered nurses. To graduate with an A.N. degree, students must complete the coursework outlined in the catalog, which includes the specific courses for the program.
ASSOCIATE OF FINE ARTS
This degree is designed to prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Bachelor’s degree majors may have specific admission requirements or require particular courses be taken as part of the A.F.A. degree, both within general education and electives. Understanding and meeting these requirements will allow students to enter an identified major at a college or university. With careful planning, students who earn an A.F.A. degree from GRCC may meet the majority or all general education and pre-requisite requirements for the major in which they intend to transfer.
ASSOCIATE OF MUSIC
This degree is designed to prepare students for entry level positions in the music field or to prepare students to transfer to colleges or universities to pursue a Bachelor’s of Music, Bachelor’s of Music Education, or another performance related degree, thus requiring significant music performance credits. Bachelor’s degree majors may have specific admission requirements or require particular courses be taken as part of the A.M. degree, both within general education and electives. Understanding and meeting these requirements will allow students to enter an identified major at a college or university. With careful planning, students who earn an A.M. degree from GRCC may meet the majority or all general education and prerequisite requirements for the major in which they intend to transfer.
ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
This degree is designed for students who wish to earn an associate’s degree without following a specific program.
Programs
GRCC offers a variety of programs, each with a specific purpose:
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
These training programs are designed to provide students with exposure to specialized career fields. Students will not earn college credit for these programs, but will be prepared to enter the workforce or continue their employment in specialized careers upon completion.
CERTIFICATE
This credential is designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skills necessary to enter a career or continue employment in a particular field.
CAREER
These programs are designed for students who are interested in preparing for a career that does not require a bachelor’s degree. Earning an A.A.A.S. degree prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. If a student chooses to return to a college or university to continue their education, they may have to take additional coursework at the freshman or sophomore level.
CAREER (MTA)
These programs are designed for students who are interested in preparing to enter the workforce upon graduating from GRCC. The Michigan Transfer Agreement requirements are also embedded in these programs. This allows students to transfer at least 30 credits of general education coursework to a 4-year college or university, if they decide to continue their education after graduation.
ARTICULATED CAREER
These programs are designed for students who are interested in preparing to enter the workforce upon graduating from GRCC, and preparing to transfer into a particular bachelor’s degree at a college or university. The GRCC courses in articulated programs are guaranteed to transfer to the four-year college or university if minimum grade and other expectations are met because they are included in a formally signed articulation agreement.
PRE- MAJOR
These programs are designed for students who are interested in transferring to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in a particular major. The Michigan Transfer Agreement requirements are also embedded in these programs. This allows students to transfer at least 30 credits of general education coursework to a four-year college or university.
ARTICULATED PRE-MAJOR
These programs are designed for students who are interested in transferring to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in a particular major. The Michigan Transfer Agreement requirements are also embedded in these programs. The GRCC courses in articulated programs are guaranteed to transfer to the four-year college or university if minimum grade and other expectations are met because they are included in a formally signed articulation agreement.
PROFESSIONAL
These programs are designed for students who are interested in preparing for a career in a profession that does not require a bachelor’s degree. Earning an A.B., A.M. or A.N. degree prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. If a student chooses to return to a college or university to continue their education, they may have to take additional coursework at the freshman or sophomore level.
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
These programs are designed for students who are interested in transferring to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in a particular major in the professions.
ARTICULATED PROFESSIONAL
These programs are designed for students who are interested in preparing to enter the workforce upon graduating from GRCC and preparing to transfer into a particular bachelor’s degree in the professions at a college or university. The GRCC courses in articulated programs are guaranteed to transfer to the four-year college or university if minimum grade and other expectations are met because they are included in a formally signed articulation agreement.
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