Nov 21, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Catalog

Associate Degrees & Programs


Associate’s Degrees and CertificatesGRCC diploma cover and graduation cap

Grand Rapids Community College offers multiple degrees and certificates: 

CERTIFICATE

Programs designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skills necessary to enter a career or continue employment.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE

A program designed for students who plan to transfer to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree. 

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES

a program designed for students who are interested in preparing for a career that does not require a bachelor’s degree. This degree prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. 

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS

A program designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the business field. This degree prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. 

ASSOCIATE OF NURSING

A program designed to prepare students to qualify to take the NCLEX-RN examination to become registered nurses. 

ASSOCIATE OF FINE ARTS

A program designed to prepare students to transfer to a college or university to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

ASSOCIATE OF MUSIC

A program designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the music field or to prepare students to transfer to a college or university to pursue a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, or another music performance-related degree.

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES

A program designed for students with broad interests who wish to earn an associate degree without following a specified academic concentration. 

ADVANCED CERTIFICATES

A program designed for students who have earned an associate degree. The Career program type is associated with Advanced Certificate. 

Programs

GRCC offers a variety of programs, each with a specific purpose:

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION (Clock Hour and Non-Credit) TRAINING   

Programs designed to provide students with exposure to specialized career fields. Clock Hour and Non-Credit programs articulate to credit, based on national credentials or articulation agreements.

CERTIFICATE

Programs designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skills necessary to enter a career or continue employment.

CAREER

Programs designed for students who are interested in preparing for a career that does not require a bachelor’s degree.

CAREER (MTA)

Programs 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.

ARTICULATED CAREER

A program designed for students who are interested in preparing to enter the workforce upon graduating from GRCC and preparing to transfer into a specified bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university. The GRCC courses in articulated career programs are guaranteed to transfer to the partner four-year college or university as outlined in an articulation agreement.

PRE- MAJOR

Programs designed for students who are interested in transferring to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in a particular major.

ARTICULATED PRE-MAJOR

A program designed for students who are interested in transferring to a four-year college or university to complete a specified bachelor’s degree. The GRCC courses in articulated pre-majors are guaranteed to transfer to the partner four-year college or university as outlined in an articulation agreement.

PROFESSIONAL

Programs designed for students who are interested in preparing for a career in a profession that does not require a bachelor’s degree.

PRE-PROFESSIONAL

Programs 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 PRE-PROFESSIONAL

A program designed for students who are interested in preparing to enter the workforce upon graduating from GRCC and preparing to transfer into a specified bachelor’s degree in the professions at a four-year college or university. The GRCC courses in articulated pre-professional programs are guaranteed to transfer to the partner four-year college or university as outlined in an articulation agreement. 

APPRENTICESHIP

A program designed to prepare students with specific knowledge and skills necessary for a trade or industry in which they are already employed.

PATHWAY CONCENTRATION

Programs designed to help students deciding on their academic and career goals to identify an area of interest. These programs are also designed for students who are interested in transferring to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in an area where GRCC does not have an academic program. The programs can be customized to meet individual students’ needs. They also allow students to fulfill general education and graduation requirements at GRCC and transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.